REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Discussion and Possible City Council action on a Temporary Cold Weather Shelter for the 2014 Winter and Options for Council Consideration
Report
BACKGROUND
On July 15, 2014, Council directed staff to place a public hearing item on its August 12, 2014 meeting agenda for discussion of options related to development of a temporary cold weather shelter in Sunnyvale, following Council review of Information-Only Report to Council #14-0675 (Attachment 1) provided in that meeting's packet. Staff provided that report in response to Council direction at the Council Budget Workshop on May 22, following Vice Mayor Davis' request that Council consider allowing his task force, formed to find a replacement site for a new winter shelter facility, to use the Sunnyvale Indoor Sports Center (gym) to provide temporary, emergency shelter during the coming winter only.
The concept of a City-sponsored emergency shelter to replace the recently demolished Sunnyvale Armory building, formerly leased by the County for four months each winter for its Cold Weather Shelter Program (CWSP) was previously considered by Council as part of the 2013 study issues workshop held in January 2013. Study Issue CDD 13-14: "City options for funding a homeless shelter and/or other solutions to homelessness" was sponsored by then-Council Members Meyering and Davis (currently Vice Mayor). Council dropped this study issue at that workshop, consistent with the staff recommendation.
Since that time, Council has not directed staff to pursue development of a replacement cold weather shelter, although Vice Mayor Davis has noted several times during subsequent Council meetings that he had embarked on a personal effort to develop a new cold weather shelter in or near Sunnyvale, using private-sector funds that he intended to raise for acquisition of a site or facility for a shelter. As we are aware, he formed a community task force last year to assist with that effort....
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