Hello everyone,
Thank you again to all of you who attended the March 2, 2025, meeting at the DaVinci Tech Hub to discuss the Daytime Homeless Respite Center and its impacts on surrounding neighbors. Also thank you to those who responded to the survey distributed during January, as well as those who have continued to provide comments after the meeting. More than 150 neighbors responded to the January survey and more than 50 community members attended the March 2 meeting.
It was clear from the comments and suggestions we received from the survey responses and at the meeting that the surrounding neighbors feel very impacted by the Davis Respite Center. We also heard that neighbors support having a Respite Center but believe that the burdens arising from it should be shared by the entire community. It was also clear to us that many residents were frustrated and angry and felt that the City was not transparent when establishing the Respite Center and continuing to fund it in its current location. We also heard from many participants that they understand the importance of providing assistance to those who are unsheltered.
Attendees at the meeting offered a number of specific ways to address the impacts, including the importance of police enforcement and patrols to help keep businesses and the public safe; the need for funding for a variety of improvements or resources, such as overnight services, trash removal, security or cleanliness; and the necessity for more information and transparency from the City. We were also urged to look at alternative locations for a Daytime Respite Center.
Here is what has happened since the meeting and what to expect next:
- At the City Council meeting on March 4, Vice Mayor Neville made a brief announcement informing the public that the meeting had taken place and that she and Council Member Partida would be working with staff to bring a full report back to council, which will include specific recommendations for improvement.
- On Tuesday, March 18 at the City Council meeting, there is a regular agenda item #5 titled, “Homelessness Services Discussion Follow-up.” This agenda item does not relate directly to the March 2 meeting but is in response to a request that City Council made of City staff several months ago to provide details on what it would cost to address various concerns related to homelessness throughout the City. Some of the proposals in that agenda item pertain to the Daytime Respite Center, so you may wish to review that staff report and offer public comment on that agenda item at the meeting this coming Tuesday. Click here for the agenda. Click here for the staff report.
- A staff report to the full City Council will be coming in the next few months which will contain specific recommendations for addressing concerns related to the Daytime Respite Center. That report will reflect the concerns raised by the survey responses, the comments and suggestions at the meeting and other information that council has received from community members and staff.
For those who are interested, here are a series of documents that provide information that was gathered during the meeting:
Note that Vice Mayor Neville and Councilmember Partida will be carefully reviewing these documents and working with City staff to prepare a report that will propose recommended actions at a full City Council meeting. I will send another email to this list as soon as a date has been set, and the agenda is published. If additional feedback or input is needed from the Council subcommittee then they may reach out to the neighborhood.
Again, thank you and everyone who attended the event on March 2, took the survey in January or continues to provide input. It is clear to us that you care deeply about the safety and well-being of everyone in our community. We have heard you and understand that there is a need to move forward and address your concerns.
