Council adopts homeless ideas

Give money for the homeless in Laguna, but not to the homeless, was the message delivered Tuesday night to the City Council.

The council unanimously approved the 14 recommendations in a report from the Laguna Beach Homeless Task Force on ways to resolve the homeless issues in town. Some of the recommendations had financial implications for the city and the private sector, but specified no monetary handouts to panhandlers.

“We didn’t all agree on the recommendations, but one thing we did agree on was the best way to help the homeless is to give money to a resource center,” said Councilwoman Toni Iseman, a member of the task force. “It doesn’t help to give a homeless person money — it doesn’t go for food.”

Iseman served with Councilman Kelly Boyd on the task force, which was his idea.

“This was not an easy task,” Boyd said. “But I am pleased with what we all came up with. I think in the long run it will benefit the city and the homeless.”

“I wholeheartedly and enthusiastically support the recommendations,” Councilwoman Cheryl Kinsman said. “We can’t solve the whole problem, but we can do our share.”

Task Force Chairman Ed Sauls presented the report to the council. He made special mention of the need for a multiservice center operated by a nonprofit organization.

“It could have financial ramifications in the future,” Sauls said.

One way or another, taxpayers pick up the tab for the homeless, but studies included in the report indicate it is cheaper to house the homeless than to jail, hospitalize or institutionalize them.

According to a Los Angeles study, publicly-supported housing costs about $30 a day, compared to $84.74 for a day in jail, $607 for a day’s stay in a mental health institution and $1,474 for a day in a hospital.

“Our proposal stops short of recommending housing first, but that is the direction I think we should go,” said the Rev. Colin Henderson, a task force member and veteran of programs to assist the homeless to get back on their feet

Assistant City Manager John Pietig said city staff supported in general the task force recommendations, including the assignment of Officer John Farris as the community outreach officer.

“A man on the ground is really important,” Sauls said.

Farris is in training now and should be on the job by February, said Pietig, who participated on the task force.

“Many of the recommendations are relatively short term,” Pietig said. “By that, we mean that staff could make significant progress in implementing the items and could bring reports back to the council within about six months.”

The staff was directed to work with the Chamber of Commerce to educate the public on the perils of donating to panhandlers on the street and figure out ways to direct donations to volunteer efforts to create broad-based solutions to homeless issues.

Iseman said Denver had successfully experimented with street meters for donations.

Other staff projects:

 Work with volunteers to relocate Saturday morning breakfasts provided at Main Beach away from the picnic tables near the children’s play area, the Boardwalk and the volleyball courts. Picnic tables should be relocated to the grassy area northward.

 Consider an ordinance to control inappropriate conduct that may accompany panhandling, taking into account legal issues.

 Possible extension of open hours for public restrooms.

 Use of the City Attorney’s office, if the District Attorney’s resources are not sufficient, to prosecute violations of the municipal code that reduce the quality of life in the community: for example public intoxication, urination or defecation.

 Use of the Homeless Court system when appropriate.

 Development of a method to monitor and report on the number and nature of the homeless, police interactions, Homeless Court results, assistance to the homeless and the cost to the city.

“The other [recommendation] are long-term in nature, and involve nonprofit organizations, other cities, other committees or other agencies,” Pietig said.

At the top of that list: a multi-service center, operated by a nonprofit organization to provide outreach and case management; emergency shelter; lockers; access to county services for the homeless, such as detoxification, mental health programs and transitional housing; and to build relationships and mentoring.

Ernest Stuart, a Laguna Relief and Resource Center board member, said the center is negotiating to purchase some land in the canyon for that purpose.

“This is why I joined the resource center in the first place,” Stuart said. “With the support of the city we will be able to stabilize the resource center base.”

Long-term recommendations also included making no changes in the city’s general anti-camping ordinance which outlaws night-time sleeping anywhere in the city but allows it during daylight hours on the beaches; although the task force does favor passage of an ordinance that prevents camping in high fire-risk areas.

The council also approved task force recommendations for city support of the cold weather shelter program; direction to the city’s Housing and Human Services Committee to host a forum to educate the public on homeless issues; city plans to address the issues and how the public can assist; city initiation of discussions with other cities to explore expansion of the number of emergency shelter beds and permanent supportive housing; and the establishment of a committee to report to the council on the implementation of the task force recommendations.

“Should the council desire to set up the committee, it is recommended that it have a specific mission and duration,” Pietig said. “The council would also need to appoint the committee.”

The task force included representatives of some of the city’s active nonprofit organizations: Don Black, Faye Chapman and Judy Randall, Housing and Human Services Committee; Henderson, founder of Friendship Shelter; Sauls, Relief and Resource Center; Dave Sanford, immediate past president of the chamber; and Daga Krackowizer, Interfaith Council.

Besides Pietig, city personnel who participated included Police Capt. Mike Hall and Police Chief Mike Sellers. Dawn Lee of the OC Partnership also participated.

The task force began meeting in April 2007. All meetings were open to the public