Marsha Hallet <marshahallet@gmail.com 5/30/15
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On Thu, May 28, 2015 at 2:06 PM, Satterfield, Jason <JSatterfield@marincounty.org> wrote:
Hi Marsha:Before agreeing to pay for services there, the County sent an ADA inspector to the site. He requested some very small changes be made, and then determined that the site is ADA accessible.From: Marsha Hallet [mailto:marshahallet@gmail.com]
Sent: Thursday, May 28, 2015 12:57 PM
To: Satterfield, Jason
Cc: Spaeth, Sparkie
Subject: Re: Alternative Locations for Homeless SheltersHi Jason -I appreciate your response and will post it on my blog.REST has taken down the post on their website that they "will never locate a shelter in downtown San Rafael or a neighborhood" so I don't believe that the summer shelter will be a one-off.I am not as familiar with ADA requirements as you are, but looking at the government checklist for emergency shelters I do see that access is an issue. Will REST be providing a ramp at the St. Anselm gym? There are steps to all entrances. The fire egress doors are not lit. See photos below.Making shelters accessible to people with disabilities is a requirement of the Americans with Disabilities Act.Besides not being compliant with ADA regulations, the location of the shelter is not compliant with San Anselmo Ordinance 1098.It seems to me that REST should keep looking.Thank you for your consideration,Marsha
On Thu, May 28, 2015 at 12:11 PM, Satterfield, Jason <JSatterfield@marincounty.org> wrote:Hi Marsha:The County and several nonprofit service providers helped REST congregations, represented by the Marin Organizing Committee, to do an exhaustive search of potential new locations for REST. We evaluated sites using several criteria including ADA accessibility, cost, etc. We looked at almost every site on your list. Each of them were either unavailable, too expensive, or not compliant with ADA regulations.I think it’s important to note that the REST summer pilot at St. Anselm school is not intended to be a permanent solution. The search for a new site is ongoing.JasonFrom: Marsha Hallet [mailto:marshahallet@gmail.com]
Sent: Monday, May 25, 2015 4:57 PM
To: Satterfield, Jason
Subject: Alternative Locations for Homeless SheltersHi Jason -I lead a neighborhood group opposed to the Town of San Anselmo allowing a REST homeless shelter for 40 men at St. Anselm kindergarten through fifth grade elementary school's gymnasium for eight weeks this summer.We think that the town ordinance and state law are very clear that "emergency shelters" are defined as any shelter housing homeless for less than six months, and the town ordinance is equally clear that "emergency shelters" can never be placed in residential neighborhoods. (Ordinance 1098, Title 10, Chapter 12, Land Use Table 3A)We learned through Change LabsSolutions: California Laws Affecting Smoking 2014 that state and federal laws do not allow smoking in any private or public school nor near any playground. In addition, the Mayo Clinic site describes that third-hand smoke is extremely toxic, especially to children, because it attaches to physical surroundings near the smoker and resists removal. REST plans to allow the homeless to smoke.The town Ordinance limits emergency homeless shelters in San Anselmo commercial and public facilities areas to 17 homeless individuals, not 40. The Ordinance requires on-site security and on-site management, and REST does not plan to have any security.The town attorney has not addressed all of these issues, but instead wrote that St. Anselm is allowed an accessory use in an R1 zone. We believe that this is in error because the ordinance is not ambiguous and states explicitly that emergency shelters are not permitted in any R1 zone. The ordinance also modified San Anselmo's Land Use Table 3A to exclude emergency shelters in residential zones. From our reading, there is no exception stated in the ordinance nor in state law for pilot or temporary shelters; the law applies to any shelter for the homeless where homeless are housed for less than six months, just like the one planned for the St. Anselm gym.REST on its own website say says "REST is not considering a site in neighborhoods or in downtown San Rafael."We think opportunities may exist for a homeless shelter in underutilized buildings owned by the County. Additionally, there may be bank owned properties in commercial zones that can be re-purposed for two months this summer.
We put together a short list of sites we know about. Please advise us whether these sites can be used as homeless shelters this summer and if not, why not.1. Patrick’s: This building is sold and an apartment complex may be constructed there, but not this summer. Maybe the owner would donate it for the summer.
2. San Rafael National Guard Armory: We see some concerts scheduled on weekend nights but no conflicts during the week. Homeless that are not inebriated or mentally ill could be housed there as they were in the past.3. Marin County Fair and Exhibition buildings: Many exhibit halls are empty or at least empty at night, except during the fair.4. Empty classroom buildings at Indian Valley College: There are thousands of sq. ft. of empty space which can be utilized with minor modifications or repairs.5. Other buildings at Hamilton Air Force Base: Is there space in other buildings on the base that are empty at night? The proximity to New Beginnings would be a benefit.Thank you for your consideration of these comments. They are offered to suggest legally zoned alternative sites for the REST project this summer that are "not ....in neighborhoods or in downtown San Rafael."Best regards,Marsha Hallet
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Hi Marsha:
The
County and several nonprofit service providers helped REST
congregations, represented by the Marin Organizing Committee, to do an
exhaustive search of potential
new locations for REST. We evaluated sites using several criteria
including ADA accessibility, cost, etc. We looked at almost every site
on your list. Each of them were either unavailable, too expensive, or
not compliant with ADA regulations.
I
think it’s important to note that the REST summer pilot at St. Anselm
school is not intended to be a permanent solution. The search for a new
site is ongoing.
Jason
From: Marsha Hallet [mailto:marshahallet@gmail.com
Sent: Monday, May 25, 2015 4:57 PM
To: Satterfield, Jason
Subject: Alternative Locations for Homeless Shelters
Sent: Monday, May 25, 2015 4:57 PM
To: Satterfield, Jason
Subject: Alternative Locations for Homeless Shelters
Hi Jason -
I
lead a neighborhood group opposed to the Town of San Anselmo allowing a
REST homeless shelter for 40 men at St. Anselm kindergarten
through fifth grade elementary school's gymnasium for eight weeks this
summer.
We
think that the town ordinance and state law are very clear that
"emergency shelters" are defined as any shelter housing homeless
for less than six months, and the town ordinance is equally clear that
"emergency shelters" can never be placed in residential neighborhoods.
(Ordinance 1098, Title 10, Chapter 12, Land Use Table 3A)
We learned through
Change
LabsSolutions: California Laws Affecting Smoking 2014 that state and federal laws do not allow smoking in any private or public school nor near any playground.
In addition, the
Mayo Clinic site describes that third-hand smoke is extremely toxic,
especially to children, because it attaches to physical surroundings
near the smoker and resists removal. REST plans to allow the homeless to
smoke.
The
town Ordinance limits emergency homeless shelters in San Anselmo
commercial and public facilities areas to 17 homeless individuals,
not 40. The Ordinance requires on-site security and on-site management,
and REST does not plan to have any security.
The
town attorney has not addressed all of these issues, but instead wrote
that St. Anselm is allowed an
accessory use in an R1 zone. We believe that this is in error because
the ordinance is not ambiguous and states explicitly that emergency
shelters are not permitted in any R1 zone. The ordinance also modified
San Anselmo's Land Use Table 3A to exclude emergency
shelters in residential zones. From our reading, there is no exception
stated in the ordinance nor in state law for pilot or temporary
shelters; the law applies to any shelter for the homeless where homeless
are housed for less than six months, just like
the one planned for the St. Anselm gym.
REST
on its own website say says "REST is not considering a site in neighborhoods or in downtown San Rafael."
We think opportunities may exist for a homeless shelter in underutilized buildings owned by the County. Additionally, there
may be bank owned properties in commercial zones that can be re-purposed for two months this summer.
We put together a short list of sites we know about. Please advise us whether these sites can be used as homeless shelters this summer and if not, why not.
We put together a short list of sites we know about. Please advise us whether these sites can be used as homeless shelters this summer and if not, why not.
1. Patrick’s: This building is sold and an apartment complex may be constructed there, but not this summer. Maybe the owner
would donate it for the summer.
2. San Rafael National Guard Armory: We see some concerts scheduled on weekend nights but no conflicts during the week. Homeless that are not inebriated or mentally ill could be housed there as they were in the past.
3. Marin County Fair
and Exhibition buildings: Many exhibit halls are empty or at least empty at night, except during the fair.
4. Empty classroom buildings at Indian Valley College: There are thousands of sq. ft. of empty space which
can be utilized with minor modifications or repairs.
5. Other buildings at Hamilton Air Force Base: Is there space in other buildings on the base that are empty
at night? The proximity to New Beginnings would be a benefit.
Thank you for your consideration of these comments. They are offered to suggest legally zoned alternative
sites for the REST project this summer that are "not ....in neighborhoods or in downtown San Rafael."
Best regards,
Marsha Hallet
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