A meeting of the Advisory Committee on Homelessness has been scheduled for 3 p.m. Wednesday in the City Council Chamber. The public is encouraged to attend.
Tuesday’s proposal would have established a temporary location for the homeless to sleep at the north end of the city parking lot by the old Digester Building, in what is called the Village Entrance, and appropriated $210,000 to make it happen.
The principle behind the nighttime shelter is similar to the Day Labor site on Laguna Canyon Road.
The public has indicated in telephone calls and e-mails to council members that at the very least the homeless should be prevented from sleeping in parks and on the beaches at night, but did not unite in support of the proposal presented Tuesday night.
“What we heard tonight was all over the place,” Councilwoman Jane Egly said.
Questions were raised about how the city could stop the homeless who came to town after Tuesday from sleeping on beaches and in parks and how the proposal would overcome problems encountered in the day time.
“I’m 6 foot 3 and I have a dog, and I am intimidated walking through Heisler,” said Hobie Sports owner Mark Christy. “These people are a different breed.”
Jan Fulton, at least a foot shorter than Christy, said she is not at all intimidated.
“I have a refined [expletive] meter and I have heard a lot of [expletive] tonight,” Fulton said. “You have to go down [to the beach] and shake some hands before you start judging.”
Opinions also were divided on the need for services for the homeless in addition to a place to sleep.
