City Council declares extreme weather emergency, authorizes warming centers

Sacramento (Jan. 27, 2020) The Sacramento City Council Wednesday voted unanimously in an emergency meeting to immediately open the Tsakopoulos Library Galleria at 9th and I streets as a warming center, open the Southside Park poolhouse as needed and open two downtown city garages with bathrooms as safe places for people living in their cars to park.

Council members allocated $1 million for City Manager Howard Chan to use in the next week to stand up warming centers with Covid precautions in City-owned properties and assist community-based organizations and houses of worship that are willing to open winter shelters as well. The Council is expected to make an additional allocation in Tuesday’s Council meeting, with the expectation that the money will be reimbursed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency under the terms of an executive order issued by President Joe Biden.

The Library Galleria served as a cleaner air center this summer during fire season

The Council formally declared an extreme weather emergency Wednesday and committed to developing its own ongoing standards for when to open winter warming centers rather than adhering to those of Sacramento County, which include extreme cold/freeze warnings for three days accompanied by nighttime temperatures of 32 degrees or less.

Earlier this year, the City broke from the county and said it would begin opening warming centers when the forecast predicted temperatures of less than 33 degrees for a single night. But Mayor Darrell Steinberg said that standard is still insufficient to protect people from the elements.

Mayor Steinberg pointed out that the low temperature during Tuesday night’s storm was in the 40s, even as high winds and rain destroyed camps and blew away tents people relied on for shelter. Two people were found dead, though it’s not known whether their deaths were related to the storm.

“We are going to define a public health emergency in ways that meet our City’s needs,” Mayor Steinberg said. “Common sense tells me that whether it’s 32 degrees or 35 degrees or 40 degrees or 45 degrees, it’s cold. I want to bring people indoors. I want multiple sites open now and every night until the end of winter.”

Tuesday’s vote also directs the City Manager to increase the number of City-funded vouchers to get people experiencing homelessness into motel rooms this winter. Money for this purpose is also expected to be reimbursable through the federal government. Since launching the winter voucher program on Dec. 18, the City has housed 250 people in motel rooms – for a total of 700 room nights.

Mayor Pro Tem Angelique Ashby, who helped craft the plan that went to Council Wednesday, said winter warming shelters are needed and praised her colleagues and staff for stepping up. The Winter Sanctuary program previously run by Sacramento County ended in 2019. The County has offered to donate blankets and some other supplies to the City effort.

“I’m grateful for a city full of caring people who supported additional funding at a time like this, and I’m proud to be part of a team willing to change the rules to make it happen,” Ashby said. “The most important thing we can do is to keep people safe. That includes helping people who are trying to survive outdoors during extreme weather.”

Wednesday’s vote follows an announcement by Mayor Steinberg that he would seek Council approval to use $40 million of the City’s mid-year budget surplus to jump start a fund to build affordable housing – a key part of the solution to homelessness long term. That proposal will go before Council for a vote on Tuesday.

“The Council is looking to take both immediate action to bring the unhoused indoors through our actions today and to build permanent solutions through an investment of $40 million into the City’s Housing Trust Fund,” said Vice Mayor Jay Schenirer.

The short-term action comes as the City launches work on Mayor Steinberg’s proposed master plan for siting, financing and operating sheltering solutions around the City. Following a series of workshops led by Council members, the plan is expected to go to Council for an up or down vote in June.

As the City stands up publicly and privately run warming centers, it anticipates needing substantial help from volunteers. Volunteers will be coordinated by Bridgette Dean (bdean@cityofsacramento.org) in the City’s Office of Community Response.