Sutter Supervisors to vote between two potential homeless sites today

The Sutter County Board of Supervisors will vote today on one of two potential homeless shelter sites presented by a citizens committee.

Eleven residents were appointed to the committee in January and have been reviewing options. The committee was formed after contentious board meetings last fall in which residents voiced opposition to the proposed use of Whiteaker Hall on Second Street, with concerns of its proximity to the Peach Bowl Little League field and cost of repurposing.

Supervisors could vote to approve one of two short-term sites: a 1.3-acre parcel at Sutter-yuba Behavioral Health at 1965 Live Oak Boulevard in Yuba City; or a twostory, 10,000 square-foot property at Church of Glad Tidings at 1179 Eager Road in Live Oak.

The design proposal for the Church of Glad Tidings option is for 20 recreational vehicles for transitional living at the north of the property, which is currently zoned agricultural. A two-story, 10,000-square-foot building on-site is proposed to be constructed as a permanent, emergency shelter, with an estimated cost of $1.5 million to $2 million, according to the staff report.

It’s estimated that six months a year would be a realistic timeline to construct the shelter, and it could be eligible for grant funds, though the county may have to own the land, according to the report.

The 1.3-acre parcel at Yuba-sutter Behavioral Health design proposal would be to develop the gravel parking lot for shelter purposes, according to the staff report. The project could be in use within three to six months and could accommodate at least 60 people. Military-style tents with cots could be utilized, and showers and restroom facilities would need to be developed. Tents or pre-fabricated structures were discussed as possibilities for the site.

The committee also considered the Leo Chesney Center on Apricot Street in Live Oak, but had concerns with short-term challenges associated with re-purposing the property that formerly served as a women’s prison.

Board chair Jana Shannon said the goal was to find an area with the least pushback and that could be utilized as quickly as possible. Shannon, who was a property manager for three decades, has experience with low-income housing and the funding available – which was her primary reason for volunteering for the board.

As a lifelong Sutter County resident, Shannon said while the committee has two recommendations for a short-term shelter, she hopes the group can also work toward a possible permanent shelter.

“This situation is not going to go away. You can’t just throw bandaids at it,” Shannon said Monday. “This is a very, very important issue that the community needs to be on board with.”

She said she was dismayed with the lack of public participation at the open and publicly-announced meetings, and said the process of considering sites came with a number of challenges. For one, there’s the cost, she said. They also had to consider zoning issues, access to services, and proximity to residences.

The committee narrowed down the search from 14 locations, including the old Butchie’s Pool at Gibson Avenue in Yuba City, the Rio Inn Motel on North Beale Road, Whiteaker Hall, and vacant land in front of the animal shelter at Garden Highway.

The Board of Supervisors can also decide to not consider either site and direct staff to not pursue a shelter.

Shannon said while the committee was formed solely to present potential short-term shelter sites, she hopes they can stay on board to continue with more permanent solutions. She said she hopes more community members can get involved in the process and keep an open mind.

“It can’t be handled completely by government and it can’t be handled completely by faith-based organizations,” Shannon said, “but businesses and the community have to step up to the plate, too.”

In a Monday story, “Parents voice objection to relocation discussion,” Yuba City Unified School District Superintendent Doreen Osumi was incorrectly quoted. The story about Central Gaither Elementary School should have quoted Osumi as stating in an email that there had been discussions about closing the school several years ago.