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After months of discussion, the Merced City Council may decide Monday what, if anything, it will do to help the area's homeless people.
Council members will consider proposals to open an emergency shelter at the National Guard Armory, the former BMC West building or McNamara Park.
They'll also mull whether to create a temporary or permanent campground at 3987 Hatch Road, near Cardella Road, or on 40 acres the city owns at Tyler Road and Mission Avenue.
And local leaders could also decide to do nothing.
The meeting begins at 7 p.m. at City Hall, 678 W. 18th St.
The area's homelessness has vexed city leaders for the past year. Past meetings have proved fruitless. Community advocates have urged action, though most involved concede there's no easy answer.
The city has a no-camping ordinance meant to keep people from living on the streets and along creeks. Without alternatives available for them, officers have held off on enforcing the law.
The city has amassed $54,000 in a housing fund it could spend to combat homelessness.
For now, the city staff estimates there should be enough beds for any homeless person needing one. The Merced County Rescue Mission agreed to add 30 beds. The D Street shelter will squeeze in an extra 10. There'll be 130 beds for winter.
A shelter, if supported by the council, would be opened if there aren't enough beds available at the two shelters, city spokesman Mike Conway said Friday. Another option would be offering vouchers for motel rooms.
It cost $85,346 to run the National Guard Armory in 2007, according to a city report. Officials are willing to lease the building to the city for two years.
BMC West's broker is producing a rental rate for the city. The building may not be ideal because it wasn't designed to be a shelter. The city may need to add fire and smoke alarms.
McNamara Park, in South Merced, offers a community building and showers. It would need to be inspected for fire safety.
The city estimates it will cost $15,751 a month to run a shelter. The costs include having staff to supervise and paying people to keep it clean.
A campground could be established so the dozen or so homeless sex offenders on parole have a safe place to live. State law requires their tents to be far from schools and parks.
Construction to extend utility lines, pave roads and add lights would cost about $1 million.
The two locations on the table are both owned by the city. The Hatch Road site is outside the city limits. It has compacted soil where a house used to stand. There's one neighbor and several ranchettes in the area.
The land at Tyler Road will be a park at some point. State parole officers prefer that area because it's closer to their office.
Reporter Scott Jason can be reached at (209) 385-2453 or sjason@mercedsun-star.com.
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