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Tuesday, Nov. 03, 2009

Merced City Council takes step toward setting aside land for homeless campground

Plan calls for 40-acre parcel of land at Tyler and Gerard roads to be used.

Merced is one step closer to having a public campground for its homeless community, following a divided vote Monday night by the City Council.

Local leaders are looking to build a campground on a 40-acre swath of land at Tyler and Gerard roads. The land is slated to be a regional park in several years. In the meantime, leaders think it could be the best option for helping the homeless camp in a safe area.

"Wherever we put a campground we will have opposition," Councilman Bill Spriggs said. "We need to have the political will to do it."

If the project moves forward, city crews would raze the cotton plants, compact the soil and build a campsite with bathrooms. Police officers will enforce rules, such as no drugs or alcohol.

Members of the general homeless population, along with the paroled sex offenders, would be able to camp out. As it stands, many of them live by Black Rascal Creek, which is in a flood plain.

The vote, following two hours of debate, marks the council's first significant move this year to address the number of people who are living along creeks and streets. Nonetheless, the plan is far from approved. The council told city staff to let neighbors know a sanctioned camp for the homeless could be built there. Another round of public comment will be held in two weeks.

Construction could take 30 to 60 days. Under the best of circumstances, it may not be open until January.

Mayor Ellie Wooten, councilmen Jim Sanders and Spriggs, and Councilwoman Michele Gabriault-Acosta supported the plan. Mayor Pro Tem John Carlisle and councilmen Joe Cortez and Noah Lor opposed it.

The Tyler Road campground was among a handful of proposals under consideration by the council. It still could stall if residents mount an opposition campaign.

Lor said he didn't like the idea of selecting Tyler Road just because no one showed up to speak against it.

"They need to be aware (of the plan)," he said. "It is not fair."

Before settling on the Tyler Road option, leaders wilted in the face of fierce opposition to a plan that would have moved the homeless to Hatch and Cardella roads, near UC Merced.

More than 30 people showed up ready to battle the council on the plan. Wooten made it clear from the start the council would scrap the Hatch Road proposal. Still, residents wanted to be heard so no one revives the plan later.

"I think (a campground) would kill UC Merced. We spent a lot of time and money bringing that campus here," Nat Woodhouse said. "You're going to reduce that area to a slum."

Larry Salinas, the university's assistant vice chancellor for university relations, said students and staff were concerned for their safety.

"We believe there are more appropriate alternatives," he said.

Carlisle tried to get the city to open an emergency cold-weather shelter as temperatures continue to fall. That plan faltered with a 3-4 vote.

Reporter Scott Jason can be reached at (209) 385- 2453 or sjason@mercedsun-star.com.