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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCD Ritter Center Performance Report 2016CITY OF Agenda Item No: 5.d Meeting Date: March 21, 2016 SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT Department: Community Development Prepared by: Paul Jensen (CP)(IQuz aSe� City Manager Approval: Title: Community Development Director TOPIC: Review of Ritter Center Performance Report (covering May 2015 to December 2015) SUBJECT: Review of 6 month Performance Report on the Ritter Center's adherence to the Use Permit (UP13-030) operational conditions of approval regulating client limits, litter control, security and police service calls to the facility for May 2015 — December 2015. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: This report provides the fifth Performance Review of the Use Permit (UP13-030) for Ritter Center. The conditions of approval of the Use Permit require a six month performance review of Ritter Center operations, specifically regarding client caseload tally, litter control, security practices and police calls for service specifically limited to the Day Services Center (DSC) and the medical modular operations. The analysis does not include a review of other Ritter Center services. The 60 -client -per day limit (averaged over the operational work week) is not a general limit for all Ritter Center campus services. This daily client limit is set for the Day Services and medical modular only. The current Use Permit approved by the Planning Commission in 2012 and per City Council direction, amended by the Zoning Administrator in 2013, allowed the installation of the modular trailer for medical services and allowed an increase to the daily client load from 45 to 60 clients. As was the case in the previous four Performance Reports, data submitted for this Performance Report demonstrates that Ritter Center is in general compliance with Use Permit conditions of approval requiring the performance review. The daily client caseload limit remains below 60 clients/day as required per Use Permit COA #5 (see Table 1, Page 6 of this staff report). Ritter continues to conduct daily security patrols during the weekday business hours, and additional patrols during evenings. Further, litter control measures are still in effect. Additional information about Ritter's relocation efforts is presented in the 2016 Ritter Center Narrative Report (Attachment 1) and on Page 8 of this staff report. Ritter has also reported services changes on site that have been implemented to improve overall operations on site. Specific details of the service changes are discussed on Page 3 of Attachment 1, and also summarized on Page 5 of this staff report. It was determined that this Performance Report be brought forward for public review by the City Council because: a) it is the fifth Performance Review since the Use Permit was last modified in 2012 to allow the increase in client limit to 60 clients; b) the homelessness issue continues to grow in the community and there are increased calls for service to areas around Ritter; and c) there is continued public concern with the state of Downtown and growing impacts to residents, businesses and city services. FOR CITY CLERK ONLY File No.: 273 1. Accepted the performance report Council Meeting: 03/21/2016 2 Directed staff to schedule a City Council Public Hearing for May 16, 2016, on the Use Permit 3. Directed staff to bring forward to City Council a recommendation for a moratorium on day use services Disposition: Accepted Report 4. Council consensus appointing the following two City Council Ad -Hoc committees: a. Councilmembers Bushey and Colin to work with Ritter Center on use operations; b. Mayor Phillips and Councilmember Gamblin to work with Ritter Center on aggressive relocation plans SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT / Page: 2 Furthermore, a review of the calls for service for a period of time before and after the medical modular trailer commenced operations reveals that there has been a significant increase (35%) in the calls for service in and around Ritter Center. Therefore, it may be time for the City to re -consider the Use Permit, given the current conditions, to review whether the client limits or conditions of approval outlined by the current Use Permit should be modified or the Use Permit should be revoked. In conclusion, staff recommends that the Council accept this performance report and seeks the Council's direction on next steps, as outlined in the options section on page 10 of this staff report, which include: 1) scheduling the Use Permit for a full review hearing for potential modification or revocation, 2) considering a moratorium and rezoning on day service uses; or 3) continuing with the performance report requirement for the next 6 months. RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends that the Council accept the report and direct staff to options #1 and #2, which entail scheduling the Use Permit for a full review hearing in late April or early May to consider modification or revocation of the Use Permit and presenting a moratorium on day service uses. BACKGROUND: Site and Use History: The Ritter Center has been in operation at its current location since 1981, providing a variety of services and resources, free of charge to the working poor and homeless. The Ritter Center is located in four buildings/modular trailers housed on two contiguous lots located on the south side of Ritter Street. As described below, the Ritter center provides various functions and services housed in the four buildings, including case management, behavioral health, day services, food pantry, emergency clothing/Goodwill Gift certificates and seasonal programs (Thanksgiving and Christmas): • Ritter Center (16 Ritter): Offices and food pantry distribution • Bouchard Building (16 Ritter): Case Management (5 offices) and a conference room • Day Services Center (DSC) (12 Ritter): Showers, laundry, and restrooms. Prior to the Use Permit amendment (UP11-070) to install the new medical modular in 2012, the DSC also served as the medical clinic. Following the approval of the Use Permit amendment (UP11-070) in 2012, the medical services were transferred to the new modular building and the DSC was limited to showers, laundry and restrooms. • Medical Modular Building (12 Ritter): Medical clinic The 16 Ritter St address was originally built as a single family home converted to office use in 1973. There was no Use Permit history for the site until 1992, when the Human Concern Center applied for a temporary Use Permit (ED92-52/ UP92-32) to install an 879 sq. ft. trailer on site, to the rear of the existing building at 16 Ritter St. The City approved a Use Permit and Design Review Permit for the trailer to be used as office space/counseling. The adjacent lot at 12 Ritter Street was vacant until 1993, when the City approved a Use Permit and Design Review Permit (ED93-15/UP93-16) for a 1,100 sq. ft. temporary trailer to be used for Day Services. In 2000, the City approved a Design Review Permit (ED00-37) to replace this trailer with a new 1,452 sq. ft. trailer. Both lots have always been viewed as one site in terms of services, but it was not until 2004 that both lots came under review as one cohesive Use Permit application, signed by both property owners. At that time, the Planning Commission approved a Use Permit amendment for 12-16 Ritter St (UP04-005). The purpose of the amendment was to modify several conditions of approval from previous Use Permits since they were no longer applicable or necessary. Planning Commission Resolution # 04-26 codifies the 1993 approved Use Permit operating at 12-16 Ritter Street and in effect consolidated all Ritter services under one operational Use Permit. All services listed in UP04-005 are still part of current Ritter Center services. 815 Third Street (Annex Building): The Ritter Center also leases 1,800 sq. ft. of administrative office space in the building directly across the street at 815 Third St. This space was previously approved for a temporary Use Permit to be used as a client screening and pick-up location for the 2011-2012 Rotating Emergency Shelter (REST) SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT / Page: 3 Program (expired April 2012). Ritter continued to use the space for administrative offices once the REST Program ended. The Use Permit for the Ritter operations does not include activities at the 815 Third St. However, the parcel is zoned 2/3 MUE (Second/Third Mixed Use East) and administrative offices is a permitted use in this zoning district. Staff has been informed that the 815 Third St. site is being used as a REST Program pick-up location, coordinated by St. Vincent's. Lease Information Update: Ritter Center has re -negotiated flexible leases with all of their landlords (see Page 2 of Attachment 1). These leases allow Ritter Center to continue as a tenant, and have differing 'early termination' agreements and notification periods to allow Ritter Center to exit the lease once an appropriate property is found. All of the landlords are aware of Ritter Center's intent to relocate and have crafted the lease to make that possible. The current lease agreements are as follows: ➢ 16 Ritter Street: Lease was recently extended for another 5 years, expiring in 2021. ➢ 12 Ritter Street: Lease has been extended for 12 months unless terminated sooner in accordance with the terms of the lease. ➢ 815 Third Street: Lease has been renegotiated for a 24 month term unless terminated sooner in accordance with the terms of the lease. Ritter Center staff has also been conducting an on-going search for a relocation site. For additional details on the relocation efforts, see Page 1 of the Ritter Center Narrative Report (Attachment 1). Current Use Permit (UP13-030) and Performance Report Requirement: On February 14, 2012, the Planning Commission approved a Use Permit amendment and Design Review amendment (UP1 1-070/ED1 1-089) for the Ritter Center site to allow the installation of a new medical modular building on site. The Use Permit amendment allowed the relocation of the existing medical clinic space from the Day Services Center (DSC) modular to the new 933 -sq. ft. modular. The total number of clients served (laundry/showers services and medical services) was increased from the 40 clients/day approved in 2004 (UP04-005) to 65 clients/day (averaged over a one week period). This limit did not apply to the other on-site services provided by the Ritter Center. The Planning Commission action was appealed to the City Council. On April 2, 2012, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 13321 upholding the Planning Commission action to grant a Use Permit amendment (UP11-070) for the Ritter Center (see Attachment 4), but reducing the total number of clients served by the DSC and the medical modular from 65 clients/dav to a total of 60 clients Per dav, averaged over one week. Resolution 13221 combined all of the uses of the past Use Permits granted for the Ritter Center into one Use Permit. However, the conditions of approval regarding client caseload tally and performance reporting were specifically limited to the DCS and the medical modular and did not include other Ritter Center services. The Use Permit includes other operational conditions of approval (listed below) including a requirement that a six-month performance report be completed and presented to the City Council. The first six-month performance report, covering the period of October 2012 to April 2013 was presented to the City Council on June 17, 2013. As part of this review, the City Council expressed concern over the method of tallying the client caseload (COA #5), based on a 7 day week when the Center was mostly open and operational for only 5 days per week. The Council voted (Resolution 13221) to direct staff to amend the language in COA#5 through a Zoning Administrator hearing so that the client limit average is based on the operational week dans (i.e., 5 day week) for the Ritter Center. On September 18, 2013, the Zoning Administrator held a hearing to amend Use Permit language in COA #5 as directed by the Council. The amended Use Permit (UP13-030) changed the language in COA #5 to read as follows: "Client caseload for the existing Day Services Center (DSC) and services in the new modular are limited to a total of 60 clients/day, averaged over the operational work week. For the purposes of this condition, an "operational dav" is defined as a dav during which the Dav Services Center or the medical modular building is open to clients for services." (Conditions of Approval #5). The specific conditions of the Use Permit approval related to the preparation of the six-month performance report are listed below, per UP13-030 (see Attachment 4): SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT / Page: 4 Condition of Approval #5: "Client caseload for the existing Day Services Center (DSC) and services in the new modular are limited to a total of 60 clients/dav, averaged over the operational work week. Commencing at occupancy and occupation of the new modular, on the first day of each month, the Ritter Center shall submit monthly reports to the Planning Division, which are to: a) provide a tally of the total number of daily client visits during the previous calendar month; and b) identify the number of days the "overflow plan" was implemented (per Use Permit Condition of Approval #17). The form of this report shall be approved by the Planning Division and City Attorney prior to the issuance of a building permit, and shall include verification under penalty of perjury." Condition of Approval #15: "On-going compliance with all conditions of approval shall be required to keep the Use Permit Amendment valid. This Use Permit (UP13-030) may be called to hearing at any time by the Planning Division in order to review compliance with the Conditions of Approval." Condition of Approval # 16: "Six (6) months from the date of occupancy and operation, a performance report shall be prepared by the Planning Division and shall continue to be prepared every six months thereafter. This performance report shall report on the Center's adherence to the operational conditions of approval regulating client limits, litter control and security, and shall include a tracking of the numbers of police service calls to the facility. Once completed, the performance reports shall be forwarded to the Planning Commission and City Council. If, during the course of monitoring, it is determined that the Ritter Center is out -of - compliance with conditions of approval, the City can schedule the Use Permit for a City Council public hearing. " Staff has presented a total of four Performance Reports to Council, starting in June 2013. Three of the reports were presented to Council as a public hearing agenda item. Public testimony at the hearings was mixed, with many residents and business owners expressing both support for Ritter and also concern about the magnitude of Ritter Center operations and the potential spillover effects on Downtown San Rafael in general and businesses along Ritter St. in particular. However, data from all four Performance Report analyses indicated that Ritter Center has been in general compliance with Use Permit conditions, per UP13-030. At this time, Ritter had also expressed their intention to relocate out of Downtown. At the November 17, 2014 public hearing for the 3 d Performance Report, the Council asked for guidance from the City Attorney as to the public hearing review requirements for the performance reports. The City Attorney reported that based on the language in Use Permit UP13-030, COA #16, the Council was not required to hold a public hearing to present the results of the performance report. The Council could, on its own or at the recommendation of staff, bring the item forward to a hearing as a follow-up to the 6 -month Performance Report memo. Based on this information, the Council voted to direct staff to present subsequent reports directly to Council as a staff memo, without a public hearing. Any interested parties could request a copy of the memo. The Council indicated that based on their review of the memo, they would determine whether the Use Permit should return to the Council for further review as a public hearing agenda item. On July 1, 2015, the 4th Performance Report (covering October 2014 to April 2015) was presented to the Council as a staff memo. A copy of the report was distributed to members of the public upon request. Again, Ritter Center was found in general compliance with Use Permit conditions of approval. Ritter also presented information about lease options for the site and agreed to work with City staff to find a suitable site to re -locate all or part of Ritter's services. Despite Ritter's compliance with the Use Permit conditions and their outreach to the adjacent businesses and community, in the months since July 2015, the City has received extensive comments expressing concern about the impact of having Ritter Services (and also St. Vincent services) in the downtown and the impacts on the downtown. As a result, the Council has directed staff to present the 5th Performance Report (covering May 2015 to December 2015) to the City Council for review. ANALYSIS: Fifth Performance Report (May 2015 — December 2015): The 5th Performance Report covers the period from May 2015 to December 2015. In an attempt to provide more current data, this actually covers an 8 month, not a 6 month time period. This should be taken into account if comparisons are made to the previous 6 month reporting SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT / Page: 5 period. As part of the performance report documentation, Ritter's Executive Director, Cia Byrnes, has submitted a report containing a narrative overview of the Ritter operations. The following are the key points in the Ritter Center Narrative Report (Attachment 1): ➢ Ritter has summarized their search for a new location, indicating that they have been working with a real estate agent to find alternative site outside downtown, but unable to find a suitable location due to an unwillingness of property owners to lease to Ritter due to fear of impacts to other tenants. They have researched various properties within San Rafael. Additional information is on Page 1 of the Ritter Center Narrative Report (Attachment 1). ➢ Ritter Center staff continues to provide daily litter control in the area, including morning litter removal. ➢ Security services and patrolling have remained the same as last reporting period, both weekends, evenings and weekend patrols by Barbier Security Service. ➢ Ritter has implemented several services changes (see Page 3 of Ritter Center Narrative Report, Exhibit 1), including the elimination of donations for clothes and household goods, closing the gate between 12 and 16 Ritter, security guard on site 1 hour before opening and 30 minutes after closing. The following is a presentation of compliance with the specified conditions of approval of the Use Permit for the operation of the Day Services Center (DSC) and the medical modular building from May 2015 to December 2015. As per the approved Use Permit UP13-030, this report does not review any other services offered at the Ritter Center site. The findings demonstrating compliance with the Use Permit conditions of approval pertinent to the DSC and medical modular are provided as follows: Condition of Approval #5 — This condition requires that Ritter Center staff has provided planning staff with monthly client caseload tally reports on the number of clients served at the DSC and the medical modular during a six-month period. In an attempt to get the most current information, staff requested that Ritter report be extended to 8 months rather than 6 months. So the report covers the 8 month caseload tally since the last Performance Report, and covers the period between May 2015 to December 2015 (see Attachment 2). As previously reported to the City Council, City Code Enforcement staff does not conduct surveys or in-depth investigations to confirm the daily number of clients served at Ritter. The tally sheets are prepared by Ritter, signed and submitted under penalty of perjury. The tally sheets also include information on the number of clients served each day of the week, and whether the "overflow management plan" (OMP) was implemented. The client caseload tally records show that the OMP was implemented 15 times between the months of May 2015 to December 2015. Details are presented under the OMP bulleted section below. Staff finds that based on the client caseload tallies submitted by Ritter staff, the Ritter Center did not exceed the client caseload limit and is in compliance with this condition of approval. Service changes: Refer to Page 3 of the 2016 Ritter Center Narrative Report submitted by Cia Byrnes (Attachment 1). In the report, Ms. Byrnes describes several operational changes that were designed to help reduce the number of clients on site, including: 1) the rear area of the site is now closed all days except Wednesday and will be used for bike/property storage; 2) the mail/post office box policy has been changed such that the service is no longer offered to people who use Ritter Center for mail services only. Now the mail service is only offered to people also using other Ritter services. Ms. Byrnes indicated that this eliminated 150 people that use the service; 3) mail pick up is no longer offered on Wednesday mornings, as it is the busiest day for produce delivery and the food bank; and 4) lights will be installed in three areas on the site to improve visibility and security. Ms. Byrnes contends that these changes should bring about positive impacts to the surrounding businesses. • Condition of Approval #15 - Based on the information submitted by the Ritter Center, staff finds that between May 2015 and December 2015, Ritter Center Day Services Center [DSC] and the medical modular have generally operated within the parameters and conditions of the approved Use Permit (UP13-060). See detailed discussion under findings for Condition of Approval #16 below. SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT / Page: 6 • Condition of Approval #16: As described above, this condition requires that the 6 -month performance report demonstrate compliance with the following five conditions. Staff summarizes findings on overall compliance at the end of each COA. This analysis covers an 8 month period instead of 6 month period. ➢ Client limits: Use Permit COA #5 stipulates that: "Client caseload for the existing Day Services Center (DSC) and services in the new modular are limited to a total of 60 clients/dav, averaged over the operational work week." The numbers reported in Table 1 reflect only clients using laundry/shower services at the DSC and clients using services at the medical modular. Other services provided at Ritter are not included in the client count. Clients using the laundry/shower services are by appointment only and are capped at 40 clients/day. Please note that in addition to the information below, the client caseload tally sheets (sent to staff at the end of each month) are attached. There was a wide range in the number of clients served each day, but the condition is tied to the average number. Staff has reviewed the client caseload tallv sheets and determined that Ritter Center has complied with the daily client caseload limit of 60 clients/dav averaged over an operational work week. The highest average number of clients served over any given operational work week was 59.8 clients in October 2015. By comparison, this is the same highest average reported for in the 4th Performance Report for the month of October 2014. ➢ If looking at each day, separate from the operational work week, there were a total of 40 individual days when the actual number of clients exceeded 60/day clients (see Table 1). This is an increase from the 4t" performance report (October 2014 through April 2015), where there were a total of 24 days when the number of clients exceeded 60 clients/day. Please note that per Use Permit COA #5, the client caseload limits are not based on clients/day but rather, as clients/day averaaed over the operational work week. ➢ Overflow Management Plan (OMP): Pursuant to Use Permit COA #17, Ritter established a "Client Overflow Management Plan". Draft language for the OMP was reviewed by the Planning Division and the City Attorney per Use Permit COA #17 prior to finalization as a condition of approval. The protocol for managing client overflow is described as Procedure #5 in the OMP, and states the following: `if need exceeds demand for available space in the Ritter Health Center (i.e., more patients arrive after maximum registrations have been accepted), drop-in patients will be offered an appointment for the following day, or given a cab voucher and referred to the Marin General Emergency Room or Marin Community Clinics depending on the severity of the condition. " The original goal of the OMP was to help manage the number of Ritter clients using the medical modular on site in the event there were more clients seeking medical services than Ritter staff could accommodate or the site exceeded the maximum number of clients established by the Use TABLE 1: Ritter Center Client Caseload for DSC and Medical Modular (May 2015 — December 2015) Month Average caseload Daily Client Number of Max average Overflow over operational Caseload days clients caseload allowed Management work week exceeded over operational Plan Used? If 60/day work week yes, how many times? Lowest Highest Low High May 2015 50.2 58.5 41 57 3 60 No June 2015 47.8 59.6 16 69 6 60 Yes -1 July 2015 53.4 58.6 39 64 8 60 Yes -2 Aug 2015 57 59.4 48 64 6 60 Yes -1 Sept 2015 57.5 58.9 45 64 5 60 Yes -4 Oct 2015 59.2 59.8 56 63 5 60 Yes -4 Nov 2015 57.7 59.2 49 63 3 60 Yes -3 Dec 2015 45.7 57.5 40 63 4 60 No ➢ Overflow Management Plan (OMP): Pursuant to Use Permit COA #17, Ritter established a "Client Overflow Management Plan". Draft language for the OMP was reviewed by the Planning Division and the City Attorney per Use Permit COA #17 prior to finalization as a condition of approval. The protocol for managing client overflow is described as Procedure #5 in the OMP, and states the following: `if need exceeds demand for available space in the Ritter Health Center (i.e., more patients arrive after maximum registrations have been accepted), drop-in patients will be offered an appointment for the following day, or given a cab voucher and referred to the Marin General Emergency Room or Marin Community Clinics depending on the severity of the condition. " The original goal of the OMP was to help manage the number of Ritter clients using the medical modular on site in the event there were more clients seeking medical services than Ritter staff could accommodate or the site exceeded the maximum number of clients established by the Use SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT / Page: 7 Permit. It is important to note that the OMP does not and was not intended to apply to clients using other services at Ritter Center. The intent of the OMP was to reduce the number of DSC and medical clients having to wait for long periods of time in the vicinity of the site, or leave the site and possibly wait in other areas of Downtown. Ritter used the OMP a total of 15 times in the 8 month period between May 2015 and December 2015. The OMP was not used at all during the previous 6 month reporting period. In an e-mail to staff, Ritter submitted the following statement about the OMP and how it relates to Ritter operations: "If need exceeds demand for available space in the Ritter Health Center (i.e. more patients arrive after maximum registrations have been accepted), drop in patients are offered an appointment for the following day, or given a cab voucher and referred to the Marin General Emergency Room or Marin Community Clinics depending on the severity of the condition. This provision was written with the intent that "maximum registrations" referred to the average weekly cap on relevant services (COA #5). To clarify, Ritter Center has absolutely had to offer patients an appointment the following day or referred patients to Marin General, Marin Community Clinics, or an evening session of the RotaCare clinic. This generally happens because patients enter the clinic very near the clinic's closing time and the clinic already has patients waiting to be seen. The patients who arrive too late are indeed invited to come back the following day with priority or referred to one of the other medical providers. Ritter Center's clinic operates on a drop-in basis to remove barriers to service for its patients and while showers and laundry operate by appointment, appointments do not fill up every single operational day and some clients no-show for their appointments. Ritter Center enters these services into our client database in time -efficient batches using a service batch entry database module at the end of the business day or during the next operational day. The agency can then run a database report to see how many clients were served that particular day, but this information is not available in real time hour by hour for each day of service. Ritter Center has not approached its client limit cap since operations were altered to ensure compliance with the cap being calculated by the number of operational days." Based on this the information provided in Table 1 and the above narrative, staff determined that Ritter operations are consistent with the immediate goal of the OMP, which was to manage the number of clients on site and reduce off-site impacts in the vicinity due to long wait periods. The purpose and intent of the OMP is being met. ➢ Litter control: Use Permit COA #8 stipulates that: "The Ritter Center shall continue to provide a litter control program to monitor and pick up litter within the neighborhood area of the Center a minimum of three (3) times per week." Ritter Center reports that the same litter control measures are in effect from the last reporting period, and are in compliance with the COA language. Each morning, Ritter staff and volunteers remove litter from the street and neighboring businesses — with special attention given to Best Collateral and the House of Brakes area. Ritter has also instituted a no smoking policy on site and security guards are vigilant to ask clients to extinguish their cigarettes. Please see additional information on Page 3 of the Ritter Center Narrative Report (Attachment 1). Based on this information, Ritter Center is in compliance with the required Use Permit condition of approval. ➢ Security: Use Permit COA #13 stipulates that "the DSC continue to maintain a security program during operating hours." Ritter Center has continued to provide security services from 7:30 am to 5:30 pm during operational hours, and added extra security patrols in the evening. A minimum of three (3) patrols are conducted on Saturdays and Sundays, with the same security service they had during the last 6 months: a full time security guard on site from 7:30 am — 5:30 pm, and 3 additional patrols during the evening/night/weekend. Barbier Security continues to provide two to three after-hours security patrols from 8:30 pm to 6:30 am, seven nights/week- two patrols each night Monday through Friday and 6 patrols on the weekend (3 on Saturday night and 3 on Sunday night). This is total of 16 patrols. Please see additional information on Page 3 of the Ritter Center Narrative Report (Exhibit 1). Based on this information, Ritter Center is in compliance with the required Use Permit condition of approval. SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT / Page: 8 ➢ San Rafael Police Department Calls for Service: Use Permit COA #16 stipulates that the performance report "shall include a tracking of police service calls to the facility." The San Rafael Police Department (SRPD) submitted a "Calls for Service" Report with information about police calls for Ritter Center and the surrounding vicinity (see Attachment 3). Page 2 of the SRPD report shows there were a total of 84 calls for service to Ritter Center in the 8 -month period between May 2015 and December 2015, which represents a 41 % decrease in calls compared to the previous 6 -month reporting period (September 2014 to April 2015). In the same 8 -month period, calls for service to Best Collateral also decreased by 8%. However, calls for service increased in areas immediately surrounding Ritter, specifically for Walgreens (+66%), Perry's Deli (+4%), and Goodwill (+4%). Staff notes that the applicant, Cia Byrnes, has provided a response to this SRPD Calls for Service Report on Page 5 of her Ritter Center Narrative Report (Attachment 1). Ritter Center Lease Update and Relocation Efforts: Cia Byrnes, Ritter Center Executive Director, has provided a detailed narrative of Ritter's relocation efforts in the Ritter Center Narrative Report, Page 1 (see Attachment 1). In summary, Ritter contends they are actively seeking alternative locations to relocate their use, outside downtown San Rafael. However, at this time, they have not yet secured an alternate location. Ritter first indicated that they were seeking to relocate almost two years ago. Given that they have not secured an alternate location, Ritter has recently informed the City that they exercised an extension to the lease for both their Ritter Street properties, to allow them to remain in the current location while they continue to search for an alternate location. During the past few months, City staff has also become increasingly involved in assisting with the search for an alternate location. Community Development Department staff has been assigned the task to actively work with Ritter and their real estate broker to find an alternative location. In addition, this staff person has been utilizing his contacts, knowledge of the city to help identify alternate sites to present to Ritter. Although there do appear to be a few possible options that have been identified, there is no site yet secured. General Comments Regarding Ritter Center Use: The City continues to receive a significant amount of public interest in the homeless issue, particularly, how it impacts our Downtown. Although the performance report noted above illustrates that Ritter has generally adhered to the specific conditions of approval required by the Use Permit, the homeless issue continues to grow in downtown and poses a significant impact on residents, businesses and City services. Even though the City receives many public comments supporting Ritter and the services they provide, the fact still remains that there is a growing homeless issue that impacts many local residents, businesses and visitors to our community, as well as poses a significant impact to City services, resources and City facilities. It is clear that Ritter Center and the area around Ritter have a history of police calls for service. In an effort to provide a greater overview of the number of police calls for service for Ritter and the surrounding area before and after the new medical modular was approved in 2012, SRPD generated an expanded version of their 6 -month calls for service report which presents data for a 7 year period, starting on October 1, 2008 and ending in September 30, 2015 (see Attachment 6). Staff has reviewed the report and below is a brief summary of the data as it relates to Ritter and the Surrounding Area. Please note that the SRPD has provided a map of the area encompassing "Ritter and the Surrounding Area", and it is defined as a "400 foot radius from the Center, with 51 different locations". The report also focuses on calls for service to the top 5 businesses in this area (Walgreens, Ritter Center, Goodwill Industries, Perry's Delicatessen, and Marin Beverage Outlet) as well as 9 intersections. Please note that while UP13-030 was approved in February 2012, the medical modular did not officially open until October 2012. ■ The report shows that the top five businesses listed above had the most SRPD calls for service during the 8 - year time period studied — Walgreens (1,088), Ritter (215), Goodwill (1,088), Perry's Deli (181) and Marin Beverage Outlet (167). ■ The number of calls to Ritter Center itself was 100 or less between October 1, 2008 and September 30, 2011. This was before the medical modular was operational. Then the calls started to decline. The number of calls decreased from 83 calls in the 6 months pre -medical modular approval (April 2012 to September 2012) to 70 SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT / Page: 9 calls in the 6 months post -medical modular approval operations (October 1, 2012 — March 31, 2013). The calls decreased again, down to 51 calls in the next 6 month period (April 1, 2013 to September 30, 2013). ■ Then the service calls to Ritter increased to 145 calls for the 6 months between October 1, 2013 to March 31, 2014. The calls for service began to decrease in the following 6 month period from 134 calls, to 107 calls to 70 calls for service in the period between April 1, 2015 to September 30, 2015. ■ Overall, there has been an increase to the calls for service at Ritter Center itself, from 428 calls for service (three-year period prior to medical trailer) to 577 calls (three-year post -medical modular), an increase of 35%. ■ In addition, the total call for service in the 400 -foot radius surrounding Ritter have also experienced an increase in calls for service, from 1,650 calls pre -modular to 2,222 calls post -modular, an increase of 35% during the same three-year period pre and post -medical trailer. ■ This highlights that Ritter Center creates an attraction for the homeless population and even though Ritter may be managing their clients on site, some of the impacts and issues spill over onto surrounding businesses and City streets. In addition to these statistics, observations and personal experiences from members of the SRPD Special Operations Unit, (SOU) identify that many of homeless subjects that cause problems in the City also seek services at the Ritter Center. The SOU has maintained a list of the most frequent homeless subjects that cause problems or create calls for service in our downtown. Out of the 28 subjects on that list, 19 of them can often be seen seeking services or loitering in and around the Ritter Center. These 19 subjects are often creating calls for service, causing disturbances and/or violating the law in Downtown San Rafael. Some of these subjects may no longer be seeking services at the Ritter Center, because the Ritter Center has placed them on the refusal list, based on poor behavior. However, they still congregate in the area surrounding Ritter. One example that is typical of the 19 most frequent subjects, is that one subject is often seen loitering in and around the Ritter Center and has been cited and/or arrested 7 times between January 1 sc and March 1 st, 2016. Even though all the issues cannot be solely attributed to Ritter and its operation, it also cannot be said that Ritter does not contribute to the problem. It potentially serves as an attraction for nuisance activity. Given the significant increase in issues in the downtown, it may be time for the City to reconsider the Use Permit for the Ritter Center and whether it is still appropriate for the site, whether the number of clients allowed by the Use Permit should be reduced or if the Use Permit should be revoked. Many of the facts and circumstances under which the Use Permit was granted and subsequently modified over the years, may have changed and a full review of the Use Permit may be warranted at this time to consider whether the allowances or conditions of approval should be modified or if the Use Permit should be revoked. The applicant has provided the attached response to above referenced police report (Attachment 7). COMMUNITY OUTREACH/PUBLIC COMMENTS: Aside from this specific performance report the City Council has taken significant measures to address the greater homelessness issue and how it effects downtown. Through those measures, the Council has held numerous public meetings, created a task force of stakeholders, and expended significant resources, including additional police staff, and has created a new temporary homelessness director position. The Council and various in nearly all city departments have been working on various facets of this topical area. In terms of this particular performance review, staff has received 61 e-mails about the Ritter Center project (see Attachment 5). Nearly all these comments were received in response to the public notice mailed regarding this meeting or the February 21, 2016 Marin Independent Journal article on Ritter's relocation efforts. These e-mails are generally split in expressing support for Ritter Center and it provides to the community or citing concerns with the impacts of Ritter on the homeless issues in downtown. Staff initially attempted to respond to each comment, but due to the heavy volume, staff has not been able to respond to all comments. Of the 61 comments received thus far, 30 were letters in opposition and 31 were letters of support. All comments were also forward to Ritter Center for follow-up. Before the noticing of this hearing and the IJ article, staff had only received 2 comments, one related to people gathering at 815 Third Street as part of the REST Program pick-up and one complaint about trash and litter along SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT / Page: 10 Ritter Street. Staff forwarded both complaints to Ritter, and Ritter communicated with staff on what was happening and their continued commitment to all conditions of approval. As noted previously, St. Vincent's coordinates REST pick-up locations. FISCAL IMPACT: There are no fiscal impacts to the City associated with this performance review aside from the staff time and resources necessary to complete this performance report. It is estimated that monitoring the monthly reports submitted by Ritter Center, analysis of compliance with conditions of approval, and the preparation of this staff report have taken 10 hours of staff time (billable at $132/hr.) for a cost of $1,320. In addition, staff has spent additional time responding to e-mail correspondence for a total of 2 additional staff hours ($264). To date, total billable time spent on the project (excluding the Council meeting) is $1,584. However, the City is expending a significant amount of time and resources on the greater topic of homelessness, with financial impacts to multiple City Departments through use of staff resources and impacts to public facilities. OPTIONS: The City Council has the following options to consider on this matter. Aside from accepting this 6 month Performance Report, Staff seeks the Council's direction for next steps on the Ritter Center Use Permit. The Council has the following options: 1. Direct staff to schedule a City Council public hearing on the Use Permit (either April 18th or May 2nd or an alternate date) to consider modification to the Use Permit and conditions of approval or Revocation of the Use Permit; or 2. Direct staff to bring forward to City Council a recommendation for a moratorium on day services uses in order to study and consider potential changes to the Zoning Ordinance related to certain uses that cater to homeless services; or 3. Direct staff to comeback for the next 6 month review (Jan 2016 —June 2016) in late summer 2016; or 4. Do not accept the performance report and direct staff to return with additional information. ATTACHMENTS: 1. Ritter Center Narrative Report, dated February 26, 2016 2. Tally Sheets (May 2015 through December 2015) submitted by Ritter 3. San Rafael Police Department (SRPD) Calls for Service Report. Mav 2015 - December 2015. 4. Zoning Administrator Use Permit (UP13-030), approved September 18, 2013 5. Public Correspondence 6. San Rafael Police Department Report on Calls for Service to Ritter Center and Surrounding Community, covering 7 years between October 1. 2008 — September 30, 2015. 7. Email from Ben Leroi, Deputy Director, Ritter Center, dated March 15, 2016 (Re: Second SRPD Police Report) The Marin Safety Net Six Month Use Permit Performance Report UP13-3o and APN's 011-272.-13 &011-272-04 February 26, 2o16 Relocation Efforts/Leases In our ongoing search for a relocation site Ritter Center continues to be unable to find a suitable property to relocate the full scope of the agency's services. Repeatedly, we have encountered an unwillingness to lease to Ritter Center, due to the nature of services we provide. In all most all locations that meet the square footage and zoning requirements, we have encountered the response "not a good fit for other tenants" or the property owner does not want to lease to us for another reason. Our realtor, Jeffery Wilmore will be providing the city with a summary report of our efforts to date. Sutter Health, who owns the Marin Square property, does not want to lease to Ritter Center, as they have plans to sell the buildings and do not want to have long-term tenants hampering the sale -ability of the property. We have approached Sutter through our realtor, and asked the City to bring some of their influence and leverage into a negotiation, but to no avail. We are approaching Tom Peters, CEO of Marin Community Foundation to see if there is any influence he can exert with the Sutter Foundation to reconsider their decision. In our discussions with Marin Community Clinics, we have speculated that the County may be interested in relocating some of their services in a County -owned building in order to accommodate Ritter Center services. This would not.accommodate showers and laundry services, but could accommodate the food pantry services and would be a great benefit for both clinic populations. We are also exploring other options in addition to traditional lease agreements. We are investigating a purchase possibility of a building in north San Rafael that is far from residential areas that exceeds our space requirements. However, if purchased with partners to share the space, this may be a viable option. Likely partners to include would be other nonprofits looking for additional space or establish a new program (Seneca, Lifelong Medical Services and/or MCC for example). Our realtor is also looking to develop an investor/donor group who may be able to purchase the building for Ritter Center and'has been working closely with the city planning manager. The building could be ideal for the county's multi -service center should there be a commitment to that plan. .. .. . � Marchi_ ... � .. ... .. ... .... ,. 4, zo16 Attachment 1 The Marin Safety Net Six Month Use Permit Performance Report UP13-3o and APN's 011-272-13 &011-272-04 Leases Ritter Center has renegotiated flexible leases with all of their property owners. These leases allow Ritter Center to continue as a tenant, and have differing `early termination' agreements and notification periods to allow Ritter Center to exit the lease once an appropriate property is found. All of our property owners have been supportive and very accommodating. They are aware of Ritter Center's intent to relocate and have crafted the leases to make that possible. 16 Ritter Street: Lease has been renegotiated for 5 years with an option to amend the lease terms and termination date in 2o16. 12 Ritter Street: Lease has been extended for 12 months unless terminated sooner in accordance with the terms of the lease. 815 Third Street: Lease has been renegotiated for a 24 month term unless terminated sooner in accordance with the terms of the lease. 2 1 March 14, zo16 The Marin Safety Net Six Month Use Permit Performance Report UP13-3o and APN's 011-272-13 &011-272-04 Client Activity, Environmental Controls and Securitv Client activity has been at normal or reduced levels during the six-month period. We have rarely had to use the "overflow management plan" as our clinic numbers have been at or below typical winter levels over the past six months. We have continued to have security present 7:3o am - 5:3opm during our operational hours and added extra security patrols in the evening. Security does 3 checks during the evening/night and I receive and review daily reports. During the evening/night/weekend patrols the security personnel move along people who are sleeping on or around Ritter property, the triangle park, and neighboring businesses. During the day, the security patrols the entire Ritter Street, moving people along from neighboring businesses and intervening with residents who may be behaving inappropriately. Each morning, Ritter staff and volunteers remove litter from the street and neighboring businesses - with special attention given to Best Collateral and the House of Brakes area. During the REST program, there is often litter left behind Best Collateral after clients were picked up either near Goodwill or near Ritter. Our Volunteer and Services Coordinator has been vigilant in ensuring that we go above and beyond in keeping the street and neighboring areas clean and free of litter as possible and responds personally to calls from the manager of Best Collateral. Smoking now is prohibited on all areas of the Ritter property, we have purchased and placed no smoking signs on our neighbors' property and our security guards are being vigilant in asking people to extinguish their cigarettes up and down the block. Service Changes Ritter Center has stopped taking donations for all clothing and household goods and will have a true emergency clothing/gear closet stocked with new (and gently used) basic clothing dispensed by the staff in the context of a visit. It will no longer be open to clients to `shop' for clothing. We believe this will reduce the number of discarded clothes found downtown and in the hills near the encampments. 3 . rah 14, 2016 The Marin Safety Net Six Month Use Permit Performance Report UP13-3o and APN's 011-272-13 &011-272-04 Ritter Center will also begin closing the gate between 16 and 12 Ritter Street to create a more welcoming but enclosed area for Ritter Center clients to wait for services or rest during the day. As always, clients who are using drugs, are inebriated, are aggressive or otherwise badly behaved will not be allowed on the property. The gate will be operable and opened only when needed to allow the SRFD and ambulances access to the property. One (1) handicap parking space in the 815 Third Street parking lot will be reserved for handicap parking for medical visits only (i.e. no prolonged parking in the single handicap space) and the patient must have a documented appointment in the medical clinic to use the space. The security guard will continue to monitor the sidewalk in the neighborhood, keeping clients moving along unless coming into the Center for an appointment or service encounter and enforcing no smoking and parking regulations. The security guard is on duty 1 hour before Ritter Center opens and for 30 minutes after the Center closes. We have closed the back waiting area to clients on all days except Wednesday morning and plan to use the area for bike and property storage. This change has moved clients out into small groups in the main area between 16 Ritter and 12 Ritter where they can wait for services and be observed more easily by the security guard. This has decreased the number of client conflicts and police service calls and made the area more hospitable to all clients receiving services here. We have also changed our mail/post office box policy to ensure that clients who receive mail here are clients who use more services than just mail pick up. This will reduce the number of clients who use the Ritter address only for pickup of General Assistance checks. For each person who comes in to pick up mail, we check the database to ensure the client is also engaged in other services. Mail for those people is being returned to the post office. We have also been working with the County General Assistance team to find new ways to manage clients who use Ritter Center's PO Box as their address despite the fact they are not a registered client of the Ritter Center. .... ,. , .. 4March 14, 2o16' ---. _,........_.....__.y.__............_.. ..._ .....-_r..._.__..._ ......_ �... _ .v.,...._.._.._..,.....-.-.._..,---...._._..:.._.._,._� � The Marin Safety Net Six Month Use Permit Performance Report UP13-3o and APN's oil -272-13 &011-272-04 POLICE CALLS The analysis of SRPD service calls from May through December 2015 within 400 feet of Ritter Center shows an interesting trend. The bulk of this report analyzes police calls from the five businesses that place the most calls. Three of these businesses (Goodwill, Best Collateral, Perry's) were within plus or minus 1-2 calls as compared to the prior eight-month period. Ritter Center's calls for service decreased 41%. However, Walgreens police calls increased by 66%, completely driving the 7% total increase from these five businesses. Taking a closer look at Walgreens calls for service, the report illustrates that 67% of these calls are placed from Spm -yam when Ritter Center is closed, while an additional lo% of police calls took place during the Sam -spm period on the weekends, when Ritter Center is also closed. Therefore at least 77% of all Walgreens police calls took place when Ritter Center is not open. The report does not detail the number of calls that take place after Sam but before Ritter Center opens on weekday mornings, so the actual rate of Walgreens police calls that take place when Ritter Center is not open is most likely more than 80%. This indicates that the subjects of these police calls are not in the area at the time of the police calls due to Ritter Center's services. Walgreens' downtown San Rafael store is open 24 hours per day / 7 days per week. Businesses open late at night, particularly those that sell alcohol, often must have protocols in place to provide the best possible environment for their customers and staff. Fortunately, Walgreens has the corporate infrastructure and experience to review and amend these protocols as needed to potentially reduce the number of Spm -yam police calls. RESPONSE to Complaints: Ritter Center has responded promptly to any complaints we receive from our neighbors. We were notified from the City that there was a complaint regarding men waiting at 815 Third Street Annex for the REST pickup. St. Vincent's runs this program and did not ask Ritter Center if that site could be used as a pick up location. REST clients are now waiting on the sidewalk by the public park, and Ritter Center continues to monitor the entire area from 7:30am — 5:30pm. We are mindful of and share the frustration of business operators like Lucianna of Best Collateral when people - for whatever reason - are abusive of persons and property. We are adding security cameras in the hope that we will be able to identify anyone damaging the ., .: . 5 March i4, M6 ,� The Marin Safety Net Six Month Use Permit Performance Report UP13-3o and APN's 011-272-13 &011-272-04 property, leaving trash or personal belongings, or otherwise behaving inappropriately. If those identified are Ritter clients, we can and will intervene. It is understood, Ritter cannot control the behavior of everyone or anyone and can only manage the behavior of clients and others who are on the Ritter property. We do, however, try to help our neighbors by providing security round the clock, conducting regular litter patrols, and intervening with difficult clients or citizens. 6 1 March 14,2o16 Ritter Center City of San Rafael Use Permit Report Date 5/1/2014 5/2/2014 5/3/2014 5/4/2014 5/5/2014 5/6/2014 5/7/2014 5/8/2014 5/9/2014 5/10/2014 5/11/2014 5/12/2014 5/13/20141 5/14/20141 5/15/20141 5/16/2014 5/17/2014 5/18/2014 .5/19/20141 5/20/2014) 5/21/20141 5/22/20141 5/23/2014 5/24/2014 5/25/2014 5/26/2014 5/27/20141 5/28/20141 5/29/20141 5/30/20141 Client Caseload 45 May 2015 Overflow Plan Enacted? No 53 No 53 No 41 No 50 No. 54 No 57' No 531 No 621 No 521 No 491 No 1 591 No 491 No 591 No 511 _ N o 671. No I_ 1 Memorial Day 611 No - 561 No 581 No 591 No Average Caseload for Work Week 50.21 54.61 57.01 58.5 verify under penalty of perjury that the foregoing is true and correct at time of reporting. Marcia Byrnes, Exe ut ve Director Executed on Date Attachment 2 Ritter Center City of San Rafael Use Permit Report June 2015 Average Client Overflow Plan Caseload for Date Caseload Enacted? Work Week 6/1/2015 69 No 6/2/2015 55 No 6/3/2015 45 No 6/4/2015 39 No .6/5/2015 42 No 50.01 6/6/2015 6/7/2015 6/8/2015 62 No 6/9/2015 47 No 6/10/2015 68 No 6/11/2015 59 No 6/12/2015 43 Nn 55.8 6/13/2015 6/14/2015 6/15/2015 68 No 6/16/2015 55 NO 6/17/2015 53 No 6/18/2015 65 No 6/19/2015 57 Yes 59.6 6/20/2015 6/21/2015 6/22/2015 50 No 6/23/2015 16 NO 6/24/2015 60 No 6/25/2015 67 No 6/26/2015 46 No 47.8 6/27/2015 6/28/2015 6/29/2015 60 NO 6/30/2015 50 No I verify u der pen lty of perjury that the foregoing is true and correct at time of reporting. Marcia Byr es, xe utive Director Executed on Date Ritter Center City of San Rafael Use Permit Report July 2015 7/1/2015 64 Overflow Average 53 Client Plan Caseload for Date Caseload Enacted? Work Week 7/1/2015 64 No 7/2/2015 53 No 7/3/2015 7/4/2015 7/5/2015 7/6/2015 57 No 7/7/2015 56 No 7/8/2015 57 No 7/9/2015 39 No .7/10/2015 58 No 7/11/2015 7/12/2015 7/13/2015 64 No 7/14/2015 63 No 7/15/2015 51 No 7/16/2015 59 No 7/17/2015 56 Yes 7/18/2015 7/19/2015 7/20/2015 62 No 7/21/2015 62 No 7/22/2015 62 No 7/23/2015 61 No 7/24/2015 46 Yes 7/25/2015 7/26/2015 7/27/2015 60 No 7/28/2015 48 No 7/29/2015 66 No 7/30/2015 58 No 53.41 58.6 58.61 7/31/2015 58 No 58.01 1 verify under pen ty of perjury that the foregoing is true and correct at time of reporting. Cia Byrnes, Executive Director Executed on Date Ritter Center City of San Rafael Use Permit Report August 2015 Overflow Average Client Plan Caseload for Date Caseload Enacted? Work Week 8/1/2015 8/2/2015 8/3/2015 62 No 8/4/2015 61 No 8/5/2015 60 No 8/6/2015 48 No 8/7/2015 56 No 57.41 8/8/2015 8/9/2015 8/10/2015 59 No 8/11/2015 63 No 8/12/2015 64 No 8/13/2015 59 No 8/14/2015 52 Yes 59.41 8/15/2015 8/16/2015 8/17/2015 58 No 8/18/2015 60 No 8/19/2015 60 No 8/20/2015 53 No 8/21/2015 54 No 57.01 8/22/2015 8/23/2015 8/24/2015 60 No 8/25/2015 59 No 8/26/2015 61 No 8/27/2015 53 No 8/28/2015 58 No 58.21 8/29/2015 8/30/2015 8/31/2015 62 No I verify under penalty of perjury that the foregoing is true and correct at time of reporting. Cia Byrnes, Execut" e Director Executed on Date Ritter Center City of San Rafael Use Permit Report September 2015 Overflow Average Client Plan Caseload for Date Caseload Enacted? Work Week 9/1/2015 64 No 9/2/2015 61 No 9/3/2015 60 No 9/4/2015 45 Yes 57.5 9/5/2015 9/6/2015 9/7/2015 LABOR DAY 9/8/2015 63 No 9/9/2015 62 No 9/10/2015 56 No 9/11/2015 58 Yes 58.91 9/12/2015 9/13/2015 9/14/2015 59 No 9/15/2015 61 No 9/16/2015 57 No 9/17/2015 57 No 9/18/2015 59 Yes 58.6 9/19/2015 9/20/2015 9/21/2015 60 No 9/22/2015 60 No 9/23/2015 59 No 9/24/2015 59 No 9/25/2015 54 Yes 58.41 9/26/2015 9/27/2015 9/28/2015 59 No 9/29/2015 59 No 9/30/2015 60 No I verify penalty of perjury that the foregoing is true and correct at time of reporting. �,under &d-- // 41-1�3114- Cia Byrnes, E ec i e Director _ _ Executed on Date Ritter Center City of San Rafael Use Permit Report October 2015 10/31/2015 I verify under penalty of perjury that the foregoing is true and correct at time of reporting. Marcia By nes ecutive Director Executed on Date Average Client Overflow Plan Caseload for Date Caseload Enacted? Work Week 10/1/2015 60 No 10/2/2015 58 No 10/3/2015 10/4/2015 10/5/2015 59 No 10/6/2015 59 No 10/7/2015 60 No 10/8/2015 59 No 10/9/2015 60 Yes 59.41 10/10/2015 10/11/2015 10/12/2015 59 No 10/13/2015 59 No 10/14/2015 58 No 10/15/2015. 62 No 10/16/2015 58 Yes 59.21 10/17/2015 10/18/2015 10/19/2015 62 No 10/20/2015 57 No 10/21/2015 62 No 10/22/2015 62 No 10/23/2015 56 Yes 59.81 10/24/2015 10/25/2015 10/26/2015 60 No 10/27/2015 59 No 10/28/2015 57 No 10/29/2015 63 No 10/30/2015 59 Yes 59.61 10/31/2015 I verify under penalty of perjury that the foregoing is true and correct at time of reporting. Marcia By nes ecutive Director Executed on Date Ritter Center City of San Rafael Use Permit Report November 2015 Average Client Overflow Plan Caseload for Date Caseload Enacted? Work Week 11/1/2015 11/2/2015 63 No 11/3/2015 55 No 11/4/2015 - . 59 No 11/5/2015 60 No 11/6/2015 59 Yes 59.2 11/7/2015 11/8/2015 11/9/2015 57 No 11/10/2015 60 No 11/11/2015 60. No 11/12/2015 59 No 11/13/2015 58 Yes 58.8 11/14/2015 11/15/2015 11/16/2015 59 No 11/17/2015 .60 No 11/18/2015 56 No 11/19/2015 58 No 11/20/2015 59 Yes 58.41 11/21/2015 11/22/2015 11/23/2015 62 No 11/24/2015 62 No 11/25/2015 49 No 57.71 11/26/2015 CLOSED 11/27/2015 CLOSED . 11/28/2015 11/29/2015 11/30/2015 56 No I verify under penalty of perjury that the foregoing is true and correct at time of reporting. Director Marcia Byrne*'ve/L Executed on Date Ritter Center City of San Rafael Use Permit Report December 2015 Client Date Caseload 12/1/2015 57 12/2/2015 57 12/3/2015 53 12/4/2015 56 12/5/2015 12/6/2015 12/7/2015 12/8/2015 12/9/2015 12/10/2015 12/11/2015 12/12/2015 12/13/2015 12/14/2015 12/15/2015 12/16/2015 12/17/2015 12/18/2015 12/19/2015 12/20/2015 12/21/2015 12/22/2015 12/23/2015 12/24%2015 12/25/2015 12/26/2015 12/27/2015 Overflow Plan Enacted? No No No No Average Caseload for Work Week 55.81 63 No 49 No 54 No 49 No 51 No 53.21 63 57 53 63 48 57 40 40 No No No No No No No No CLOSED CLOSED 56.81 45.71 12/28/2015 63 No 12/29/2015 53 No 12/30/2015 54 No 12/31/2015 60 No 57.51 I verify under penalty of perjury that the foregoing is true and correct at time of reporting. /V 1kL Marcia By�nes& cutive Director Executed on Date Ritter Center and Surrounding Area C° a � �ts-, for Sorvica May 2015 - Dcax;ember 2015 LexisNexis° RISK SOLUTIONS Attachment 3 02/03/2016 Pj -- —V r! W Cornton Fo(• ji falgreens Golden Cream • Doughnut a •' Hosp C� Mauna Loaf Bay f 01 Hawaiian Finn f rd 9t3• �1 St . 9 en *It 3rd St A— C/) T 7 8 Marin Beverage Outlet Firtt enter • &3rd OU St Q Goody iM 0 Jaya Detour 07 Houserake �I 09*Znd St i1d St 02 c -_j f Mar 76 The above map shows 16 Ritter Street at the center and calls for service at locations within a 400 foot radius from the Center. There are 39 different locations that make up 637 calls for service between May 2015 and December 2015. LexisNexisT RISK SOLUTIONS Businesses and Calls for Service These five (5) businesses have the most calls for service during the time period. CFS Comparison to Previous Time Period While Ritter has seen a decrease in calls, Walgreens, Goodwill, and Perry's Deli have seen an increase during the recent time period — with Walgreen's having the highest increase at 66%. Walgreens also has 154% more calls than Ritter. LexisNexis- RISK SOLUTIONS Walgreens 213 Ritter Center 84 Goodwill Industries 27 Perry's Delicatessen 27 Best Collateral 24 Walgreens 128 213 'j` 66% Ritter Center 143 84 J• 41% Goodwill Industries 26 27 T 4% Perry's Delicatessen 26 27 '(` 4% Best Collateral 26 24 ,1. 8% Ritter enter and Surroundina Area v Calls for Service by Month 100 90 90 88 80 ----------------------------8 1 82 ---------------- &�" 78 -------------- 70 50 T 2% 13% .l• 28% T 30% T3% .j. 4% T 5% May'15 Jun '15 Jul '15 Aug'15 Sep '15 Oct is Nov'15 Dec'15 Calls for service over this eight (8) month period slowly decreased. 100 :1 •1 ■ 17:00-04:59 ■ 05:00-16:59 40 20 Month by Time Block 6f LexisNexism MAY'15 JUN'15 JUL'15 AUG'15 SEP'15 OCT'15 NOV'15 DEC'15 RISK SOLUTIONS Calls for Service Ritter Center Area 637 calls for service during these 8 months. 55% (350) of calls for service in the area surrounding Ritter Center involved unwanted subjects. • 56% of calls occurring between 0500 and 1659 hours were for Ritter Center, Walgreens, Best Collateral, Perry's Deli, and Goodwill. • July 25, 2015 had the most calls in this area (8) — 7 regarding a subject and 1 for an audible alarm. 120 100 80 ■ 17:00-04:59 60 ■ 05:00-16:59 40 20 LexisNexis- RISK SOLUTIONS Calls by Time Block Day of Week by Time Block Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Calls for Service Ritter Center Area 69% of calls to Ritter Center were Priority 2. There were 14 Priority 1 calls. 50% were to Walgreens or Perry's Delicatessen. 82% of calls due an unwanted subject were made by the top 5 businesses with the most calls (in order): Walgreens, Best Collateral, Goodwill Industries, Ritter Center, and Perry's Deli. Source of Call Citizen Call Officer Initiated Q LexisNexis- RISK SOLUTIONS Priority Calls 'Z t / 0 100 200 300 400 500 aigreens 830 Third Stree 30 20 10 t Walgreens Calls for Service by Month 0 T37% . y 24% .L 61% T 82% T 40% y 11% T 48% MAY'15 JUN'15 JUL'15 AUG'15 SEP'15 OCT'15 NOV'15 DEC'15 53% of all calls for service between 1700 and 0459 hours were for Walgreens. That is 1,320% more calls than 16 Ritter Street, which had the second most calls for service in the same time block. 52% of all calls to Walgreens were for an unwanted subject on the premises whether they were under the influence, suspicious, or a danger. All 110 of those calls were made by a citizen. Source of Call Citizen Call Officer Initiated LexisNexis- 0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180 RISK SOLUTIONS ✓aigreens tatistics Priority Calls 45 40 35 30 25 ■ 17:00-04:59 ■ 05:00-16:59 20 15 10 A LexisNexis, RISK. SOLUTIONS 41 15 13 Time Block Walgreens is open 24 hours / 7 days a week 1700-0459 hrs calls to 830 Third Street (142) Unwanted subject 12 Suspicious circ Extra Patrol Request 7 Panhandler Out with subject 7 Drunk subject Day of Week by Time Block Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Ritter Center 16 Ritter Street 25 20 16 Ritter Street Calls for Service by Month 15 10 T—L'- 9 1.7 .j. 15% 53% 4,38% 1' 80% 4111% 13% 1' 43% 0 1 MAY'15 JUN '15 JUL '15 AUG'15 SEP '15 OCT'15 NOV'15 DEC'15 52% of calls dealt with an unwanted subject that was causing a disturbance due to alcohol and/or drugs, required a welfare check, or was panhandling. 45% of Ritter calls were on a Wednesday and Thursday. 92% of those were between 0500 and 1659 hours. 40% of all night calls to Ritter were to check on the welfare of a subject. Source of Call Citizen Call Officer Initiated LexisNexis- RISK SOLUTIONS ZOE �Z "1Z 'X 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 fitter enter Statistics Priority Calls 20 16 12 ®17:00-04:59 * 05:00-16:59 8 ii LexisNexis,0 RISK SOLUTIONS Time Block 1700-0459 hrs calls to 16 Ritter Street (10) 3 Welfare check 1 each Subject drinking; Info only; Out with subject; Subject down; Threats; Verbal argument Day of Week by Time Block nter - ..r_.l M -F 9-17. Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Goodwill Industries 809 Lincoln Avenue N. 5 2 1 Goodwill Industries Calls for Service by Month a T 0% 60% T 50% T 33% .j. 50% 100% 50 0 MAY'15 JUN '15 JUL'15 AUG'15 SEP '15 OCT'15 NOV'15 DEC'15 56% of calls for service were for an unwanted subject on the premises whether they required a welfare check or it was an officer initiated stop. Source of Call Citizen Call Officer Initiated LexisNexis- RISK SOLUTIONS 0 5 10 15 20 25 / oodwill Industries Statistics Priority Calls 10 9 8 7 6 ■ 17:00-04:59 5 ■ 05:00-16:59 4 3 2 1 LexisNexis°0 RISK SOLUTIONS Time Block Goodwill is open Mon -Sat 9am-7pm /Sun 10am-6pm 1700-0459 hrs calls to 809 Lincoln Avenue (6) 2 Unwanted Subject 1 Flagdown 1 Medical Aid 1 Suspicious Circumstance 1 Theft Day of Week by Time Block Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Perry's Delicatessen 909 Lincoln Avenue Perry's Delicatessen Calls for Service by Month 8 7 7 7 6 5 4 -- - --------- 2 2 -... 1 1 1 0 T 133% 86% T 600% y 57% .J. 33% J• 50% T 200% MAY'15 JUN'15 JUL'15 AUG'15 SEP'15 OCT'15 NOV'15 DEC'15 70% of calls for service were for an unwanted subject on the premises whether they were under the influence, sleeping, or an officer initiated stop. Source of Call Citizen Call Officer Initiated LexisNexis- RIS( SOLUTIONS 0 5 10 Z / 15 20 Per Statistics encatessen Priority Calls 10 9 8 7 6 ■ 17:00-04:59 5 ■ 05:00-16:59 4 3 2 1 LexisNexism° RISK SOLUTIONS Time Block rCl1 Y J UCII IJ upul I Mon -Sat 7am-8pm / Sun 7am-7pm 1700-0459 hrs calls to 909 Lincoln Avenue (7) 1 eachI Extra Patrol; Sleeper; Subject down; Suspicious circ; Threats; Unwanted subject; Warrant service Day of Week by Time Block Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Best Collateral 813 Third Street Best Collateral Calls for Service by Month 10 3 R 4 2 1 T 200% T 33% T 25% T 60% 4,63% MAY'15 JUN '15 JUL'15 AUG'15 SEP '15 OCT'15 NOV'15 DEC'15 75% of calls for service to Best Collateral occurred between 0500 and 1659 hours. 5th on the list of most calls for service between 05/01/15 and 12/31/15, Best Collateral had 89% fewer calls than Walgreen's, at number 1. Source of Call Citizen Call Officer Initiated 0 3 6 9 12 15 18 21 24 LexisNexis° RISK SOLUTIONS Best ollateral Statistics Priority Calls 12 10 ■ 17:00-04:59 6 ■ 05:00-16:59 C! Time Block ollateral n & Sun. Open Tue-Fri 9am-5:30pm / Sat 9am-5pm 1700-0459 hrs calls to 813 Third Street (6) 6 I Unwanted subject Day of Week by Time Block 2 0- 4f LexisNexis° Sunday Monday RISK SOLUTIONS Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday F 19 Ritter Center Intersections it 0. 1 43 Mauna Loa �i1�3��d St Ilawahan BBQ . _ q61d St These are the 8 intersections surrounding �feo' 27 Ritter Center. Combined, these cross streets make th Mann Beverage Outlet 8 up 24% of all calls for service In the 400 feet Goodwill ° surrounding Ritter Center. i Ritter Center C Java detour W 4t o'nd St Hot:se of Brakes 2nd St Intersection Third Street & Lootens Place Third Street & Lincoln Avenue Second Street & Lincoln Avenue Third Street & Cijos Street Second Street & Lindaro Street Third Street & Lindaro Street Ritter Street & Lincoln Avenue Third Street & Ritter Street Lex I s N eX i S' TOTAL RISK. SOLUTIONS s,r Third Street & Lootens Place and Third Street & 76 Lincoln Avenue had the �' Rl most activity with unwanted subjects. 4Q 2()d St 9/14-4115 5/15-12/15 % Difference 28 43 T 54% 23 27 17% 11 21 T 91% 25 18 28% 25 18 28% 9 12 T 33% 12 8 33% 1 4 +3 134 151 T 13% Ritter Center Area Calls Comparison to 9/14 — 4/15 Total CFS . Ritter Center Walgreens Best Collateral Perry's Delicatessen Goodwill Industries All 0500-1659 All 1700-0459 All Officer Initiated All Citizen Call All Intersections Priority 1 Calls Priority 2 Calls Priority 3 Calls Q0 LexisNexis- RISK SOLUTIONS 9/14-4/15 5/15-12/15 % Difference 596 637 9% 143 84 41% 128 213 66% 26 24 8% 26 27 4% 26 27 4% 360 367 2% 236 270 T14% 181 158 .L 13% 4.15 479 T 15% 134 152 T 13% 1.9 per 2.2 per T 16% 100 calls 100 calls 69 per 74 per T 7% 100 calls 100 calls 30 per 23 per 23% 100 calls 100 calls Ritter Center Area CFS Timeline 9/14 — 4/15: 5/15 — 12/15 100 a :/ _._,-f--_.-- 70 50 , SEP 1 S 1 1ST 1 N�ORN�l S150�G15 The above graph displays how calls for service to Ritter Center and the surrounding area progressed from September 2014 — December 2015. Top 5 Business CFS Comparison 45 40 35 -Ritter 30 Walgreens 25 --Best Collateral -Perry's Deli 20 Goodwill 15 10 5 LexisNexis-o'" RISK SOLUTIONS MAY'15 JUN '15 JUL'15 AUG'15 SEP '15 OCT'15 NOV'15 DEC'15 REGULAR MEETING SAN RAFAEL ZONING ADMINISTRATOR September 18, 2013 Staff Report 10:00 am 1. 12 Ritter Street (Ritter Center) - Use Permit amendment to allow a change in Condition of Approval #5, previously approved per City Council Resolution 13321. The change would require that the 60 client per day caseload limit be averaged over the number of operational days instead of a 7 -day work week. No other changes to the approved use permit (UP11-070) is proposed; APN No. 011-271-13; Second/Third Mixed Use East (2/3 MUE) Zoning District; Velma Bottarini, owner; Diane Linn, Executive Director, Ritter Center, applicant; File No. UP13-030 Project Planner: Caron Parker, Associate Planner BACKGROUND On February 14, 2012, the San Rafael Planning Commission (Resolution 12-01) conditionally approved a Use Permit (UP11-070) and Design Review Permit (ED11-089), amending the previously approved Use Permit (UP04-005). The amended use permit would allow: 1) the installation of a 933 square foot medical modular building at 12 Ritter Street; and 2) allow an increase in the client caseload for the Day Service Center (DSC) and the medical modular building to a total of 65 clients/day averaged over one week. This decision was appealed to the City Council and on April 2, 2012, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 13321 upholding the Planning Commission action to grant a Conditional Use Permit amendment for the Ritter Center (see Attachment 1). However, the City Council recommended that the Use Permit conditions be further amended to: 1) reduce the total client visits for the Day Services Center (DSC) and the medical clinic from 65 clients per day to 60 clients per day, averaged over one week and require monthly reports to be submitted to the City to provide a tally on the number of client visits for the DSC and the medical clinic (Condition of Approval #5); 2) require that City staff prepare a performance report every six months following occupancy to track condition compliance and police service calls (Condition of Approval #16); and 3) require the Ritter Center management to develop and implement an "overflow plan" for the medical services component (Condition of Approval #17). Per City Council Resolution 13321, the Use Permit amendment allowed the relocation of the existing medical clinic space from the Day Services Center (DSC) modular to a new 933 - square -foot modular. The new clinic space was approved to include three exam rooms, a larger waiting room and medical offices. The total number of clients served (laundry/showers services and medical services) was increased from the 45 clients/day approved in 2004 (UP04-005), to 60 clients/day, averaged over one week. The approved hours of operation for the Ritter Center are 6:00 am to 8:00 pm, seven days a week. However, current operating hours for the DSC and the medical clinic are 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday, and some Saturday mornings for the Women's clinic. Attachment 4 12 Ritter Street [Ritter Center] Re: UP13-030 Date: September 18, 2013 Per Resolution 13321, Condition of Approval #16 specifically states: "Six (6) months from the date of occupancy and operation, a performance report shall be prepared by the Planning Division and shall continue to be prepared every six months thereafter. This performance report shall report on the Center's adherence to the operational conditions of approval regulating client limits, litter control and security, and shall include a tracking of the numbers of police service calls to the facility. Once completed, the performance reports shall be forwarded to the Planning Commission and City Council. If, during the course of monitoring, it is determined that the Ritter Center is out -of -compliance with conditions of approval, the City can schedule the Use Permit for a City Council public hearing. " On June 17, 2013, Planning staff presented the results of the 6 -month performance report to the City Council covering Ritter Center operations between October 12, 2012 and April 30, 2013. This was not an official public hearing, and as such, no public comments were heard. Planning staff made a presentation, followed by a presentation by the Ritter Center Executive Director, Diane Linn. The Council discussed the item and expressed concern about the method for tallying the total number of daily clients at the site. Ultimately, the Council agreed that the daily client caseload for the Day Services Center (DSC) and the medical modular building should be averaged over the 'operational work week" instead of a 7-dav work week." The Council's rationale was that the average should be based on the days the Center is actually opened in order to get a better sense of the total number of clients served. While the Use Permit allows Ritter to operate 7 days/week, the Center is never open on Sundays, and operates Monday through Friday and occasionally on Saturday mornings for the Women's Clinic. The Council ultimately accepted the Performance Report, with the caveat that: 1. The daily client caseload for the DSC and the medical modular be no more than 60 clients/day averaged over operational days and not averaged over a 7 day work week; 2. Staff hold a Zoning Administrator hearing to memorialize the changes made by the City Council at the June 17, 2013 review of the 6 -month Performance Report; and 3. The next 6 -month Performance Report (May 2013 through October 2013) would be noticed and scheduled as a public hearing, open for public comments on all aspects of the Use Permit (staff anticipates that due to the Fall holidays, this hearing will take place sometime in January 2014). PROJECT DESCRIPTION The Ritter Center has been in operation its current location since 1981, providing a variety of services and resources, free of charge to the working poor and homeless. The Ritter Center is located in four buildings/modulars housed on two contiguous lots located on the south side of Ritter Street. As described below, the center provides various functions and services housed in the four buildings, including Case Management, Behavioral Health Day Services, Food Pantry, Emergency Clothing/Goodwill Gift certificates, Seasonal programs (Thanksgiving and Christmas): • Ritter Center (16 Ritter): Offices and food pantry distribution 2 SRZA Minutes 9.18.13 12 Ritter Street [Ritter Center] Re: UP13-030 Date: September 18, 2013 • Bouchard Building: Case Management (5 offices) and a conference room • Day Services Center (DSC): Showers, laundry, and restrooms • Medical Modular Building: Medical clinic No change to the Ritter Center operations is proposed by Ritter Center. The purpose of this Zoning Administrator hearing is to memorialize an interpretation of one of the conditions of approval by the City Council, during their review of the 6 month performance report. At that time, the Council found that one of the conditions (use permit condition #5) was not clear on the method of tallying the daily client case load, thus directed staff to hold a use permit hearing to amend Condition #5, changing the method of counting the daily client caseload for the DSC and medical modular, from a 7 -day average to averaaina over the actual number of operational days (tvnically 5-6 days/week) as directed by the Citv Council. ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW Pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), an environmental review is required to evaluate the environmental impacts of the proposed project. Staff has determined that this project is exempt per Article 19 Categorical Exemptions, Section 15301 a (Existing Facilities) Class 1 whereas the proposed project is: 1) limited to interior alterations; and 2) has been reviewed by appropriate city departments who will ensure that appropriate building and/or fire permits are secured. PUBLIC HEARING The Zoning Administrator meeting began at 10:00 A.M. Present at the meeting were Diane Linn, Executive Director, Ritter Center, James Ferrandini, Ritter Center staff, Hugo Landecker and Amy Likover, Gerstle Park residents, Jonathan Freeman, Alison Clayton (Health and Human Services), and Greg Brockbank. Raffi Boloyan, Planning Manager was the Acting Zoning Administrator. Caron Parker, Associate Planner made a brief staff presentation about the history of the project, explaining that the focus of the hearing was the change in Condition of Approval #5 only. Comments on other aspects of the use permit will be considered at the next City Council hearing to review the second Performance Report for the Ritter Center. This will be a public hearing and is tentatively set for sometime in January 2014. The public comment period was opened and public testimony was heard. There were a variety of comments and questions about how many non -homeless vs. chronically homeless clients are served, capacity of the medical modular and use of the overflow management plan. Amy Likover specifically requested that the Resolution be revised to define the term "operational days," and the Zoning administrator agreed to add this definition. As stated in COA #5, "for the purposes of this condition, an "operational day" is defined as a day during which the Day Services Center or the medical modular building is open to clients for services". The Zoning Administrator stated for the record that there were no letters received by staff in response to the public notice mailed on August 30, 2013 to property owners and occupants within a 300' radius of the subject property. 3 SRZA Minutes 9.18.13 12 Ritter Street [Ritter Center] Re: UP13-030 Date: September 18, 2013 The Zoning Administrator closed the public hearing at 11:00 A.M. The Zoning Administrator has determined that the City Council directed use permit amendment to change the method of tallying the total number of clients served per day is a minor amendment to the approved Use Permit (UP11-070). As such, the amended use permit is in substantial conformance with the City of San Rafael's Municipal Code property development standards for the Second/Third Mixed Use East (2/3/MUE) Zoning District, all applicable policies of the San Rafael General Plan 2020, and the review criteria for Use Permits. The Zoning Administrator stated that a copy of the meeting minutes, which incorporate the findings and the conditions of approval, would be mailed to the applicant and the property owner and would be available to the public for review at the Planning Division counter upon request. In addition, the Zoning Administrator stated that a project of this nature has an appeal period of five (5) working days upon the approval or denial of the project. RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends that the Zoning Administrator approve this minor amendment to incorporate the City Council's interpretation of condition of approval #5, as determined during their review of the Ritter Center 6 month Performance Report on June 17, 2013. The amended Use Permit will also re- adopt the Findings as approved by the City Council in granting the original Use Permit UP11-070 in Resolution 13321, adopted on April 2, 2012. The Zoning Administrator hereby approves this Use Permit Amendment (UP13-030) to change Condition of Approval #5 (see Page 7), with original conditions in 6t�At, followed by revised condition in underline. All other conditions set forth in City Council Resolution 13321 shall remain in effect and are listed below. Any decision shall be final at 5:00 P.M. on Wednesday, September 25, 2013, pending no appeals filed with the City of San Rafael Planning Division by that date. FINDINGS: Use Permit Amendment (UP13-030) Findings 1) The Ritter Center use, including the proposed Use Permit amendment to relocate the 600 square foot medical clinic to a new 933 square foot modular on site and increase the client caseload limit for the Day Services Center (DSC) and the new medical modular to 65 clients/day, continues to be in accord with the General Plan, the objectives of the Zoning Ordinance, and the purposes of the Second/Third Mixed Use East (2/3 MUE) Downtown District in which the site is located. a. As discussed on Pages 4-5 of the February 14, 2012 Planning Commission staff report, the proposed project is consistent with General Plan Policies LU -9 (Intensity of Non - Residential Development), LU -14 (Land Use Compatibility), NH -4 (Property Maintenance), NH -17 (Competing Concerns), NH -51 (Existing Business Areas), and CD - 10a (Non -Residential Design Guidelines) in that: i) upon installation of the new medical modular, the proposed project site would have an FAR=0.87 which is below the 4 SRZA Minutes 9.18.13 12 Ritter Street [Ritter Center] Re: UP13-030 Date: September 18, 2013 maximum FAR allowed for the site (1.5 FAR); ii) the proposed use is an allowable use in the Second/Third Mixed Use Land Use Designation; iii) The proposed new modular would provide a better space for the medical clinic and reduce the number of clients having to wait outside; iv) the Ritter Center has been operating since 1981 and has worked with adjacent neighbors to address the challenges and concerns regarding the impact of Ritter clients on adjacent businesses while still providing needed services to the poor and homeless. The number of clients has increased steadily over the years and the proposed increase to 60 clients/day for the DSC and the new modular would be mitigated by better site organization and client management; and v) the proposed new modular has been designed with colors and materials to match the existing buildings on the site; and b. The proposed project is consistent the Zoning Ordinance in that medical clinics are conditionally permitted uses in the Second/Third Mixed Use East (2/3 MUE) Zoning District and the Ritter Center is currently operating under a previously approved Use Permit (UP04-005). The proposed Use Permit amendment would not introduce a new use, but simply relocate the existing approved medical clinic to a more appropriately designed medical modular space. The elimination of 5 existing parking spaces is allowed because parking up to 1.0 FAR is provided by parking garages and surface lots in the Downtown Parking Assessment District. 2) The proposed project, together with the conditions applicable thereto, would not be detrimental to the public health, safety or welfare, or materially injurious to properties or improvements in the vicinity, or to the general welfare of the City in that: a. The proposed project would relocate an existing use into a slightly larger space, but would not be an substantial "expansion" of medical space because unlike the existing modular, the new modular is designed with a waiting area; b. The proposed hours of operation for the clinic (Monday through Friday, 9 am — 5 pm) has not been increased and is less than the hours previously approved under Use Permit UP04-005, which allows Ritter Center to operate from 6:00 am to 8:00 pm seven days a week. The proposed hours coincide with typical hours for other business in the vicinity; c. The proposed increase in the number of clients for the DSC and new medical modular from the 40 clients/day limit per UP04-005, to 60 clients/day reflects current demand for services on the site. The increase in client numbers is not the result of installing a new modular on site, but has been an existing condition for several years. The addition of a new modular designed with a waiting area and better clinic facilities would help alleviate much of the client back-up on site. The medical clinic would be relocated from the DSC into the new modular, and the vacated medical space in the DSC is proposed to be used as offices for the Behavioral Health services staff. The Ritter Center is working with a space planner to help redesign office space on the site to maximize efficiency. The goal is to create a better space to manage clients throughout the day and reduce the number of Ritter clients on the surrounding City streets adjacent to the project site. The proposed new modular would improve client management on site and therefore reduce client overflow forced to wait outside for appointments; d. The revised method for calculating the daily client caseload by averaging the number of clients over the number of "operational days" rather than over a 7 -day week" will help 5 SRZA Minutes 9.18.13 12 Ritter Street [Ritter Center] Re: UP13-030 Date: September 18, 2013 maintain the number of clients to no more than 60 clients per day, better manage the number of clients on site and help reduce impact to the surrounding properties. e. The Ritter Center will continue the established daily litter removal/site clean-up operations (as required in UP11-070) to keep the streets near the project site clean; f. The Ritter Center will continue implement their security program on site during operating hours to maximize enforcement of Ritter Center client behavioral policies and ensure security on-site and in the project area. Ritter has also updated client management policies to refuse services to clients who violate appropriate behaviors agreements that impact neighboring businesses. The Ritter Center also has trained staff to manage any difficult clients and works cooperatively with the San Rafael Police Department to minimize impacts to adjacent properties; g. No impact to neighboring businesses is anticipated from the proposed elimination of 5 on-site parking spaces. The project site is in the Downtown Parking Assessment District, which provides parking for sites up to a 1.0 FAR. The Ritter Center has on- going off-site parking arrangements to lease space at the PG&E surface lot (on Lindaro Street between 2nd Street and 3rd Street). Ritter Center has secured 6 additional spaces in this lot to off -set the loss of the 5 on-site parking spaces proposed to be eliminated. In addition, Ritter Center has access to parking spaces at the Annex building at 815 Third Street; h. The City's Building/Fire Prevention Division has reviewed the project and developed conditions of approval that would ensure that the use would operate in a manner as described and comply with all life and safety code requirements. Additional review will be required upon submittal of a formal building permit application; and i. The project will not have a significant environmental impact, and is exempt from CEQA review per CEQA Guidelines Article 19 Categorical Exemptions, Section 15301 (Existing Facilities) and Section 15311 (Accessory Structures) which exempts minor interior and exterior alterations to existing structures, and the construction of minor structures accessory to existing commerical, industrial or institutional facilities. 3) That the proposed project, as conditioned, complies with each of the applicable provisions of the Zoning Ordinance, in that: a. The project conforms to the requirements of Chapter 5 (Land Use Regulation for the 2/3 MUE Zoning District) as a conditionally permitted use; b. The project is consistent with the requirements of Chapter 18 (Parking), because no on- site parking is required for sites up to 1.0 FAR located in the Downtown Parking Assessment District; and c. The project applicant submitted a Use Permit amendment application, requesting review of the proposed new 933 square foot medical modular and proposed increase in the client caseload limit for the DSC and new medical modular on site. 6 SRZA Minutes 9.18.13 12 Ritter Street [Ritter Center] Re: UP13-030 Date: September 18, 2013 CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT - PLANNING DIVISION Use Permit Amendment (UP13-030) Conditions of Approval This Use Permit'amendment (UPI3-030)approves an amendment to a previously approved Use Permit (UPI1-070)and authorizes the relocation of the existing 600 square foot medical clinic in the Day Services Center (DSC) trailer to a new 933 square foot modular on the Ritter Center site. In addition to the medical clinic, the following Ritter Center inventory of services, previously approved per UP04-005 and UPI 1-070, and described on page 2 of the Planning Commission staff report dated February 14, 2012, will continue to be authorized at the Ritter Center as part of this amended Use Permit amendment: • Case Management • Behavioral Health • Day Services • Food Pantry • Emergency clothing/Goodwill Gift certificates • Seasonal programs (Thanksgiving and Christmas) 2. No food services and no full kitchen shall be allowed in the existing Day Services Center (DSC) or the new modular. No food of any kind shall be sold for consumption on the premises. 3. No overnight live-in use of the Ritter Center facility shall be allowed except one person functioning as a night watch person. 4. Hours of operation for providing client services shall be from 6:00 am to 8:00 pm, seven days a week. Evening use of the premises after 8:00 pm shall be limited to staff and Board meetings, and live-in facilities for one night security guard. 5. Client caseload for the existing Day Services Center (DSC) and services in the new modular are limited to a total of 60 clients/day, averaged ever the veFage 7 daya wee over the operational work week. For the purposes of this condition, an "operational dav" is defined as a day during which the Dav Services Center or the medical modular building is open to clients for services. Commencing at occupancy and occupation of the new modular, on the first day of each month, the Ritter Center shall submit monthly reports to the Planning Division, which are to: a) provide a tally of the total number of daily client visits during the previous calendar month; and b) identify the number of days the "overflow plan" was implemented (per Use Permit Condition of Approval #17). The form of this report shall be approved by the Planning Division and City Attorney prior to the issuance of a building permit, and shall include verification under penalty of perjury. 6. The applicant shall contact the Planning Division to request a final inspection, prior to the issuance of the final building permit. The request for final inspection by the Planning Division shall require a minimum of 48-hour advance notice. 7 SRZA Minutes 9.18.13 12 Ritter Street [Ritter Center] Re: UP13-030 Date: September 18, 2013 7. All donated material shall be stored inside the buildings. No materials shall be stored at 12 Ritter Street or in the parking lot at 815 Third Street, or behind the fences adjacent to the buildings at 12 Ritter Street at any time. Any additional storage building proposed to be located on site must be approved by the Planning Division before installation. 8. The Ritter Center shall continue to provide a litter control program to monitor and pick up litter within the neighborhood area of the Center a minimum of three (3) times per week. 9. The applicant shall continue to provide notice to all employees, volunteers and clients stating that parking shall not occur on adjacent private lots. The notice shall include a list of available public parking lots. 10. All clients shall be given a copy of the rules and regulations to be read and signed by all incoming clients. House Rules shall at a minimum include the following: a. No clients will be admitted which in the judgment of the Ritter Center staff are under the influence of alcohol or other substances b. Violent or threatening behavior will not be permitted c. Failure to comply with the rules may result in eviction from the program and the premises. 11. All clients shall continue to be screened for alcohol or drug use before receiving services and the availability of services to clients shall be the decision of the operators of the Day Services Center (DSC). 12. Clients who cause a peace disturbance or endanger staff or other clients shall not be allowed to receive services from the DSC. Readmission of evicted clients shall be based on established House Rules. 13. The DSC shall continue to maintain a security program during operating hours. 14. This Use Permit amendment (UP13-030) shall have no expiration date and shall run with the land and remain valid regardless of any change of ownership of the project site, subject to these conditions. 15. On-going compliance with all conditions of approval shall be required to keep the Use Permit Amendment valid. This Use Permit amendment (UP13-030) may be called to hearing at any time by the Planning Division in order to review compliance with the Conditions of Approval. 16. Six (6) months from the date of occupancy and operation, a performance report shall be prepared by the Planning Division and shall continue to be prepared every six months thereafter. This performance report shall report on the Center's adherence to the operational conditions of approval regulating client limits, litter control and security, and shall include a tracking of the numbers of police service calls to the facility. Once completed, the performance reports shall be forwarded to the Planning Commission and City Council. If, SRZA Minutes 9.18.13 12 Ritter Street [Ritter Ck r] Re: UP13-030 Date: September 18, 2013 during the course of monitoring, it is determined that the Ritter Center is out -of -compliance with conditions of approval, the City can schedule the Use Permit for a City Council public hearing. 17. Prior to the issuance of a building permit, the Ritter Center management shall develop and submit to the Planning Division an operation plan to address potential client overflow for medical services. The monthly monitoring report required by condition #5 above, shall identify the days within the reported calendar month in which the overflow plan was required to be implemented. This Use Permit (UP13-030) amendment is conditionally approved and shall become valid after a five (5) working day appeal period at 5:00 P.M on Wednesday, September 25, 2013, pending no appeals-are-fttud-witk tthe City of San Rafael Planning Division. 4,IS IIS Raffi Boloyan, A'ctmgJZning_Admihistrator Date 9 SRZA Minutes 9.18.13 Caron Parker From: Overby, Brijette < Sent: Monday, March 14, 2016 4:23 PM To: Caron Parker Subject: RITTER CENTER Dear Mayor Phillips, Vice Mayor Colin and Councilmembers McCullough, Bushey and Gamblin: I support the Ritter Center and respectfully request that you allow it to keep offering its vital social services for low-income and homeless people. Please be patient and continue helping the Ritter Center in its efforts to find a new location. Please do not cut off or limit services by changing Ritter Center's use permit before it finds a new location. The Ritter Center has been a Marin mainstay for over 30 years and a critical safety net for the homeless and working poor. Ritter Center services preserve dignity and help struggling individuals and families into stable situations. While some of Ritter Center's clients are chronically homeless, many others are only one crisis away from losing their homes: Among other services, Ritter Center helps lower the number of homeless in Marin by finding people affordable housing both in and outside of Marin. The Ritter Center has made several bids on potential new buildings, but it needs more time and patience. We cannot allow critical services to lapse in the interim, nor should the Ritter Center be penalized for relocation factors out of its control. Fear mongering by vocal but poorly informed individuals does nothing to solve this human issue. The Marin Independent Journal editorial board agrees there has to be a better solution than the pressure currently being placed on the Ritter Center — "The center's clientele is not just homeless individuals, but many low-income families and those who lack medical insurance. This is not just a San Rafael issue, but a county wide dilemma." Thank you very much for your thoughtful, compassionate consideration. Sincerely, Brijette F. Overby Veteran Service Office Division of Social Services 10 N. San Pedro Road San Rafael, CA 94903 (415) 473-2705 — HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE — The information contained in this document may be privileged, confidential, and protected under applicable law and is intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to which it is addressed. If you are not the intended recipient or the employee or agent responsible for delivering the message to the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution, or copying of this communication is strictly prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please notify the sender immediately by telephone and destroy the document. Email Disclaimer: htta://www.marincounty.ora/main/disclaimers Attachment 5 Caron Parker To: Katie Smith Subject: RE: Ritter Center caro-wJo- P"ker Associate Planner City of San Rafael Community Development Department 1400 Fifth Avenue San Rafael, CA 94901 415-485-3094 "Did you know that you can now check your zoning on line. Please go to www.citvofsanrafael.ore/zoning and you can find the zoning for your property at your leisure" From: Katie Smith[mailto: Sent: Monday, March 14, 2016 4:24 PM To: Caron Parker Subject: Ritter Center Dear Mayor Phillips, Vice Mayor Colin and Councilmembers McCullough, Bushey and Gamblin: I support the Ritter Center and respectfully request that you allow it to keep offering its vital social services for low-income and homeless people. Please be patient and continue helping the Ritter Center in its efforts to find a new location. Please do not cut off or limit services by changing Ritter Center's use permit before it finds a new location. The Ritter Center has been a Marin mainstay for over 30 years and a critical safety net for the homeless and working poor. Ritter Center services preserve dignity and help struggling individuals and families into stable situations. While some of Ritter Center's clients are chronically homeless, many others are only one crisis away from losing their homes. Among other services, Ritter Center helps lower the number of homeless in Marin by finding people affordable housing both in and outside of Marin. The Ritter Center has made several bids on potential new buildings, but it needs more time and patience. We cannot allow critical services to lapse in the interim, nor should the Ritter Center be penalized for relocation factors out of its control. Fear mongering by vocal but poorly informed individuals does nothing to solve this human issue. The Marin Independent Journal editorial board agrees there has to be a better solution than the pressure currently being placed on the Ritter Center — "The center's clientele is not just homeless individuals, but many low-income families and those who lack medical insurance. This is not just a San Rafael issue, but a county wide dilemma." Thank you very much for your thoughtful, compassionate consideration. 52 Sincerely, Katie Smith 86 Culloden Park Road San Rafael, CA 94901 Katie Smith Owner[rockflowerpaper PH: 415-462-00011800-281-0357 Direct Dlal: 415-456-4927 x 205 145 Tunstead Avenue San Anselmo; CA 94960 www.rockfioweri)aDer.com Caron Parker From: Gorelick, Bruce < Sent: Monday, March 14, 2016 4:42 PM To: Caron Parker Subject: Please don't lose Ritter!! Dear Mayor Phillips, Vice Mayor Colin and Councilmembers McCullough, Bushey and Gamblin: I support the Ritter Center and respectfully request that you allow it to keep offering its vital social services for low-income and homeless people. Please be patient and continue helping the Ritter Center in its efforts to find a new location. Please do not cut off or limit services by changing Ritter Center's use permit before it finds a new location. The Ritter Center has been a Marin mainstay for over 30 years and a critical safety net for the homeless and working poor. Ritter Center services preserve dignity and help struggling individuals and families into stable situations. While some of Ritter Center's clients are chronically homeless, many others are only one crisis away from losing their homes. Among other services, Ritter Center helps lower the number of homeless in Marin by finding people affordable housing both in and outside of Marin. The Ritter Center has made several bids on potential new buildings, but it needs more time and patience. We cannot allow critical services to lapse in the interim, nor should the Ritter Center be penalized for relocation factors out of its control. Fear mongering by vocal but poorly informed individuals does nothing to solve this human issue. The Marin Independent Journal editorial board agrees there has to be a better solution than the pressure currently being placed on the Ritter Center — "The center's clientele is not just homeless individuals, but many low-income families and those who lack medical insurance. This is not just a San Rafael issue, but a county wide dilemma." Thank you very much for your thoughtful, compassionate consideration. I live at 55 Legend Rd San Anselmo Warm regards, Bruce Bruce J. Gorelick The Ritz-Carlton, San Francisco is the city's only AAA Five -Diamond hotel and is a recent winner of the 2015 "Best in the World" award by the readers of Conde Nast Traveler. �— 3 Caron Parker From: Susan hayes < Sent: Monday, March 14, 2016 5:04 PM To: Caron Parker Subject: Ritter center I totally support keeping the Ritter Center where it is. Thank you, Susan Hayes Mill Valley Caron Parker From: Carolyn Rosenblatt < Sent: Monday, March 14, 2016 5:31 PM To: Caron Parker Subject: Ritter Center Dear Ms. Parker: I am aware of the public debate that has been going on for some time in our city. I have been a resident of San Rafael for over 30 years. I am very upset that the city is considering getting rid of vital services for our lowest income residents. Ritter has served as a model for providing excellent safety and service for the near homeless and homeless over many years. I saw in the IJ that one opponent of services wants to relocate our homeless to Sonoma County. To me that is ridiculous and is NOT a solution. I am sure some downtown merchants want to get rid of anything that reminds them that Marin has poor folks. It's easier to turn our backs than it is to work on ongoing solutions, which means spending public funds and raising money, honoring the reality that a new location will take time and cooperation already underway. It means creating public-private partnerships. It means accepting that the poor will always be with us. This county is capable of a measure of respect for those less fortunate than the rest of us. Why destroy a successful model program? Why resort to the politics of power over the powerless? We can do better than that. Please vote to maintain Ritter services while it seeks a new location. People in our county will be directly and seriously harmed by cutting them off from Ritter services during Ritter's efforts to secure its new location. Give that process proper time to work please. Sincerely, Carolyn Rosenblatt Carolyn L. Rosenblatt, RN, Attorney �' S Caron Parker From: Vicki Seastrom < Sent: Monday, March 14, 2016 5:22 PM To: Caron Parker Subject: Ritter House Support Dear Mayor Phillips, Vice Mayor Colin and Councilmembers McCullough, Bushey and Gamblin: I am a resident of San Rafael. I support the Ritter Center and respectfully request that you allow it to keep offering social services for low-income and homeless people. Certainly the City of San Rafael can afford to be patient and continue helping the Center to find a new location. And while the search is ongoing, it is critical neither eliminate or limit the services offered by changing the Center's use permit before a new location is found. It is my understanding that the Center has several bids on potential new buildings, but needs more time. It is inhumane to allow critical services to lapse in the interim and the Center should not be penalized for the difficulties related to relocation out of its control. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, I. Victoria Seastrom San Rafael, CA ( Caron Parker From: Ruth Heller < Sent: Monday, March 14, 2016 4:36 PM To: Caron Parker Subject: Ritter House must be saved! I volunteered at Ritter House for 15 years because it was—and is—a Wonderful help to many people in San Rafael. Not just the homeless. I think the U is right: more time to find a suitable new setting should be allowed. Please do so! Ruth Heller San Rafael, CA 94903 y— Caron Parker From: Royce and Sandy Truex < Sent: Monday, March 14, 2016 3:24 PM To: Caron Parker Subject: Ritter Center Dear Mayor Phillips, Vice Mayor Colin and Councilmembers McCullough, Bushey and Gamblin: I support the Ritter Center and respectfully request that you be patient and continue to help the Ritter Center in its efforts to find a new location. Please allow it to keep offering its services for low-income and homeless people. Please do not cut off or limit services by changing Ritter Center's use permit before it finds a new location. Thank you, Royce Truex Caron Parker From: Chellene Wood < Sent: Monday, March 14, 2016 3:31 PM To: Caron Parker Subject: Ritter Center Dear Mayor Phillips, Vice Mayor Colin and Councilmembers McCullough, Bushey and Gamblin I support the Ritter Center and respectfully request that you allow it to keep offering its vital social services for low-income and homeless people. Please be patient and continue helping the Ritter Center in its efforts to find a new location. Please do not cut off or limit services by changing Ritter Center's use permit before it finds a new location. The Ritter Center has been a Marin mainstay for over 30 years and a critical safety net for the homeless and working poor. Ritter Center services preserve dignity and help struggling individuals and families into stable situations. While some of Ritter Center's clients are chronically homeless, many others are only one crisis away from losing their homes. Among other services, Ritter Center helps lower the number of homeless in Marin by finding people affordable housing both in and outside of Marin. The Ritter Center has made several bids on potential new buildings, but it needs more time and patience. We cannot allow critical services to lapse in the interim, nor should the Ritter Center be penalized for relocation factors out of its control. Fear mongering by vocal but poorly informed individuals does nothing to solve this human issue. The Marin Independent Journal editorial board agrees there has to be a better solution than the pressure currently being placed on the Ritter Center — "The center's clientele is not just homeless individuals, but many low-income families and those who lack medical insurance. This is not just a San Rafael issue, but a county wide dilemma." Thank you very much for your thoughtful, compassionate consideration Chellene Wood San Rafael, CA 94901 Chellene Wood Marketing Manager Associate Caron Parker From: Eleanor Errante < Sent: Monday, March 14, 2016 3:43 PM To: Caron Parker Subject: Ritter Center As a long time resident of Marin County and a grandmother of a twelve year old I would like to see her grow up on a community that is both diverse and compassionate. I wholeheartedly support the work that Ritter does and can never subscribe to "not in my neighborhood". Eleanor Errante �;-' t c) Caron Parker From: Mary Kay Sweeney < Sent: Monday, March 14, 2016 3:43 PM To: Caron Parker Subject: Ritter Center To Whom It May Concern: This letter is written in support of an extension to Ritter Center's use permit until such time as Ritter is able to re -locate its critical services. Ritter Center is part of a larger system of care and response to homelessness and poverty in the community. While their location is not ideal, their mission is. Solving the issue of homelessness will continue to require all of our best efforts, pooled together, to achieve the lastingresult we all desire—an end to homelessness. Homelessness is indisputably linked to a lack of affordable housing. As a community, if we continue to say no to housing we are saying yes to homelessness. Let's work together on solving this critical social issue Mary Kay Sweeney Homeward Bound of Marin Mary Kay Sweeney, Ph.D. Caron Parker From: Mary Creigh Houts < Sent: Monday, March 14, 2016 3:50 PM To: Caron Parker Subject: Ritter Center Dear Mayor Phillips, Vice Mayor Colin and Councilmembers McCullough, Bushey and Gamblin: I support the Ritter Center and respectfully request that you allow it to keep offering its vital social services for low-income and homeless people. Please be patient and continue helping the Ritter Center in its efforts to find a new location. Please do not cut off or limit services by changing Ritter Center's use permit before it finds a new location. The Ritter Center has been a Marin mainstay for over 30 years and a critical safety net for the homeless and working poor. Ritter Center services preserve dignity and help struggling individuals and families into stable situations. While some of Ritter Center's clients are chronically homeless, many others are only one crisis away from losing their homes. Among other services, Ritter Center helps lower the number of homeless in Marin by finding people affordable housing both in and outside of Marin. The Ritter Center has made several bids on potential new buildings, but it needs more time and patience. We cannot allow critical services to lapse in the interim, nor should the Ritter Center be penalized for relocation factors out of its control. Fear mongering by vocal but poorly informed individuals does nothing to solve this human issue. The Marin Independent Journal editorial board agrees there has to be a better solution than the pressure currently being placed on the Ritter Center — "The center's clientele is not just homeless individuals, but many low-income families and those who lack medical insurance. This is not just a San Rafael issue, but a county wide dilemma." Thank you very much for your thoughtful, compassionate consideration. Sincerely, Mary Creigh Houts Corte Madera, CA 94925 5--12 Caron Parker From: Michael Kaminski < Sent: Monday, March 14, 2016 3:52 PM To: Caron Parker Hello, I moved to California almost 6 years ago and had it not been for Joseph at Ritter Center, I would not be here to ask for your consideration in the matter of keeping Ritter and Mill Street Shelter in operation. My story is nothing special, I had never been homeless before but I suddenly found myself totally unprepared for the expenses of surviving SF Bay Area Rent Standards and not capable of making it through a very trying time. It was very humbling for me but I was treated with respect by staff and even had personal conversations with individuals who were working at these places. I found employment and still have the same job as when I left Mill Street, becoming a proud member of such a compassionate community. I do think there is a huge problem with the alcoholism and drug addiction in San Rafael though. If there were a better location to help keep so many of the aggressive type folks out of taking over almost every corner in central downtown that would help. I think he problem is there isn't enough street outreach going on and that is something I would gladly help in. Wellness checks, etc - I know I sound like I may be contradicting myself but I want to make it clear; it is not Ritters fault that there are so many homeless folks wandering in San Rafael -it is the state of the Nation. We can find a way to do both in San Rafael- help folks and keep the community safe and clean. I hope this helps illustrate what I so strongly believe, keep Ritter open, please. Thank you, Michael Michael E. Kaminski 5-�3 Caron Parker From: Nancy Spencer < Sent: Monday, March 14, 2016 3:52 PM To: Caron Parker Subject: Ritter Center Dear Mayor Phillips, Vice Mayor Colin and Councilmembers McCullough, Bushey and Gamblin: I support the Ritter Center and respectfully request that you allow it to keep offering its vital social services for low-income and homeless people. Please be patient and continue helping the Ritter Center in its efforts to find a new location. Please do not cut off or limit services by changing Ritter Center's use permit before it finds a new location. The Ritter Center has been a Marin mainstay for over 30 years and a critical safety net for the homeless and working poor. Ritter Center services preserve dignity and help struggling individuals and families into stable situations. While some of Ritter Center's clients are chronically homeless, many others are only one crisis away from losing their homes. Among other services, Ritter Center helps lower the number of homeless in Marin by finding people affordable housing both in and outside of Marin. The Ritter Center has made several bids on potential new buildings, but it needs more time and patience. We cannot allow critical services to lapse in the interim, nor should the Ritter Center be penalized for relocation factors out of its control. Fear mongering by vocal but poorly informed individuals does nothing to solve this human issue. The Marin Independent Journal editorial board agrees there has to be a better solution than the pressure currently being placed on the Ritter Center — "The center's clientele is not just homeless individuals, but many low-income families and those who lack medical insurance. This is not just a San Rafael issue, but a county wide dilemma." Thank you very much for your thoughtful, compassionate consideration. Sincerely, Nancy Spencer, RN Novato 5-H Caron Parker From: Cathy Bedilion < Sent: Monday, March 14, 2016 3:57 PM To: Caron Parker Subject: Use Permit for Ritter Center Dear Mayor Phillips, Vice Mayor Colin and Councilmembers McCullough, Bushey and Gamblin: I support the Ritter Center and respectfully request that you allow it to keep offering its vital social services for low-income and homeless people. Please be patient and continue helping the Ritter Center in its efforts to find a new location. Please do not cut off or limit services by changing Ritter Center's use permit before it finds a new location. The Ritter Center has been a Marin mainstay for over 30 years and a critical safety net for the homeless and working poor. Ritter Center services preserve dignity and help struggling individuals and families into stable situations. While some of Ritter Center's clients are chronically homeless, many others are only one crisis away from losing their homes. Among other services, Ritter. Center helps lower the number of homeless in Marin by finding people affordable housing both in and outside of Marin. The Ritter Center has made several bids on potential new buildings, but it needs more time and patience. We cannot allow critical services to lapse in the interim, nor should the Ritter Center be penalized for relocation factors out of its control. Fear mongering by vocal but poorly informed individuals does nothing to solve this human issue. The Marin Indenendent Journal editorial board, agrees there has to be a better solution than the pressure currently being placed on the Ritter Center — "The center's clientele is not just homeless individuals, but many low-income families and those who lack medical insurance. This is not just a San Rafael issue, but a county wide dilemma." Thank you very much for your thoughtful, compassionate consideration. Sincerely, Catherine Bedilion San Anselmo, CA 94960 5-F5 5 Caron Parker From: Megan Nitta < Sent: Monday, March 14, 2016 3:59 PM To: Caron Parker Subject: Ritter Center Dear Mayor Phillips, Vice Mayor Colin and Councilmembers McCullough, Bushey and Gamblin: I have 2 young children in the San Rafael school system, one of whom is about to attend Davidson Middle School and who is scared to go on Fourth Street, let alone ride her bike to/from school next year. I agree with many residents that the homeless issue is out of control, and am looking forward to services, like Ritter Center, moving out of our main public, family -friendly areas that are also close to schools and children's routes to school. I'm torn; however, as I also support the Ritter Center and believe in the services it provides. Shutting it down, even temporarily until a new location is secured, would be an even greater disaster. I respectfully request that you allow Ritter Center to keep offering its vital social services for low- income and homeless people. Please be patient and continue helping the Ritter Center in its efforts to find a new location. Please do not cut off or limit services by changing Ritter Center's use permit before it finds a new location. The Ritter Center has been a Marin mainstay for over 30 years and a critical safety net for the homeless and working poor. Ritter Center services preserve dignity and help struggling individuals and families into stable situations. While some of Ritter Center's clients are chronically homeless, many others are only one crisis away from losing their homes. Among other services, Ritter Center helps lower the number of homeless in Marin by finding people affordable housing both in and outside of Marin. The Marin Independent Journal editorial board agrees there has to be a better solution than the pressure currently being placed on the Ritter Center — "The center's clientele is not just homeless individuals, but many low-income families and those who lack medical insurance. This is not just a San Rafael issue, but a county- wide dilemma." Thank you very much for your thoughtful, compassionate consideration. Sincerely, Megan Nitta San Rafael resident 5-16 Caron Parker From: Amanda Topper < Sent: Monday, March 14, 2016 4:03 PM To: Caron Parker Subject: Ritter Center Dear Ms Parker, I heartily support continuing to allow Ritter Center to continue to operate in their current location. If the poor and homeless are to be served, it cannot be at a distant location, as transportation is always a problem for the poor. The repeated attempts to deny Ritter Center's operations is an attempt to move their sometimes unsightly and difficult population out of sight, and that will not solve the problem of serving the poor. Ritter Center should be allowed to operate in their current location without additional restrictions until a comprehensive County -wise plan to serve the homeless and the poor is in place and operational. Ritter Center does important work, which the City of San Rafael should support, rather than trying to make the problem of the poor go away by denying a use permit. The City of San Rafael has many problems but this way of "cleaning up the city" is blatant and ill-advised. Sincerely yours, Amanda Topper Sent from my Whone 5-17 Caron Parker From: Debra Delaney < Sent: Monday, March 14, 2016 4:07 PM To: Caron Parker Subject: Ritter Center Dear Mayor Phillips, Vice Mayor Colin and Councilmembers McCullough, Bushey and Gamblin: I am a longtime supporter of Ritter Center and longtime resident and business owner in Marin County. I respectfully request that you allow Ritter Center to keep offering its vital social services for low-income and homeless people. Over the years I have been involved with Ritter Center in many volunteer roles, and I have experienced firsthand the difference the center can and does make in the lives of many of our most vulnerable citizens. I am writing this email as I will be out of town on business and unable to attend the March 21St public hearing. I know that Ritter Center is using all efforts to find a new location, and I join others in requesting your patience during this transition time for the agency. Limiting services or changing their use permit during this time would put our neediest citizens in unnecessary danger. For some, the interruption of services could have disastrous results. For over 30 years Ritter Center has been a critical safety net for the working poor, retired, disabled and homeless in our very blessed community. Please do not allow critical services to lapse for those in need. While there has been some negative voices recently, I believe they are poorly informed about the true value the center provides our community. The reality is that only 7% of Ritter Center's clients are chronically homeless. Ritter Center actually helps reduce the homeless population in Marin County by providing rental assistance to keep people from becoming homeless in the first place, and by finding affordable housing for those that are homeless. Thank you very much for your thoughtful, compassionate consideration. Please feel free to reach out to me if you would like to discuss this with me personally. Warm regards, Debra Delaney 0 5 -IS Caron Parker From: Donald Caruso < Sent: Thursday, March 10, 2016 9:53 AM To: Caron Parker Subject: The Ritter Center Ms. Caron Parker Associate City Planner San Rafael, CA Dear Caron, I am writing this email on behalf of The Ritter Center in a sincere hope that as 20 year resident of San Rafael, I can participate in figuring out a logical way to maintain and preserve the invaluable service to our community provided by this amazing non-profit organization. My involvement with the center goes back about 13 years as one of the chefs for the annual Ritter House dinner. Additionally, I regularly deliver food products to the Center as a driver for Extrafood.org and have dropped off personal surplus and bags for grocery -totting for as many years. Throughout this extended period I have found nothing but appreciative citizens who are going through some rather tough times. The cost to our city would be huge and probably unattainable if it were not for this community -centric, non-profit and compassionate organization. The vast bulk of the Ritter Centers participant are not chronically homeless, but many would be if it were not the assistance they receive in financial rental assistance, meal supplements and medical and psychiatric aid. If I can be of any assistance in figuring out a way to actively maintain this organization within our community, I am at your complete disposal. As far as I know, they have been in complete compliance of their promises and use permit. This is a must save. While there may be a few disrupters in the downtown area at any given time, the vast, repeat, vast number of 4,500 annual Ritter Center participants are law abiding citizens who just need a temporary hand ..... I hope we can continue to extend ours. Sincerely, Don Caruso 5-(9 Caron Parker From: Sent: Thursday, March 10, 2016 8:46 AM To: Caron Parker Subject: To the City Council re: Ritter Center To the San Rafael City Council: Please renew the use permit for the Ritter Center. The Ritter Center provides vital services to people from all over Marin County, and it is situated in a perfect location, which is central to Marin residents and near the Marin Transit Center, thereby providing easy access from all over the county. The Ritter Center has done an excellent job right where it is, and it makes no sense to force it to move now. Sincerely, Susan Barnes 5-2-D Caron Parker From: Sent: Thursday, March 10, 2016 2:37 PM To: Caron Parker Cc: communications@rittercenter.org Subject: Support of Ritter House Caron: I've been donating items to the Ritter House for years now and have seen the level of support they provide our community. I'm very proud that our city recognizes our moral obligation to address societal needs. I think it is imperative that we find an appropriate location for Ritter Center's services and NOT shut them down. • Ritter Center has been in compliance with the conditions of its use permit • Less than 7% of Ritter Center's clients are chronically homeless • As a community, we need to look at the cost of housing and the job market/wages as driving forces in the increase of homeless individuals and families in Marin • Ritter Center disburses -more than $300,000 each year in rental assistance to help prevent Marin residents from becoming or remaining homeless • Ritter Center helps reduce the number of homeless in Marin by finding people affordable housing in and outside of Marin • Ritter Center provides psychiatric medicine management, mental health therapy and outpatient substance use treatment counseling to help Marin residents regain stability Thank you, Lorena Garcia NOTICE TO RECIPIENT: If you are not the intended recipient of this e-mail, you are prohibited from sharing, copying, or otherwise using or disclosing its contents. If you have received this e-mail in error, please notify the sender immediately by reply e-mail and permanently delete this e-mail and any attachments without reading, forwarding or saving them. Thank you. 5-2.1 Caron Parker From: peter kamler < Sent: Thursday, March 10, 2016 10:18 AM To: Caron Parker Subject: Ritter House Caron, The Ritter house should be allowed to continue to provide the services that they have been providing successfully for so many years at the current location. To be considering an increase in use permit conditions on this business is a travesty. As a San Rafael Native, long time businessman, property owner and parent of two San Rafael public school graduates I must say that this operation is a bright star in the public service universe in San Rafael. They should be assisted in their endeavors not obstructed by new rules and regulations. It is shameful to see as San Rafael continues to grow that the pressures on those that serve the underprivileged mount and the wealthy turn a blind eye to the mission being served. Please allow Ritter House to continue serving those in need at the current location under the original use permit conditions. Sincerely, Peter Kamler CFP 1 5� 2 Caron Parker From: Jane Karp < Sent: Thursday, March 10, 2016 10:24 AM To: Caron Parker Subject: Support for Ritter Center Hello, I would like to voice my support for Ritter Center continuing to provide accessible services in San Rafael. My understanding is that Ritter Center provides vital medical, mental health, substance use treatment and basic needs services to approximately 4,500 men, women and children each year. It is important to continue to care for people who need these services! Thank you for your efforts in this regard. Sincerely, Jane Karp San Rafael resident StyleBistro The Most Wearable Beauty Trend Of The Year (Photos) http://cp.mcafee.com/d/k- Kr6wUpdElfzD6m4NP1KVJBYQsle3zhOvrpvd7b3zPbVJBYQsle3zhOOrpsid7bPPPVKSNH3BJvl-, 8aJapgHJdx7ntY w09KQFBGKQS4ttTP- OOCQ 844vsvW 8Tpod7bb3fnKniivvV4QsCzBd5MsNR4kRHFGTKNOEuvkzaTOQSvrhdTVeZXTLuZXCXCMOsOsEEbr6ogHHL N F M vT2 L b U 2 gA5 m k m ksysZ4wR- V1dAQsSp8vuXOr59ThcJSdPS8FbNkxkl2x5K5undF191CNxJDalpC�ilSlihO2VIDYihO9v2vNdFLCQIMC 1 5-Z3 Caron Parker From: Sent: Thursday, March 10, 2016 8:46 AM To: Caron Parker Subject: To the City Council re: Ritter Center To the San Rafael City Council: Please renew the use permit for the Ritter Center. The Ritter Center provides vital services to people from all over Marin County, and it is situated in a perfect location, which is central to Marin residents and near the Marin Transit Center, thereby providing easy access from all over the county. The Ritter Center has done an excellent job right where it is, and it makes no sense to force it to move now. Sincerely, Susan Barnes Read my blog at httr)://www.iewishiournal.com/reliaiousandreform Caron Parker From: David Potovsky < Sent: Thursday, March 10, 2016 6:05 PM To: Caron Parker Subject: I support Ritter House! To whom it may concern, Three generations of my family have been volunteering at Ritter House for many years. We believe that they are doing an excellent job serving the most vulnerable people in our county. These are not just homeless, they are also families, children and the elderly. The staff is committed to helping these people get back on their feet again. I implore you to do everything you can to support Ritter House. It would be much worse without them. They provide an incredibly valuable service. Kind regards, David Potovsky ( 5-2.5 Caron Parker From: Kate Martin < Sent: Friday, March 11, 2016 11:45 AM To: Caron Parker Subject: Ritter Center Dear Caron, I am a life-long resident of Marin County and half of that has been as a homeowner in San Rafael. I will not pretend that I have all of the answers to the social problems that in my lifetime have resulted in poor and unwell people living on the streets all over our country, as well as right here in San Rafael. I understand that many people are afraid of people who are mentally ill or obviously without resources. There is a lot of fear in our world right now. Fear of different races, religions, sexual orientation or gender identity. Some older people are afraid of younger people. And on and on. I do understand the concerns of the business community. They rely on customers coming and returning to buy their products and services. The answer is neither to do nothing nor to try to cover up the problem and pretend it doesn't exist. want to live in a society that cares for the most vulnerable among us, whether they can afford to pay for it or not. 2- C�� I think we can do better than San Francisco that wants to move people into a building without running water. Ritter Center and other organizations work very hard to meet a critical need. I would expect that our elected representatives would figure out how to support them in doing that and acknowledge their efforts, rather than blaming them for attracting the problem. I understand the impulse to put homeless people somewhere that no one has to look at the results of some of our society's beliefs and policies. But they are human beings. They deserve dignity and compassion, whether they look or sound or smell "right" by certain standards. To close Ritter Center would be cruel, and represent priorities that clearly do not share. Katherine Martin San Rafael CA 94901 Caron Parker From: Mathers, Lara < Sent: Wednesday, March 09, 2016 7:29 AM To: Caron Parker Subject: In support of Ritter Center services Good morning, I'm writing in support of Ritter Center as the city reviews its 6 month use permit. As an employment counselor for the General Assistance program for the past two years I have been fortunate to work closely with Ritter on behalf of clients and to see the necessary space they hold for homeless in this county. Whether it is for mental health care, case management, or simply to pick up extra food, the Ritter Center responds to individuals in need with compassion and ca re. Thank you for considering the great value of this service to so many disenfranchised and struggling people in this county as you decide how to move forward. Sincerely, Lara Mathers A R 1 N HEALTH HUMAN SER -V- C ES Lara Mathers Employment Development Counselor General Assistance Program County of Marin Health & Human Services 120 N. Redwood Drive San Rafael, CA 94903 Direct: 415-473-3397 NEW FAX! 415-473-3376 LMathers0marincountv.ora MEC Job blog: httij://www.gotworkmec.blogsi)ot.com/ — HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE The information contained in this document may be privileged, confidential, and protected under applicable law and is intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to which it is addressed. If you are not the intended recipient or the employee or agent responsible for delivering the message to the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution, or copying of this communication is strictly prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please notify the sender immediately by telephone and destroy the document. Email Disclaimer: httD://www.marincounty.ora/main/disclaimers 5-z7 Caron Parker From: Linda Curtis < Sent: Wednesday, March 09, 2016 10:15 AM To: Caron Parker Subject: URGENT: Ritter Center Still Needs Your Help Attention Caron Parker: As a supporter of Ritter Center for almost 20 years I can say they do an amazing service for our community. Please make it possible for them to stay in service, of need be at a different address, but our city needs then! Thank you, Linda Curtis SR 94901 Sent from my Verizon Wireless 4G LTE DRDID ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Ritter Center < Date: Mar 8, 2016 7:15 PM Subject: URGENT: Ritter Center Still Needs Your Help To: lcurtis647@comcast.net Cc: X X Dear Linda, Ritter Center needs your voice. If you have already written an email in support of our services, thank you! If not, there is still time to do so.We respectfully request that our supporters send emails in support of Ritter Center to the City of San Rafael at Caron.Parker@cityofsanrafael.org by noon on March 9th to ensure the City understands that most of its residents do not believe that unfounded fear should drive public policy. Our goal is to shift the conversation to finding an appropriate location for Ritter Center's services, not shutting them down. Your opinion matters. To help you craft a short email, here are some points we think are important to highlight in this conversation: • Ritter Center has been in compliance with the conditions of its use permit • Less than 7% of Ritter Center's clients are chronically homeless • As a community, we need to look at the cost of housing and the job market/wages as driving forces in the increase of homeless individuals and families in Marin • Ritter Center disburses more than $300,000 each year in rental assistance to help prevent Marin residents from becoming or remaining homeless • Ritter Center helps reduce the number of homeless in Marin by finding people affordable housing in and outside of Marin • Ritter Center provides psychiatric medicine management, mental health therapy and outpatient substance use treatment counseling to help Marin residents regain stability Thanks again for your conapass ionate support! 5-Z9 Caron Parker From: Jeff Bialik< org> Sent: Wednesday, March 09, 2016 9:50 AM To: Caron Parker Cc: com; amcintyre@marincounty.org; 'communications@rittercenter.org' Subject: In Support of Ritter Center Dear Caron: I am writing in support of Ritter Center and the critical role it plays in the City of San Rafael and Marin County as a resource to people for whom life has sometimes been cruel. As the Executive Director of Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of San Francisco, I see first-hand the challenges of homelessness, poverty, abuse, and neglect. It may be difficult to see, sometimes, but each person that Ritter Center seeks to help is a human being, who is worthy of dignity and respect. I live in San Rafael, and would like our community to be known as one who looks with compassion on the face of people who are struggling. I understand that Ritter Center is in compliance with the stringent use conditions that the City has imposed on them. Ritter actually helps to reduce homelessness by providing rental assistance and helping people to locate housing both in and outside Marin. The problems of homelessness, substance abuse, mental illness, and other chronic medical conditions are daunting and systemic. Ritter Center does not create these issues; rather, Ritter Center seeks to remedy them. Please continue to work with Ritter Center and the community to seek solutions, not scapegoats. Thank you. Sincerely, Jeff Bialik Executive Director Caron Parker From: David Neagle < Sent: Wednesday, March 09, 2016 10:02 AM To: Caron Parker Subject: Ritter Center use permit Good morning Caron, I am a 20 -year San Rafael resident and have worked in downtown San Rafael for the past 5 years. I understand that Ritter's use permit will be reviewed by the City Council this month. While I see and understand the impact of -homelessness on our city, I believe that Ritter has been unfairly singled -out as the cause. I believe Ritter is part of the solution. While the current location is not ideal for Ritter nor the downtown merchants, I am aware that Ritter has been looking for an alternate location over the past few years with little, if any support from city government. Perhaps a joint effort would bring about a solution to the location issue. I support the City Council's continued approval of Ritter's use permit based on the following facts: • Ritter provides medical support to over 50% of Marin's homeless Veteran population; • Ritter is in compliance with its use permit; • Ritter provides housing assistance to local residents to prevent them from becoming homeless; Ritter also finds affordable housing for its clients, thereby reducing the local homeless population. ; • Most importantly, and the point of the use permit, is that Ritter provides outpatient substance abuse treatment and counseling, psychiatric medicine management and mental health therapy to those who need it most and are least able to afford it. As a community, we need to understand that the cost of housing and availability of well -paying jobs is a major factor in the increase of homelessness in the city and county, not the services provided to the poor by Ritter Center. I will attend the Council meeting on the 21St and further voice my support for continuation of Ritter's use permit. Best regards, David J Neagle I Please use this link when sending sensitive information: i 5 -3 I Caron Parker From: Sent: To: Subject: Attention Caron Parker: Linda Curtis < net> Wednesday, March 09, 2016 10:15 AM Caron Parker URGENT: Ritter Center Still Needs Your Help As a supporter of Ritter Center for almost 20 years I can say they do an amazing service for our community. Please make it possible for them to stay in service, of need be at a different address, but our city needs then! Thank you, Linda Curtis SR 94901 Sent from my Verizon Wireless 4G LTE DROID ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Ritter Center < Date: Mar 8, 2016 7:15 PM Subject: URGENT: Ritter Center Still Needs Your Help To: Cc: 5-32- Caron Parker From: Janice < Sent: Wednesday, March 09, 2016 10:18 AM To: Caron Parker Subject: In support of Ritter Center ®ear City of San Rafael, I believe Ritter center is helping more than it is harming the area. I encourage the city to help Ritter Center to find an appropriate new facility and not to shut them down. It's true, there are some homeless people that are disruptive but the majority are not and should not have to pay for the few that are. I've lived in downtown San Rafael for 6.5 years and for the most pari, the homeless have been polite and even nice to me. I see them on a daily basis when I walk to work, shop, eat and bank here in downtown San Rafael. FYI, I live 1 block from the Salvation Army dining hall and can see them from my apartment kitchen. I am struck by the fact that Ritter Center provides vital medical, mental health, substance use treatment and basic needs services to approximately 4,500 men, women and children each year and less than 7% are chronically homeless. That is a huge number of people that they serve. They also provide more than $300,000 each year in rental assistance to help prevent Marin residents from becoming or remaining homeless. I don't know of any other organization that does that personally. The Ritter center plays an important role for those with mental illness by providing psychiatric medicine management, mental health therapy and outpatient substance use treatment counseling to help Marin residents regain stability. Ritter Center helps people to find affordable housing in and outside of Marin which we all know is a growing concern, even for myself and my partner who both have full time jobs! The rents keep increasing to astronomical proportions. As a community, we need to look at the cost of housing and the job market/wages as driving forces in the increase of homeless individuals and families in Marin and affordable housing for those "middle class" folks that live and work here that are not in the tech industry. One other major point is that the Ritter Center has been in compliance with the conditions of its use permit. The question I ask myself is what kind of a mess would you have on your hands if Ritter was no longer there to pick up the slack and care for these folks? They play an important role in this community and I support the good work they do. Best Regards, Janice Lum Executive Assistant Caron Parker From: Mark < Sent: Wednesday, March 09, 2016 4:47 PM To: Caron Parker Subject: Ritter Center Dear Mr. Parker - I am a Marin County resident writing to express my support of Ritter Center. I recently learned that consideration is being given to relocating Ritter Center as -a response to complaints about a small minority of homeless persons causing disruptions in San Rafael. Such action, of course, would be a classic 'baby with the bathwater' response, would not be equitable or effective. It would also harm numerous vulnerable Marin County citizens, including many of our Veterans. As a Marin County Veteran, I cannot support what seems like a misguided approach which will harm many of my brother/sister vets; and, I urge you and the city of San Rafael to summon the courage to take a more equitable and effective course, in accordance with your mission statement. I would also like to remind you of the benefits of the Ritter Center, which is in compliance with the conditions of its use permit. • Less than 7% of Ritter Center's clients are chronically homeless • As a community, we need to look at the cost of housing and the job market/wages as driving forces in the increase of homeless individuals and families in Marin • Ritter Center disburses more than $300,000 each year in rental assistance to help prevent Marin residents from becoming or remaining homeless • Ritter Center helps reduce the number of homeless in Marin by finding people affordable housing in and outside of Marin • Ritter Center provides psychiatric medicine management, mental health therapy and outpatient substance use treatment counseling to help Marin residents regain stability • The Ritter Center provides much needed services to our Veteran population, who need our support Therefore, please find a more focused, equitable and effective solution to this problem. Respectfully, Mark Seely 5 -1� Caron Parker From: Dave Thompson < Sent: Wednesday, March 09, 2016 3:21 PM To: Caron Parker Subject: Ritter House Dear Ms. Parker; I am writing in support of Ritter House. As a Veteran I am especially encouraged by the range of services Ritter House provides to Veterans and other members of the community. There are so few facilities that assist with housing, mental health and drug treatment to the disenfranchised and needy who otherwise would not have the financial means to receive these services. I would hope that the City of San Rafael would carefully weigh the benefits that Ritter House provides to those most in need. Regards, David Thompson 5-35 Caron Parker From: Stephens, Sean <SAStephens@marincounty.org> Sent: Wednesday, March 09, 2016 11:08 AM To: Overby, Brijette; College of Marin; AM Leg 313/ Larkspur; Am. Leg 179 SO; Ainsworth, Brent; Carrie Bancroft; College of Marin; Ed@premiersystemsgroup.com; Eddie Ramriez; embb00@comcast.net; George Kennedy; gstarkey@att.net; James Faw; net; Jen Crumb; John Sammons; Jonathan Deras (Jonathan.deras@outlook.com); Marilyn Spoja; marjim50@verizon.net; Mark Seely; panpacl@comcast.net; phil40@pacbell.net; RAY MULLIN; Trinidad, Paul A 1LT USARMY (US); net; waterdog9@comcast.net; William.casey55@yahoo.com Cc: gov; Caron Parker Subject: FW: URGENT: Ritter Center Needs Your Help Hey everyone, This is a very serious matter, and I would greatly appreciate if all of you within this email could please respond. Ritter Center has a had a very big impact on the lives of Veterans throughout the County of Marin, and right now more than ever they need our voice to continue supporting homeless veterans and connecting them with services. Please send emails of support to: Caron. Parker(& citvofsanrafael.orlr X 0 5 3� Dear Friend, This is not an appeal for money. We need your voice to continue to make a positive impact in the lives of those in need in Marin. Ritter Center's 6 -month use permit report will be reviewed by the City of San Rafael in March. Ritter Center is looking at all options for moving our services to a new facility, including leasing space, buying a building or sharing space with another organization. Ritter Center's goal is to find a new home that is acceptable to the City of San Rafael while remaining accessible to the vulnerable populations we serve. Everyone agrees that downtown San Rafael feels the impacts of homelessness. City and County law enforcement have estimated that at any given time there are about 40 individuals who cause repeated disruptions downtown. Ritter Center provides vital medical, mental health, substance use treatment and basic needs services to approximately 4,500 men, women and children each year. We respectfully request that our supporters send emails in support of Ritter Center to the City of San Rafael at Caron. Parker(cDcitvofsanrafael.orq before March 9th to ensure the City understands that most of its residents do not believe that unfounded fear should drive public policy. Our goal is for the City to understand Ritter Center is helping, not causing the problem and that the focus should be on finding an appropriate location for services, not shutting them down. Your opinion matters in this conversation. We know you are busy, so here are a few points you can draw from in crafting a short original email: • Ritter Center has been in compliance with the conditions of its use permit • Less than 7% of Ritter Center's clients are chronically homeless • As a community, we need to look at the cost of housing and the job market/wages as driving forces in the increase of homeless individuals and families in Marin • Ritter Center disburses more than $300,000 each year in rental assistance to help prevent Marin residents from becoming or remaining homeless • Ritter Center helps reduce the number of homeless in Marin by finding people affordable housing in and outside of Marin • Ritter Center provides psychiatric medicine management, mental health therapy and outpatient substance use treatment counseling to help Marin residents regain stability The City Council is having a public hearing the evening of March 21st at City Hall as well. We would appreciate and encourage those willing to speak on our behalf to attend this meeting and share your voice! 5 -3r] Thank!a so much for your compassbnate suppord ir-n Share this email: Manage your preferences I Opt out using TrueRemoveTM Got this as a forward? Sign up to receive our future emails. View this email online. P.O. Box 3517 San Rafael, CA 194912-3517 US This email was sent to amcintyre@marincounty.org. To continue receiving our emails, add us to your address book. HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE The information contained in this document may be privileged, confidential, and protected under applicable law and is intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to which it is addressed. If you are not the intended recipient or the employee or agent responsible for delivering the message to the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution, or copying of this communication is strictly prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please notify the sender immediately by telephone and destroy the document. Email Disclaimer: http://www.marincounty.org/main/disclaimers Caron Parker From: Terry Graham < Sent: Wednesday, March 09, 2016 5:51 PM To: Caron Parker Cc: Raymond J. Mullin; Annette Gibbs Subject: Ritter House / Homeless in Marin /Ritter House Dear Caron: Veterans Housing & Services, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit based in San Rafael, has as our goal to identify, pursue and create housing options for veterans in Marin County and beyond. Since our founding in 2014, we understand that the number of homeless veterans and vets at risk of homelessness in our County has grown significantly. VHS appreciates the efforts of the City of San Rafael, other communities, Marin County,and numerous nonprofits in our combined efforts to provide safe, clean, affordable and readily available housing for those in need of shelter, balanced with the need to preserve public health, safety,and welfare. We also recognize and appreciate that the City of San Rafael has played a particularly important role in addressing the needs of the homeless throughout the County. The answers to issues arising from homelessness may not be easy or obvious, but please consider Veterans Housing & Services a willing participant organization in the City of San Rafael's efforts to address this situation. Sincerely yours, Terry Graham Executive Director 5-3g The following email was received through the City Council Contact Email Form on the City web site. A copy is being forwarded to each member of the City Council. Council Contact Form City of San Rafael City Council Contact Form Thank you for visiting the City of San Rafael website. This form is available to facilitate contacting our Mayor and Councilmembers concerning topics of interest to the community. Please contact the City Manager's office at 415-485-3070 for any additional assistance. Note that the City of San Rafael considers email to Councilmembers as an informal and non -confidential method of communication. Please send a signed letter if you would like to make your comment/question a matter of public record. Mail formal letters to San Rafael City Council, PO Box 151560, San Rafael, CA, 94915. * First Name Scott * Last Name Drotman Address 1 Address 2 City San Ansehno State CA Zip Code 94960 Phone Number * Email Address * Send email to (select one All City Councilmembers * Please enter your questions/comments below Dear Mayor and Honored City Council Members, The Homeless situation has reached epidemic proportions in Marin County and the City of San Rafael has felt the brunt of this epidemic. There are multiple economic and social causes but there is one undeniable fact, SanRafael is the center of services for those iri need. The County Supervisors have collectively turned their heads on this problem. Z In 2014 -20151 was a member of the Marin County Civil Grand Jury. We wrote a report "Homelessness in Marin - A Call for Leadership " ( httn://www.marincountv.org/dents/ai/reports-and-responses/reports-responses/2014-15/homelessness-in-maria) and we made some very specific recommendations. Most were ignored by the Marin County Board of Supervisors. Please read it. The City of San Rafael has appointed a homeless czar which is well beyond the call of duty for your city. Marin County has left "you holding the bag" accountable for these services. - I urge you to NOT RENEW THE RITTER CENTER USE PERMIT. This is a county problem and the solution needs to be systemic. Once Ritter Center is closed, you need to address the problems brought about by St. Vincent. I believe that we need to feed our hungry. Our society is too wealthy to ignore that need. Still, St. Vincent's is a blight on the downtown. One issue is that every day the REST Program drops off 60 homeless people in downtown for breakfast. These people are collected from all over the county, Why aren't they brought back to where they were collected? Is there any other place they can be given breakfast? You need to reclaim downtown San Rafael for ALL RESIDENTS. Today I drove through San Rafael to have lunch in Mill Valley. I did not want to deal with the downtown situation. Too many stories to tell for one lifetime. Thank you, Scott Drotman Caron Parker From: Claire Zurack < Sent: Wednesday, March 09, 2016 8:49 AM To: Caron Parker Subject: Ritter Center Caron, I am writing this email in support of Ritter Center. I believe that homeless people will continue to congregate in downtown San Rafael whether or not Ritter Center is there. They provide an invaluable service to people in need and should not be closed down. A society is judged by how they treat their most vulnerable. In addition, Ritter Center has been in compliance with the conditions of its use permit. Less than 7% of Ritter Center's clients are chronically homeless, they serve Marin's working poor. As a community, we need to look at the cost of housing and the job market/wages as driving forces in the increase of homeless individuals and families in Marin. Our energy would be better spent focusing on this issue rather than moving the homeless. Ritter Center disburses more than $300,000 each year in rental assistance to help prevent Marin residents from becoming or remaining homeless. There would be more homeless people without Ritter and other agencies like them. Ritter Center provides psychiatric medicine management, mental health therapy and outpatient substance use treatment counseling to help Marin residents regain stability. Many of our clients have been helped by Ritter Center. They provide free food to people who cannot afford to buy food in addition to paying their rent. They also provide other services such as helping people manage their money and assisting people in obtaining disability benefits. I really hope we do not buy into people's fears about the homeless. Thank you, Claire Zurack Program Director Buckelew Programs. Confidentiality Statement: This electronic message transmission including any attachments, contains information from Buckelew Programs which may be confidential or privileged. The information is intended to be for the use of the individual or entity named above. If you are not the intended recipient, be aware that any disclosure, copying, distribution, or use of the contents of this information is prohibited. If you have received this electronic transmission in error, please notify the sender immediately by a reply to sender only message and destroy all electronic and hard copies of this communication including attachments. 'bpcs081409* Thank You. 5 -- 9 Caron Parker From: Tamara Goldsmith < Sent: Tuesday, March 08, 2016 5:59 PM To: Caron Parker Subject: Ritter Center Dear Council members of the City of San Rafael, As a resident of San Rafael for 18 + years, I feel proud to be part of a community that tends to its under served population with compassion and generosity. The Ritter Center is one of the organizations that is at the heart of this mission to provide necessary resources for people in our community who have found themselves in desperate situations. Indeed, it is essential to find a balance between providing a safe and prosperous place for business owners, residents, and visitors and in serving the needs of those who are struggling. Yet, it is clear to me that the Ritter Center is an essential life boat for those who are suffering from the difficult economic times that so many are affected by at this time, and closing their doors will potentially create more desperation for those who cannot easily access another location. This action may create the opposite of its intended effect; leading to an increase in the numbers of struggling people lingering downtown who would no longer have a support system. Continuing to expand successful programs, such as the Downtown Streets Team and Ritter Center would strengthen our community, and provide support for many more to move from homelessness to self sufficiency. I ask that, as a city, we take a long term and compassionate view that includes providing services for those who most need them --keep the Ritter Center open. We all benefit when we care for one another. Thank you. Sincerely, Tamara Goldsmith San Rafael, CA 94901 1 5'� 1 March 8, 2016 Dear Caron, I am writing as the Program Manager for a local service provider who works with the homeless, unaffiliated with Ritter Center. The residents I work with are housed in a long term, supported housing program scattered throughout Marin County. Many of them utilize Ritter Center services despite being housed as supplemental support for their food pantry, clothing closet, payee services, and some of whom consider Ritter and its clients "their community." With all of this said, I do understand the concerns of San Rafael community members and business owners regarding instances of crime and general disorderliness among the homeless community. Unfortunately moving Ritter Center will simply displace this issue onto another area of Marin and depending on placement of Ritter Center will potentially create barriers to access for individuals who are vulnerable and high needs. The question is how we creatively and innovatively come together as a community to shift the paradigm of services for the homeless to better serve their needs and lessen homelessness. As a service provider with individuals who have been chronically homeless (upwards of 20 years,) I can tell you that long term, supported housing is the way to get people off the streets, get them the help they need, and provide ongoing supported care to lessen use of emergency services including police intervention, jail, detox, ER, Hospital, etc. It has been proven in many other communities. Ritter Center is providing a needed service for the community and I think we all can agree that Ritter Center is not able to fix the problem of homelessness alone. Ritter Center and other service providers in the area need funding to be able to fix this problem through getting people off the streets and into supported housing where they can stabilize and potentially address years of ongoing issues. Ultimately I would like for this issue to be looked at not as the homeless community or service providers who serve them as the problem but rather as a community who hasn't yet figured out the best way to serve this vulnerable, high needs population dealing with mental health issues, substance abuse issues, complex medical diagnoses, histories of trauma due to violence, childhood backgrounds, living on the streets, and living as marginalized, oppressed community members. I would like to advocate for Ritter to stay in San Rafael until they are able to relocate to a place which is conducive to serving the population in which they do. I would also like the political powers at be in San Rafael to look at homelessness as a community issue that everyone can play a part in. Sincerely, Liz McCann, MA { 5-4-L Caron Parker From: M Campbell < Sent: Monday, March 07, 2016 6:36 PM To: Caron Parker Subject: Ritter Center Hi Caron, As Ritter Center's lease is coming up again for scrutiny over compliance, I wanted to share our experiences with you and bring some of the local problems to your attention. My fiance and I live on A St. near 3rd. A couple weeks ago we had an incident at our home. We were sitting at home watching TV when we heard someone coming up our back steps. We live in the back of an old Victorian and normally no one ever comes back here especially at night, so it was weird. The person knocked and we looked out the window and it was a 20 something homeless kid high on meth (we assume) He was paranoid and freaking out. He ran off and we called the cops. Fifteen minutes later he was back in our backyard and freaking out again. I went outside and chased him off. We called the cops again and they came and talked to us. They picked him up on 4th street at Yetwa Chinese restaurant. Apparently he ran in shouting that the cops were after him. The cops filed a report and asked if we wanted to press charges, but if we did we would have to go to court over it. It was only a misdemeanor charge of trespassing and we didn't want to be involved in court so we didn't press charges. So that's that. There's a constant parade of homeless walking along our street to get to 4th. We've had many issues with homeless coming onto our property. I also spoke to the cop about the homeless encampments at the baseball park. He said it was illegal for them to be there after dark, but if they chase them out, they would come our way and find other places to camp in the downtown area (possibly in our yard). We're both shaken and frustrated. The cop said that police departments in other towns will buy bus tickets for homeless and send them here to keep them out of their affluent communities. I'm so tired of this. I've been accosted and threatened by homeless. I see them sleeping all over the downtown area. I've seen them shooting up on 4th. I've found dirty needles in our drive way. I've caught a homeless couple having sex in an alley. Why do we have to tolerate this? If this were happening in a more affluent Marin community, this would not go on. What is it going to take to make San Rafael safe again. The city is completely overrun. Homeless, drug addicts, people with a history of mental illness, and in some cases ex -convicts from San Quentin. I met someone on the street asking for money who told me he had just been released from San Quentin and had no where else to go so he came here. I've had a conversation with a homeless man in the past and he said he loved San Rafael, "I have a place to sleep, they feed me, the people are nice, and I have enough money to still buy drugs." My feeling is that Ritter House and other services in SR simply enable this kind of behavior. They support the Hobo lifestyle. San Rafael has become a safe haven for homeless, drug addicts, and ex -cons. The city supports it and the problem continues to grow. We don't feel safe here anymore. We would move, but we love our home and can't afford to move. We're both feeling terribly frustrated. What is the city of San Rafael doing? Are you doing anything? We see no results and only a deepening problem. M. Campbell S7—Li-j Caron Parker From: Nancy Koster < Sent: Monday, March 07, 2016 7:54 PM To: Caron Parker Subject: Ritter House Move Hi, I am a resident of San Rafael's West End and I commute through 4th street almost every weekday to SF. I want to comment that the number of homelessness and their aggressive behavior is ruining downtown SR. The location of Ritter House in the downtown area is totally inappropriate as it t encourages people to hang out in downtown until Ritter house opens for business. I am completely in agreement with revoking their use permit. They need to locate outside of the downtown region. In fact, their services should actually be located in a Marin County unincorporated area as homelessness is actually a Marin County problem and should not be left for SR to deal with it. For instance San Anselmo, among other cities, would never allow this homeless problem that we have allowed to fester in our city. It seems that most of the time when you see people sending comments about Ritter House and supporting the current location they do not live in the area of see what is going on! Ritter offers some good services but again it should not be in the downtown region. Many of my friends and family will not go downtown for eating and shopping. They feel threatened by the homeless and uncomfortable. I am more immune to it since I work in SF. From my office building I can see the Embarcadero and you don't even want to know what we see! That being sai,d I don't want SR to go even further down that path. SR use to be a really nice downtown. We can rebuild it but we need to move the homeless services such as Ritter House out of the downtown area! Thank you, Nancy Koster Caron Parker From: Russell Robles < Sent: Saturday, March 05, 2016 3:53 PM To: Caron Parker Subject: Ritter House Ritter center's work is very important to Marin and we cannot do without them. Homelessness is an increasing problem, even for women, children and families. As a community we need to look at the cost of housing and the job market and wages as driving forces in the increase of homeless individuals and families in Marin. Ritter Center is a necessity to decreasing the number of unfortunate people on the streets of San Rafael. They help Marin residents regain stability by providing psychiatric medicine management, mental health therapy and outpatient substance use treatment counseling. Please be compassionate and consider this request from a resident, voter, and taxpayer in our wonderful Marin County. Russell Robles San Rafael taxpayer S= W5 Caron Parker From: Pamela Glassoff < Sent: Saturday, March 05, 2016 4:08 PM To: Caron Parker Subject: Ritter Center I support Ritter Center and would feel it would be a misguided action to close it or reduce its services. I support the City of San Rafael assisting Ritter Center in finding a new location if that is what will work for the community so that it can carry on it's precious work. Please do not close something that is a life line for many of your residents. Pam 5--9(0 Caron Parker From: Fredda < Sent: Saturday, March OS, 2016 2:23 PM To: Caron Parker Subject: Ritter House Ritter house should not be shut down as it is truly a helping humanitarian organization taking care of the people no one else is helping. Others are just complaining about them. The Center is helping the problem of homelessness by distributing more than $300,000 yearly in rental assistance to help prevent Marin residents from becoming or remaining homeless. It reduces the number of homeless in Marin by finding affordable housing in Marin. That is all good! Ritter Center has been in compliance with the conditions of its use permit so why is it being persecuted and shunned? Help these people take care of OUR problems. Thank you, Fredda Kaplan San Rafael home owner .5-4'7 Caron Parker From: Carole Kammen < Sent: Friday, March 04, 2016 1:10 PM To: Caron Parker Subject: Ritter Just want to voice my opinion that I'm not in support of Ritter continuing in San Rafael. I've owned a home in San Rafael for over 28 years. While I'm sensitive to the plight of the homeless I'm also keenly aware of the impact this has on safety and home values. I'd intended to retire here, but will most likely sell my home and move out of San Rafael. Where as I once shopped and spent leisure time locally I avoid downtown completely and rarely do any recreational activity in Terra Linda either. It's time for the rest of Marin to participate equally in being the solution. Carole Kammen s_y8 Caron Parker From: Arline Van Gessel <arlinevg@comcast.net> Sent: Friday, March 04, 2016 8:04 AM To: Caron Parker Subject: Ritter House lease renewal I am emailing to express my concern about the impact of the homeless/vagrants that seem to be calling the streets of downtown San Rafael home. I have been a homeowner in San Rafael since 1994, which means I am a taxpayer in San Rafael, currently paying about $20,000 per year in property taxes. The vagrants/homeless that are loitering downtown have certainly driven me out of the downtown area and I know that I am not alone in this sentiment. To better illustrate my decision to not frequent downtown San Rafael: 1) The last time I HAD to attend a work function at a restaurant downtown, I parked in the tiered parking garage between 3rd and 4th Street. When I returned to my car two drunk/drugged men appeared to be having a contest on who could urinate higher up on my car. I yelled loudly at them when I saw what they were doing and they scattered. Didn't call the police as there didn't seem much point and the damage was already done. 2) Last time I was in the public library on E Street, a homeless/vagrant person was defecating on the floor over in the corner by the large print books section. 3) During the summer I went to the Fenix restaurant to celebrate a co-workers birthday immediately after work at 5:30 pm. I parked on 5th Street and walked down Looten's Place to get to the restaurant. A young man and a young woman were completely passed out laying on the sidewalk entwined together. As a registered nurse, I checked to be sure they were still breathing and they were. It was quite obvious they were passed out from either alcohol or drug ingestion. I did not call the police because I did not have my cellphone with me and by the time I got to the restaurant I got caught up in the celebration. They were gone two hours later when I walked the same route back to my car. 4) I have witnessed repeated shoplifting by the same population in the Safeway on B Street. The employees there seem resigned to these thefts and don't respond to them in the manner one would expect. I have spoke to the management at Safeway regarding this, but nothing seems to have changed. Now I shop at the Safeway in Terra Linda, but homeless are starting to migrant north and loiter around the Northgate shopping center as well. I have had two people on two separate occasions come up to me in the parking lot requesting money. 5) There are groups of vagrants, men and women, who loiter around an approximate 3-4 block radius surrounding Ritter House. Their presence in these groups is threatening because many are often drinking publicly. Most of the individuals loitering about act altered mentally, noted by their conversations and sometimes more aggressive comments to those passing by. Sometimes it is quite obvious they are under the influence as they are passed out on the sidewalk in the middle of the day. I work at Kaiser Permanente. Patients/Kaiser members are always commenting on how they don't feel safe when they have to park in the garage across the street and walk over. One nurse has refused to be assigned at the San Rafael Downtown location because she does not feel safe walking to and from her car and/or going out during her lunch break. The items I have described above are just a very small sample of behaviors that I have personally experienced that are ruining our downtown and our city. I'm confident that you are well aware of many, many more issues, including examples of public intoxication, public urination and defecation, panhandling and loitering. The amount of time and energy our police department spend on homeless/vagrancy issues, I'm sure could be better spent in any number of ways. Ritter House's attempt to curtail the behaviors and the presence of these people have not succeeded. In fact it appears as if the situation has worsened based upon the number of people I see loitering when I find myself having to go downtown. I'm sure you have seen this, but in case not: 7mv jv//,) ZWuI w 46!19 .1 Imi IBIS 37A It Having Ritter House move from the downtown area is one step that should be taken to remove the presence of those individuals that have had such a negative impact on our community and my city. I recognize that it may not completely solve the "problem", but at least it removes one very large contributing factor. I believe there is a financial aspect to this continued demise of San Rafael's downtown as well. How much longer will it take before it begins to have an impact on home prices, if it hasn't already? If Ritter doesn't move and things don't improve soon, I will be looking to move. -Arline Van Gessel 2 Caron Parker From: Clare < Sent: Friday, March 04, 2016 2:27 PM To: Caron Parker Subject: Ritter Center Hello Ms. Parker, I grew up in San Rafael in the 1950's and still live here, so I have seen tremendous changes to the town that I love. I do hope, however, that one change doesn't occur: that the city becomes hardhearted and turns its back on the less fortunate among us, by denying Ritter Center the means with which to help them. Much has been said (and shouted) about how Ritter Center is what causes the homeless population in downtown San Rafael, but this is a bit like saying a doctor's office is what causes people to be sick; it makes no sense. Until there are more long-term solutions to the general problem of homelessness, I want my town to be one that takes care of those who need the services and help that Ritter Center provides. To that end, please renew their use permit, and help them in their search for a new place to locate their services. Work with the staff at Ritter Center to make San Rafael a model community that cares about all of its citizens, not just the most fortunate. Sincerely, Clare Krebsbach 15 _ S�' 50 Caron Parker From: Tony Franco < Sent: Friday, March 04, 2016 7:20 AM To: Caron Parker; Gary Phillips; City Manager; Hugo & Cynthia Landecker Subject: Ritter: Please force them to move now! Hello, I'm writing to voice my concerns with the ever growing homeless population in San Rafael, and the negative impact that it has on quality of life in San Rafael. First of all: Ritter is a public nuisance as defined in Civil Code sections 3479 & 3480, subject to abatement by the City pursuant to Civil Code sections 3491 subsection 3 (got this one from my lawyer friend who feels that it would be very easy to close them down). San Rafael should sue Ritter for the millions of $s spent on extra police time, extra public works time (cleaning sites/garbage left by homeless), extra ranger, extra homeless "czar", homeless care worker, etc, etc If I had people lingering outside of my house causing disturbances on a daily basis, I'm positive that the city would find a way to fine me ... why can't we do the same to Ritter? ... because we do not want to seem cold- hearted? It is pretty obvious that our Police force cannot deal with this growing problem—and it is growing by the day! Our property crime in San Rafael has skyrocketed over the past few years (according to 4 different police officers I've spoken to ... do you have data that is contrary to this statement?). Ritter needs to be fined until they go away. Do what every other nice city in Marin has done -- push the problem out of their area. San Rafael is not supposed to deal with a NATIONAL 1 '- 51 PROBLEM, so stop trying to stick your fingers in the dyke, because your efforts are useless in the whole scheme of things. The "Ritter Critters" (as the police call them) have made living in San Rafael a horror show; My mother, sister, and female friends have been called "cunts, and bitches" ...they have been told "fuck you" when they don't give the panhandlers money. This is what the city has created by allowing these animals to stay here. My solution: sue Ritter for the costs of dealing with their clients until they are forced to leave. Do not allow another murder or shooting to happen in Marin due to us inviting the homeless here for our services. Thank you, Tony Franco z Caron Parker From: Tony Franco <tony42franco@gmail.com> Sent: Friday, March 04, 2016 8:17 AM To: Caron Parker Subject: Fwd: Ritter: Please force them to move now! Hi Caron --- Please include my email in the report for the Ritter 6 month review. ..and I also forgot to mention the time that my mom got bit by a homeless couple's dog, or the time that my dad found a homeless guy trying to get into his backyard, or the time that a homeless guy was in my mom's front yard yelling incoherently, or the recent time that I found a homeless guy trying to break into my neighbor's car at Sam. thank you ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Tony Franco < Date: Fri, Mar 4, 2016 at 7:19 AM Subject: Ritter: Please force them to move now! To: Caron.Parkeracitvofsanrafael.oru. gary phillips < , City Manager < , Hugo & Cynthia Landecker < Hello, I'm writing to voice my concerns with the ever growing homeless population in San Rafael, and the negative impact that it has on quality of life in San Rafael. First of all: Ritter is a public nuisance as defined in Civil Code sections 3479 & 3480, subject to abatement by the City pursuant to Civil Code sections 3491 subsection 3 (got this one from my lawyer friend who feels that it would be very easy to close them down). San Rafael should sue Ritter for the millions of $s spent on extra police time, extra public works time (cleaning sites/garbage left by homeless), extra ranger, extra homeless "czar", homeless care worker, etc, etc If I had people lingering outside of my house causing disturbances on a daily basis, I'm positive that the city would find a way to fine me ... why can't we do the same to Ritter? ... because we do not want to seem cold- hearted? It is pretty obvious that our Police force cannot deal with this growing problem ... and it is growing by the day! Our property crime in San Rafael has skyrocketed over the past few years (according to 4 different police officers I've spoken to ... do you have data that is contrary to this statement?). Ritter needs to be fined until they go away. Do what every other nice city in Marin has done -- push the problem out of their area. San Rafael is not supposed to deal with a NATIONAL PROBLEM, so stop trying to stick your fingers in the dyke, because your efforts are useless in the whole scheme .of things. The "Ritter Critters" (as the police call them) have made living in San Rafael a horror show; My mother, sister, and female friends have been called "cunts, and bitches"...they have been told "fuck you" when they don't give the panhandlers money. This is what the city has created by allowing these animals to stay here. My solution: sue Ritter for the costs of dealing with their- clients until they are forced to leave. Do not allow another murder or shooting to happen in Marin due to us inviting the homeless here for our services. Thank you, Tony Franco z Caron Parker From: sarah baker < Sent: Friday, March 04, 2016 1:47 PM To: Caron Parker Subject: Ritter Center To Whom It May Concern: Ritter Center provides extremely valuable services to both the homeless and those at risk for homelessness. Programs like Ritter Center need support from the city so that they can continue the important work of supporting vulnerable populations that include elderly and children. Sarah Baker, LCSW Mill Valley, CA 13 15 J Caron Parker From: Ms Angela Gott < Sent: Friday, March 04, 2016 7:16 AM To: Caron Parker Subject: Ritter House March 4, 2016 I am Angela Gott, resident of San Rafael since 1995, resident of Marin since 1989, resident of CA since 1986. 1 am a college graduate, former Borders Bookseller, and I'm turning 65 in May. I've always been lower income. I never married and never had children. For 11 years I've lived in my own one bedroom apartment off Lincoln Ave and before that rented a room for 9 years off Freitas in Terra Linda. My landlords informed me on 2/23 that they are taking away the heat included in the rent benefit to the 3 tenants in the triplex and I and another neighbor expect our 10% rent increase in May also. The other tenant was just raised $150 last weekend. All of our apartments will be disrupted while the baseboards are removed and repairs made and we have to work so we will have no one in our apartments while this work is being done over several days. The Landlords want me to remove a lot of my things away from the windows on every exterior wall because that is how many baseboards there are being removed. After Borders Books closed I had turned 60 and experienced incredible discrimination due to my age in trying to get hired again. The last time I looked for shared housing under rooms & shares I was 45 which is 20 years ago and I have been on this nonstop seeking a new living arrangement and now I have discovered an older person can't get anyone to rent them a room either! I do not smoke, drink, do drugs, and have never been arrested. I do not have a pet. I have two jobs which do not pay much but which are solo staffed in the self storage industry and I have had one almost two years and one over 16 months and have excellent references. I am courteous, considerate, reasonable, practical, honest, reliable, flexible and will make a great roommate. Even seniors are discriminating against me. There are two "hip" seniors advertising a room in an Eichler on Appleberry where they live with 2 adult grand kids, 3 dogs and 2 cats and they want someone to move in, pay $500 a month and help with 10 hours a month work on top of the low rent and when I talked to the home owner on the phone he described his grandkids as slobs and I'd have to pick up after them, share the bathroom with them and help clean up after the dogs and cats and do the stuff he and his wife in their 70s can't do anymore and he said that since I am 65 and working 31 hours a week he can tell this just would not work for his needs. I said I am off work all day Monday and Wednesday and Thursday mornings and that is plenty of time to take 10 hours a week out of to do somework around the house and he wouldn't even let me come over. He said he really needs more help than the 10 hours a week and is looking for someone younger who would be able to do a lot more work and he'd deduct that off the rent. That is a trap for servitude that he is describing. I went to another senior's home up in the hills above Forbes off H Street, lovely home and she met with me and showed me the room and then we sat down and she said who would she call when I died in her home-- I am a 65 year old orphan and she is concerned that she would have to deal with a dead senior and she is a senior telling me this stuff. That is when it began to become clear to me why I am not getting any responses to all my letters of application that I send into Craigslist. Most of the people looking are working professionals in their 30s, 40s, or even 20s and they do not want to live with a senior even a young one in great health and gainfully employed. I have to pay for Medicare starting May 1 and that will be $2000 a year in Premium B, Part C (with Part D included) and copays and deductible. My full age of retirement is age 66 for social security or there are lifetime penalties of 25% to 30%off the top of every check. To maximize Social Security I won't be collecting until age 70 to get 76% more from age 62 to 70. I earn a little over $22,000 a year and my income will remain the same but my costs are going up which is why I am trying to find shared housing. Last year I paid $15,180 of the $22,000 in rent leaving hardly anything left and now I will have $2,000 more of that for Medicare. My income makes me too rich for Medicaid and too rich for Food Stamps. I have been on the wait list for Marin Housing since February 2014 when it finally opened back up and in one week -- they closed it again-- 3,000 more senors jumped on it in one week to make it over 11,000 seniors for less than 1,700 spaces. I call it the wait list to nowhere! So now I know why seniors are falling into homelessness. They can't find work and can't find rooms and shares and they can't pay the increasing rents and there's no subsidized housing which their low incomes make them eligible for. They are not mentally ill and are not a family with children and not a veteran and so they wind up homeless on the streets of San Rafael by default. St. Vincent's feeds them and Ritter House provides them access to a mailbox and showers and other services and maybe they can get into REST which is limited to 24 women to sleep at Marin Community Clinic but this is not a high quality life for a senior at all. HUD will make them somehow document they lived on the streets for a year to then be able to satisfy their definition of chronically homeless. Those are the 4 guidelines HUD uses for filling housing quotas which are set way too low too. There is no category for seniors with regard to subsidized housing in HUD's guidelines. Of all the homeless nationally, 28% are women age 55+ and this is why. 2 The boomer generation is people born after 1943 to 1964 with peak births born in 1958 and I was born in 1951 so more are coming. I have advanced degrees and I study all these things pertaining to the homeless and homeless prevention but I had no idea of the magnitude of the discrimination by age for getting access to affordable housing. Everyone knows and recognizes that age discrimination exists in employment but it exists in gaining access to housing too. I have to find a place soon and it is really like beating my head against a brick wall here. so I am now on a slippery slope. I am too old for joining Streets Team to do manual physical labor. At 65 1 am about to get my handicap placard and license plates. I have degenerative back bone deterioration and a bum knee too. No one is creating jobs for aging seniors. I have two jobs already though I just need access to subsidized housing. So Ritter House does provide great work and it is doing work that goes beyond what St. Vincent's is able to do also --I just think land has to be set aside for creating housing for people who are living in their cars as this will be where I will be going next. I will put my stuff in storage and live in my 31 year old car on the streets and continu working. I can take showers at Ritter and/or at YWCA for $2.00 and keep clean and I will live a lesser life. There is no .place for me to go and Marin is my home, San Rafael is my home. But these are the conditions because Marin and its cities failed to plan for the aging boomers and build subsidized housing for them to live out their lives in. The county and its cities need to come together and come up with a solution because this is only going to get worse. Sincerely, Angela Gott ( turning 65 in May and high risk for homelessness 3 Caron Parker From: teri forsher < Sent: Friday, March 04, 2016 10:17 AM To: Caron Parker Subject: Ritter House I'm writing to add my voice to those of us who want to see Ritter House relocated, or shutdown completely. I can't tell you the number of times I have had to clean up clothes, backpacks, debris from our business where the "clients" of Ritter House have chosen to dump unwanted belongings. More times than not, I also find drug paraphernalia, not to mention the urine and feces left behind. As a long-time resident of Gerstle Park, I have seen the changes to my neighborhood since St. Vincent's & Ritter House came on the scene. My relatives who used to walk to the store, post office, downtown, no longer feel safe to do so. Trash, open drug deals, aggressive panhandling, wild ramblings from clearly intoxicated individuals, and a general feeling that San Rafael is no longer safe. A trip to the park is scary and unsafe. A trip to the store to pick up milk can be horrifying. Ritter house espouses compassion, but how about some responsibility to businesses, families and neighborhoods. The downturn of business in downtown can be directly connected to St. Vincent's and Ritter House. Their "clients" roam the streets, harass people, steal, urinate in public (to say the least), sleep on our sidewalks, and not only make daily life in our neighborhood a trial, it makes doing business downtown nearly impossible. I can no longer have my clients meet me for lunch in downtown, without hearing them make comments on how bad the situation has become. Ritter House "clients" will find their way to a new location, just as they found their way to the existing location. Please do not renew their use permits. This situation has spiraled out of control, and needs to stop. AForsher San Rafael Caron Parker From: Christine Morgan < com> Sent: Friday, March 04, 2016 3:55 PM To: Caron Parker Cc: Kate Colin Subject: Ritter House review Dear Ms.Parker: I am writing regarding the Ritter Use Permit Review. I grew up in SR, and five generations of my family have lived here for many decades, owning a good many homes, rental properties, and businesses in town. I am a city librarian. I have looked closely at the Ritter House situation, including a recent hour-long conversation with a staff member, in a sincere attempt to see all sides of this issue with an unbiased eye. It is clear to me that the current crisis with vagrants in SR cannot be ameliorated as long as Ritter remains in town. Some of my family members live in and own homes in the Gerstle Park area. They must confront and avoid (and clean up after) vagrants on and near their properties daily. Their children, of course, cannot walk or play in their own neighborhoods any more. The high schoolers cannot walk to SRHS, or use the bus terminal, or go downtown. I cannot take my little grandchild for an ice cream cone or to the Wlldcare center to see the animals, without having to fend off the panhandlers and vagrants. I no longer meet friends for lunch or dinner in SR. What a sad loss for all of us! This is not sustainable. San Rafael is being destroyed. Ritter Center is drawing people from a distance—I know that in Seattle, signs are posted at the vagrant camps urging folks to go to San Rafael for the excellent services at St V and Ritter House. I respect the fact that Ritter serves many people besides the street vagrants, and I support the services they provide to needy people. I know that Ritter has been considering relocating. Now is the time to insist on it, whether they find a place on the outskirts of SR or elsewhere. If it continues as is, SR will become a ghetto, and then what will happen to the needy families looking for homes and employment? What will happen to tax -paying businesses and home owners and renters? I urge you NOT to renew the Ritter House permit. Thank you for your consideration, Christine Morgan 5- 5 6 Caron Parker From: Carolyn Smith < Sent: Friday, March 04, 2016 6:12 PM To: Caron Parker Subject: Ritter Center Caron, You will not find this a letter of support for Ritter, the free food kitchen. We bought our home in Gerstle Park in 1969 and the changes since these two programs have been in place are astonishing... and not for the better. Helping less the jobless and families in need is one thing. This is not so much the case anymore around here. The area around B Street i.e. St. Vincent's, Safeway, 7/11, the park is unsafe and unsanitary and frightening. We raised our children here and now as seniors we can't even take a walk and feel safe. At least Ritter Center is a little farther away, but still contributes to the overall problem with the alcoholic's, drug addicts, and mentally ill. More and more I see people that I know are not from around here. I'm reasonably sure they are given bus fare and sent over from who -knows -where. Marin has the reputation now for being the place to go to get all the free stuff and I'm tired of paying the money that gives out all the free stuff. So, in short, we feel St. Vincent's and Ritter Center need to go elsewhere and be someone else's headache for a while. or else close them down. I have a piece of yard art (graffiti from a fence actually) that says "If you keep doing what you do, you keep getting what you get". Pretty close to the same thing the bible says, just a little more updated. Carolyn Smith Ross Street San Rafael Caron Parker From: Gloria DeMaria < Sent: Friday, March 04, 2016 2:34 PM To: Caron Parker Subject: Ritter House I undertand that Ritter House's use permit is up for review. As a long-time resident of Gerstle Park, I would like to voice my concern with having this facility so close to the downtown business district, as well as private homes in the Gerstle Park neighborhood. For sure, Ritter House is not the only culprit. St. Vincent is probably even more guilty. The services they provide bring vagrant, homeless, dangerous people into our neighborhood, where they hang around between meals in parks and in front of businesses. I understand we have a serious homeless problem in the Bay Area, and all communities are grappling with the situation. However, its undeniable that San Rafael suffers the brunt of this situation in Marin County. Both our local businesses and our residents have seen our quality of life change drastically in the last couple of years. We have become fearful for our lives and property. Thefts and home/car break — ins have risen dramatically. Our parks are unusable and unsafe — for children and adults. I look to our elected officials to correct this situation. And if you cannot come up with solutions, perhaps we have elected the wrong people. Gloria DeMaria A very long time resident of Gerstle Park 16 5-5 U Caron Parker From: M. Alison Whittaker < Sent: Friday, March 04, 2016 10:36 AM To: Caron Parker Subject: Ritter House Dear Mr. Parker, I have been a resident of San Rafael for 25 years. I've watched the town evolve, grow and change in many ways but I've always been proud that we are a town that takes care of many of the people who have been marginalized. In Marin there are many towns that have not had to deal with homelessness. Our town is a part of the solution providing medical care and basic emergency assistance to many people. As a nurse who works UCSF in San Francisco, I am afraid of what would happen if Ritter House went away. There are many desperate people who are not getting basic medical care and are impacting our emergency rooms. Less than 7 percent of the population that they serve are homeless and we should aim to keep it that way or make it better. I frankly have no problem with homelessness in San Rafael and I think we need to support Ritter House in whatever way we can. Thank you for considering my voice! Sincerely, Alison Whittaker Sent from my iPhone 5-55 Caron Parker From: Christopher Martin < Sent: Thursday, March 03, 2016 2:42 PM To: Caron Parker Cc: org Subject: In Support of Ritter Center Hello - At the request of Ritter Center I write in support of the essential work they do as Marin's safety net and ask that you find a way to help them continue their good work. I'm the Rector, or head priest, of St. Paul's Episcopal Church on 1123 Court St.. I am aware of the difficulty that some of the homeless present. Nearly every day we must deal with disruptions caused by some in our homeless population. We have a preschool that rents space from us and, in fact, have over 500 people a week who use our campus, so the difficulties are known and experienced by a wide range of us. I am deeply appreciative of the good and careful work of our law enforcement officials in protecting our campus from the disrespectful trespassers. Nonetheless, we are long time and active supporters of Ritter. Not only do we give them a generous amount of money each year, we also helped them start the afternoon program for handing out bags of groceries, which members of our parish continue to do and we also gather, every week, a basket full of food which we bless at our altar and send to Ritter. So I believe Ritter is an essential part of the San Rafael community. The City would have part of its heart removed if they were abandoned or evicted. I urge your active and creative support. Faithfully, The Rev. Christopher H. Martin Caron Parker From: Hugo & Cynthia Landecker < Sent: Thursday, March 03, 2016 8:16 AM To: Caron Parker Subject: Ritter Use Permit six month review Please include this: Ritter is a public nuisance as defined in Civil Code sections 3479 & 3480, subject to abatement by the City pursuant to Civil Code sections 3491 subsection 3. Just because it might be politically sensitive is no excuse for allowing the nuisance to go on forever. Hugo Landecker 5-61 Caron Parker From: Hugo & Cynthia Landecker < Sent: Thursday, March 03, 2016 8:48 PM To: Caron Parker Subject: Ritter Use Permit 6 month review Please include the comment below in the Ritter Use Permit 6 month review: Take a look at the comments to this Marin IJ article that writes about,Ritter Center being under pressure to relocate. Comments currently number 131. Here is the link: httt)://www.marini-i.com/health/2016022 I /san-rafael-aid-center-for-homeless-under-mounting-pressure-to- move-as-citv-reviews-use-permit I believe that these comments represent the pulse of the City with regard to Ritter Center. They have to relocate. Hugo Landecker Here is the article that generated considerable public comment: San Rafael aid center for homeless under mounting pressure to move as city reviews use permit at Ritter Center in San Rafael line up for the annual Thanksgiving turkey giveaway in 2014. The city has been urging the center to relocate for several years. (Robert Tong/Marin Independent Journal) By Stephanie Weldy, Marin Independent Journal POSTED: 02/21/16,12:25 PM PST UPDATED: 1 WEEK, 1 DAY AGO 140 COMMENTS Pressure is mounting to relocate San Rafael's Ritter Center as the city prepares to take another look at the nonprofit's use permit. City officials have urged Ritter Center to leave downtown for over three years, but little progress has been made, they say. The 35 -year-old center offers free social services, medical aid, food and clothing to homeless and low-income people from its central location at 16 Ritter St. "I've been told they haven't been able to relocate to another site — they haven't acted quickly. Some building owners have refused to work with Ritter," said Mayor Gary Phillips. The city recently assigned a planner to work with Ritter Center officials to better understand what is needed and to identify sites that are zoned to handle such use. In the next few weeks, the City Council will review the center's use permit and evaluate how many people they can serve at the center's medical clinic. The clinic is allowed to provide services to an average of 6o people a day each week. Phillips said the use permit review will place pressure on the center and also assess its impact on the community. "We will look at compliance and see if it is appropriate to adjust it," he said. Gia Byrnes, executive director of the Ritter Center, said she hopes changes are not made to the use permit, saying it would affect those who can least afford it — clients who are homeless, low-income and uninsured. "We all have to be very careful about what sort of regulation changes they want to add, because there is a fragile class here," she said. As required, Ritter officials regularly report traffic at the health clinic, Byrnes said. She said there have been no violations in the amount of people served. When the health clinic does reach its cap, clients are referred to other facilities in the city such as RotaCare Bay Area or Marin Community Clinics — where clients often pay more than they would at the Ritter Center, she said. Phillips said the city's aim is to move Ritter Center out of downtown to cut back on the homeless population in the area. "Having said that, not close to residential areas or others that could become significantly impacted by their other location," he said. Sprucing up the downtown has been a priority for years. In 2013, the city contracted with the Downtown Streets Team, a nonprofit group that puts the homeless to work cleaning the city. The city also added a foot patrol police officer along Fourth Street, and downtown restaurant owners have been encouraged to create outdoor eating spaces to bring more energy to the area. Advertisement Byrnes said she understands the impact the homeless have on downtown and its businesses. Ritter Center officials share the city's interest in relocating as soon as possible, she said. Center officials have been looldng for a new location for two years, Byrnes said. Nothing has fit the nonprofit's needs. A new site must be large enough to accommodate all of the center's services and programs, and must be in a location that is easily accessible to clients, with sufficient parldng. Also, the site must not be too close to other food pantries to avoid duplicating services in the area. A welcoming environment is also on the group's list of needs. Byrnes said she would like the conversation to shift from talk of a downtown exodus to a relocation plan that maximizes center services. "The city is frustrated but unfortunately the frustration, it can't make something happen," she said. "The frustration isn't creating a real estate opportunity for us." Here are the comments: • MarinIJ • Login • Recommend • Share • Sort by Newest Caron Parker From: Hugo & Cynthia Landecker < net> Sent: Thursday, March 03, 2016 9:25 PM To: bobca1947@comcast.net Subject: Re: Ritter House Bob, Yes, I keep getting reports on how dysfunctional Ritter is. I hope you can send this or something like it to Caron Parker <Caron. Parker(&,city_ ofsanrafael.orv> Thanks, Hugo On Mar 3, 2016, at 10:12 AM, wrote: Hi Caron, I'm deeply disturbed by the adverse effect that Ritter House is having on San Rafael. Below you will find an email that I sent to Hugo Landecker last week. Regards, Bob Canepa From: To: "Hugo LANDECKER" < Sent: Tuesday, February 23, 2016 5:01:06 PM Subject: Re: San Rafael Group --Is Ritter really moving? Hi Hugo, After I retired I did volunteer consulting for the Center for Volunteer Non Profit Leadership (CVNL) for about eight years. During that time period I worked with over 30 different non- profits. One of those non -profits was Ritter House. Thev were hands down the most dysfunctional, disorganized, difficult and wasteful organization that I have ever seen. I even brought in a friend who is a nationally recognized industry expert to help them pro bono. They refused to accept any of our recommendations. In fact, it seemed like they chose options which were counterproductive and even harmful to their goals. Thank you for your good work and for the opportunity to vent. Bob From: "Hugo & Cynthia Landecker" < Sent: Tuesday, February 23, 2016 7:02:23 AM Subject: San Rafael Group --Is Ritter really moving? Good morning, Ritter This Marin IJ link is about Ritter moving to a new location. Really? Think of it this way: If you were a landlord and you had the perfect building for a new Ritter, would you consider them as a tenant. If you did, all the property values including your property would be affected very negatively. In addition, there would be countless complaints from owners of neighboring property owners. Your life would become a hell. No landlord wants this. httr)://www.marinii.com/health/20160221 /san-rafael-aid-center-for-homeless-under-mounting- p ressu re -to -m ove-as-citv- reviews- u se -pe rm it Furthermore, Ritter wants to be able to serve those that currently come to their doors. They have created a clientele that centers around Ritter Street. Translation: They want a downtown or close to downtown location. Maybe some rich person will provide funds to purchase a site for them and provide a turn -key location. Until that happens, I don't see them moving. Result will be the same old problems. The only way they will move is to get a new name and totally reinvent their program. Ritter never did fit in San Rafael. It has been very damaging to the community since it opened over 30 years ago and although they try to tweak their operation, it gets exponentially worse. http://www.marinii.com/health/20160221 /san-rafael-aid-center-for-homeless-under-mountinq- pressu re-to-move-as-citv-reviews-use-permit,. Do you have any complaints about Ritter? I suggest you send an email to Caron Parker at the City of San Rafael <Caron. Parker(@citvofsanrafael.orq>. Caron is currently preparing the bi-annual Use Permit review of review. Your comments will be included in the report. San Francisco --It is sad Someone sent me this link about a really nice small grocery store in San Francisco. It is sad what they have to face daily. Maybe not so bad in San Rafael yet, but what our downtown suffers daily is heading in that direction. If this store closes, who wins? I will leave you with that to think about. httr)://hoodline.com/2016/02/overwhelmed-bxi-homeless-encampment-rainbow-cirocerv-seeks- solutions Hugo Landecker If you no longer wish to receive "San Rafael Group" emails, notify clandeckerPsaber.net, with the words "Remove from SR Group mailings" in the subject line. Caron Parker From: Melva Storke < com> Sent: Thursday, March 03, 2016 9:52 PM To: Caron Parker Subject: Ritter House Permit Please deny extension of the Ritter House Permit. Three years is more than enough time for them to find another place or ... not. While there is compassion for people in need, it is wearing pretty thin in the face of the growing numbers of pan handlers and homeless, the intimidation one feels when one wants to patronize the businesses in the area and is faced with people harassing you for money, or urinating in the bushes. It is really a drag. This location is just too close to the center of the action in San Rafael. The clients are too often not socially appropriate - to put it mildly. Caron Parker From: Carol < Sent: Thursday, March 03, 2016 10:59 PM To: Caron Parker Cc: Connolly Damon Subject: Ritter House Dear Caron Parker, I am writing in support of Ritter Center and I am grateful to Ritter Center for having provided services to poor people in order to prevent homelessness for as long as I can remember. The City of San Rafael is fortunate to have Ritter Center and should offer Ritter Center financial support — perhaps the city already does. I understand that Ritter Center disburses funds to prevent people from losing their homes and to aid the homeless in finding permanent shelter. We all know that housing is prohibitively expensive for those just entering the housing market either as renters or as buyers. But for people with health conditions or with low wages or no wages, housing is a serious issue and it is not the fault of Ritter Center, which is trying to make life more livable for people who are homeless or about to become homeless. I favor city- or state-run boarding homes, where single people would live in a furnished room and get their meals in a communal dining room. Mental health services and alcohol and drug counseling should also be provided on site, iby counseling students accumulating hours for their advanced degrees at Dominican University and the State Colleges. The residents of the proposed boarding homes would be required to turn over a percent of their income — SSI or whatever — to help pay for the costs of running the boarding home. The cooks at the boarding home could be trainees at Homeward Bound, and perhaps working permanently at these boarding homes might be their first job after leaving Homeward Bound. If we had the political will, homelessness could be greatly reduced. Who would choose to live on the streets if they had a safe, warm and comfortable alternative? We just need some imagination, hard work and compassion in solving this problem. Ritter Center is the messenger. The message is, "Let's provide some real, lasting care for the homeless in our community." (It's my message too!) Sincerely, Carol Nelson �,-G5 Caron Parker From: Sent: Thursday, March 03, 2016 5:08 PM To: Caron Parker Subject: Ritter House bear Caron and city leaders: Ritter House is essential to prevent the homeless problem from becoming worse. America has tens of thousand homeless people and it is not just a San Rafael problem, but we can make it worse by withdrawing services to those who are on the edge. We need Ritter House. The Rev. Robert Hirni, Parish Associate Pastor of First Presbyterian Church of San Rafael. Caron Parker From: Leigha From < Sent: Thursday, March 03, 2016 12:04 PM To: Caron Parker Subject: Soon there will not b any good biz in SR If we do not clean up our City soon. Moving out of the city St. Vincent & Ritter. We will not have any good businesses left. The people of SR already do not shop here because they feel the homeless have run them out of town. PLEASE MOVE RITTER HOUSE OUT OF SAN RAFAEL. So that the people who live here and support this town and pay taxes in this town will stay in town. And only then will San Rafael be able to be safe and have good people living here. Thank you The From's Sent from my iPhone 5 —(o% Caron Parker From: velotrekl . < Sent: Thursday, March 03, 2016 8:39 AM To: Caron Parker Subject: Ritter Use Permit Review Hello Caron Parker, This letter is to be included as a comment regarding the Ritter Use Permit Review, and tracked as a comment to not renew the Ritter Use Permit. Briefly, a result of the services Ritter provides, and lack of sufficient oversight and procedures, some Ritter clients - the vagrants we see on our streets - sleep on my property, do drugs on my property, light fires on my property and take their toilet on my property (in the Gerstle Park neighborhood). In addition, my teenaged daughters have been verbally assaulted with words I cannot repeat by vagrants at Mahon Creek and the "B Street Corridor". I have personally witnessed vagrants openly stealing alcohol from B Street Safeway and had the Manager tell me "we have a no chase policy there is nothing I can do". Beyond the fact the I no longer take family or dates to 4th street restaurants because I'm simply tired of the panhandling, and I can visit other local towns to and avoid this uncivilized behavior, clearly, it's time San Rafael take a bold step and force Ritter out of downtown. Thank you for your consideration, Rob Sinclaire San Rafael Resident 7'6�, 9 Caron Parker From: velotrekl . < Sent: Thursday, March 03, 2016 8:39 AM To: Caron Parker Subject: Ritter Use Permit Review Hello Caron Parker, This letter is to be included as a comment regarding the Ritter Use Permit Review, and tracked as a comment to not renew the Ritter Use Permit. Briefly, a result of the services Ritter provides, and lack of sufficient oversight and procedures, some Ritter clients - the vagrants we see on our streets - sleep on my property, do drugs on my property, light fires on my property and take their toilet on my property (in the Gerstle Park neighborhood). In addition, my teenaged daughters have been verbally assaulted with words I cannot repeat by vagrants at Mahon Creek and the "B Street Corridor". I have personally witnessed vagrants openly stealing alcohol from B Street Safeway and had the Manager tell me "we have a no chase policy there is nothing I can do". Beyond the fact the I no longer take family or dates to 4th street restaurants because I'm simply tired of the panhandling, and I can visit other local towns to and avoid this uncivilized behavior, clearly, it's time San Rafael take a bold step and force Ritter out of downtown. Thank you for your consideration, Rob Sinclaire San Rafael Resident �? w 0 •© -, U c; tz iii 0 � -3 t 0- cz -� cn U E 0 U a CZ M N w -0 -0 CL N CL 0m O UO CZ 0 U CZ 40 U tU — c C) U © � se U C uj - -� QL d7 ty cn E w -a o O �. r - (v 0 ..=i c Y G) (!) — CZS 3: CZU Z3 0 0 +, E CCS •+(n -p U •� gni � c� U tU C Z Na� 0 3: Ri X) [ll o U tai E 0 -1 � � >,� � - 3: (n -0� O 9 0 _ ('3 06 c� � � � Q a) CL Q cz Ri 06 U ca 70 0 0) 0 � a U E o a) 50 d .0 O ©+- N E + N O Q O (n U 40 o C:- 3 Q 3 CL 0 ,� � U tz O© d> 0) 3 > C '> •� •ca <17 d) O cl y N — 3CO N i-- O U fll (U i tib -Q +-+ E > Q — ED •�_ g U 0) a) • - •C .� •Q O U �- � N 5-70 Caron Parker From: Sent: Thursday, March 03, 2016 10:12 AM To: Caron Parker Subject: Ritter House Hi Caron, I'm deeply disturbed by the adverse effect that Ritter House is having on San Rafael. Below you will find an email that I sent to Hugo Landecker last week. Regards, Bob Canepa From: To: "Hugo LANDECKER" < Sent: Tuesday, February 23, 2016 5:01:06 PM Subject: Re: San Rafael Group --Is Ritter really moving? Hi Hugo, After I retired I did volunteer consulting for the Center for Volunteer Non Profit Leadership (CVNL) for about eight years. During that time period I worked with over 30 different non- profits. One of those non -profits was Ritter House. Thev were hands down the most dvsfunctional, disorganized, difficult and wasteful organization that I have ever seen. I even brought in a friend who is a nationally recognized industry expert to help them pro bono. They refused to accept any of our recommendations. In fact, it seemed like they chose options which were counterproductive and even harmful to their goals. Thank you for your good work and for the opportunity to vent. Bob From: "Hugo & Cynthia Landecker" < Sent: Tuesday, February 23, 2016 7:02:23 AM Subject: San Rafael Group --Is Ritter really moving? Good morning, Ritter This Marin IJ link is about Ritter moving to a new location. Really? Think of it this way: If you were a landlord and you had the perfect building for a new Ritter, would you consider them as a tenant. If you did, all the property values including your property would be affected very negatively. In addition, there would be countless complaints from owners of neighboring property owners. Your life would become a hell. No landlord wants this. httr)://www. marinii.com/health/20160221 /san-rafael-aid-center-for-homeless-under-mountinq- pressu re -to -move -as -city -reviews -use -permit 5_1 Furthermore, Ritter wants to be able to serve those that currently come to their doors. They have created a clientele that centers around Ritter Street. Translation: They want a downtown or close to downtown location. Maybe some rich person will provide funds to purchase a site for them and provide a turn -key location. Until that happens, I don't see them moving. Result will be the same old problems. The only way they will move is to get a new name and totally reinvent their program. Ritter never did fit in San Rafael. It has been very damaging to the community since it opened over 30 years ago and although they try to tweak their operation, it gets exponentially worse. httr)://www. marin ii.com/health/20160221 /san-rafael-aid-center-for-homeless-under-mountinq-. pressu re -to -m ove-as-citv- reviews- u se -pe rm it. Do you have any complaints about Ritter? I suggest you send an email to Caron Parker at the City of San Rafael <Caron. Parker(a)citvofsanrafael.orq>. Caron is currently preparing the bi-annual Use Permit review of review. Your comments will be included in the report. San Francisco --It is sad Someone sent me this link about a really nice small grocery store in San Francisco. It is sad what they have to face daily. Maybe not so bad in San Rafael yet, but what our downtown suffers daily is heading in that direction. If this store closes, who wins? I will leave you with that to think about. httD://hoodline.com/2016/02/overwhelmed-bv-homeless-encampment-rainbow-qrocery-seeks- solutions Hugo Landecker If you no longer wish to receive "San Rafael Group" emails, notify with the words "Remove from SR Group mailings" in the subject line. Caron Parker From: Sent: Thursday, March 03, 2016 11:55 AM To: Caron Parker Subject: Please Please Please do not let Ridder stay in our wonderful safety. Our neighbors are being robbed. My friend was MURDERED. (In Fairfax) by the homeless that hung out at Ridder. What will it take Robbery Murder Children not being able to walk to school. Drugs Etc.., Thankyou Leigha Sent from my iPhone Caron Parker From: Ila Afsharipour < Sent: Tuesday, February 23, 2016 7:50 AM To: Caron Parker Subject: Ritter Center Use Permit Concerns Hi Caron - I am writing you in regards to the Ritter Center use permit. As a active member of the San Rafael community, a Gerstle Park resident and a father of three young children, I am begging the city to force the Center to move. Every time we drop our kids off at Trinity Preschool, go to Safeway or Alberts Park we are worried about the growing dangerous parts of the homeless community endangering our family. am not naive to homelessness. I have worked in financing affordable housing for 15 years. I have been on the board and advisory committees of nonprofit affordable housing developers and support programs. The elements we are seeing the last few years in San Rafael are dangerous. It's become a lot of aggressive and drug addicted individuals that don't even have roots in our community. This is a result of the service providers in the City, like Ritter Center, not actively managing/monitoring the individuals they support or holding them accountable the least bit. I recognize that the problems we are experiencing don't apply to all homeless individuals, but unfortunately the few have ruined it for the many in San Rafael We no longer can afford having our children harassed by individuals that are on drugs while walking in Alberts Park or near school, fights breaking out near Safeway, house break ins around Gerstle Park, merchants harassed while their potential customers stay away, our parks like Boyd being damaged, drug paraphernalia on our streets and alcohol bottles littered throughout. We are desperate and are begging the City to step up. Thank you for your consideration and support. -Ila Afsharipour 5 -� 3 Caron Parker From: Peter Conklin < Sent: Tuesday, February 23, 2016 8:52 AM To: Caron Parker Subject: Ritter use permit Dear Caron, I have lived in San Rafael since 2009. 1 recognize that as a community (Marin, not just San Rafael), we need to support the homeless population with compassion. However, when I visit other cities in Marin, it's is evident to me that most of the burden for these county wide issues falls to San Rafael, which is not fair or equitable. In particular, the location of services like Ritter and St. Vincents in downtown San Rafael results in fewer shoppers, fewer businesses, lower property values, etc. These factors reduce the city's tax base. I urge you to recommend revoking Ritter's use permit. The activity seems inconsistent with the zoning and goals of creating a vibrant commercial center in San Rafael. Please let me know how you are evaluating this decision. Thank you, Peter Conklin San Rafael, CA 94901 Caron Parker From: Tom Henthorne < Sent: Tuesday, February 23, 2016 9:49 AM To: Caron Parker Subject: Ritter Center Hello Caron, I am writing to express my concerns about the Ritter Center and its operation in downtown San Rafael. I feel strongly that their use permit in downtown San Rafael should be denied. I have lived here for 12 years now and have seen the situation on our downtown streets get worse and worse each year. The problem is not simply "the homeless". The main problem is with the smaller group of addicted and/or mentally ill people who are usually also homeless and are in San Rafael or come to San Rafael to take advantage of services that continue to enable and perpetuate their addiction and/or unhealthy and destructive living situation. In some cases friends and families have made the extremely difficult decision to no longer support their loved ones in the hopes that it will force them to seek help for their problems and it is a slap in the face that Ritter Center continues to serve them so that they can continue their downward spiral. I recognize that not all of the people that the Ritter Center serves fits into this category, but because Ritter Center cannot or will not refuse services to this group, it gives the center in general a black eye. These individuals are not hard to identify. I see the same ones all the time. I'm now also seeing groups of individuals selling drugs in different areas, like Albert Park, in front of the tennis courts on Lindaro, near the Safeway, etc. Often these groups are surrounded by seemingly new bicycles and which probably explains why I keep reading about peoples bicycles being stolen in Gerstle park time and time again. I see many of these individuals in front of the Ritter Center also when I drive by. We do our best to support downtown business and I often chat with business owners when I am downtown and I hear over and over again how they feel that the Ritter Center has negatively impacted downtown San Rafael and their business. They also know other business owners who say they wouldn't dream of opening up in San Rafael given the current situation. I have many friends that refuse to come to San Rafael because of the situation that Ritter Center has helped create. I have friends that work at Bio Marin who say they have to dodge pan handlers and unstable individuals on their way to lunch everyday. Bio Marin is probably one of downtown San Rafael's biggest assets and the city should be doing everything possible to make their existence here a positive one. I don't think it is fair that a business can operate in downtown San Rafael (whether for profit or not for profit) if it negatively impacts other businesses and the enjoyment and use of the area by its residents. Not to mention the drain on our police and emergency service infrastructure. At the end of each day, Ritter Center locks its gates up like a fortress and sets up their security guards and leaves the rest of downtown San Rafael to deal with the "daily fallout" of what these problem Ritter Center clients will unleash on the community. Ritter Center needs to take accountability and recognize that if they want to continue offering services to the needy, they have to do it in a way that is does not negatively impact the rest of the community. If that means they have to make some hard decisions on who they serve, so be it. I think that they should be responsible for reimbursing the city for the police, emergency and clean-up resources that go towards dealing with their problem clients. Simply feeding an addict or someone who is severely mentally ill, may make a Ritter Center employee feel good about themselves, but it only allows these individual to continue their destructive course and continue to negatively impact our community. Again, for the sake of our downtown, our business owners and our residents, I encourage you to deny the use permit for the Ritter Center. Maybe that will force the Ritter Center to reevaluate how they operate and understand that it is not acceptable to help people when it is so destructive to the overall community and a constant drain on its resources. I know they keep saying they are looking for a new location, but I think that is just a way of kicking the can down the road allowing them to continue as they are. Right now, I feel they way they operate with no regard to their impact on the overall community is irresponsible. 5-15 Thank you, Tom Henthorne Caron Parker From: Tom Henthorne < Sent: Tuesday, February 23, 2016 4:21 PM To: Caron Parker Subject: Ritter Center Hello Caron, Thank you for your response. So what you are telling me is that the Use Permit for the Ritter Center is written in such a way that when in compliance, the Ritter Center can continue to destroy our downtown. Use Permit or no Use Permit, they should not be allowed to ignore the negative impact on our town and be free of responsibility. I would suggest that the Use Permit be revised so that it is reflective of the issues our town is facing with drug addition, mental illness and crime. Clearly this Use Permit was not written in a way to protect our downtown, our local businesses or our residents. If it had been, we would not be having this conversation. If the result of being in compliance is the destruction.of our downtown.... that is a big problem. Thank you, Tom Henthorne S--17 Caron Parker From: Jessica Devers < Sent: Tuesday, February 23, 2016 12:40 PM To: Caron Parker Subject: Ritter Caron, understand that you are working on the Ritter use permit. It and St Vincent's attract people to this formerly well- functioning town who do not have the town's best interest at heart, to say the least. San Rafael has become a homeless destination. We need to restore our community. We are on the same path as Portland, Seattle, San Francisco. Things are not going to get better without bold, creative action. At Sunday's meeting, the mayor said something about Ritter providing clothing to needy San Rafael families. When Ritter goes, we will create another way to take care of the needy, non -community destroyers, in our midst. In addition, they will receive better care because they won't be competing with the community destroyers for resources. Everyone is thrilled that the path to Davidson was cleaned up. What about the outrage at the group who did the damage? Where's the outrage at the damage to the Coleman overpass? We raise our children in this environment. Ritter and St Vincent attract the community destroyers here. It seems that the city is literally choosing the addicts over our children. We need a 180 degree change in direction. Closing Ritter is the first step. Jessica Devers Caron Parker From: Annie Filby < Sent: Tuesday, February 23, 2016 8:48 AM To: Caron Parker Subject: Ritter Dear Ms. Parker, I, along with many, many residents and business people of San Rafael, urge you to please, please, do everything you can to help find Ritter House a new location away from downtown. I'm sure you're aware of the countless problems regarding the increasing number of clients some of whom negatively impact our town and parks. If Ritter were to move, it would make a huge difference to our quality of life: we would finally feel safe and would be able to enjoy our downtown and parks. As it is, we, and many, many others, avoid our town, as it is not safe. Ritter's presence has essentially ruined San Rafael and made the City, for example, pay for a security guard at the library, among other things. The situation is out of control. Thank you, Sincerely Annie Sheldon Sent from Mail for Windows 10 5-18 Caron Parker From: Robert Bowler < Sent: Tuesday, February 23, 2016 12:50 PM To: Caron Parker Subject: Hi Caron, Robert here from A Drummer's Tradition I'm part of Hugo's San Rafael group which is an email group that shares info and stories on the homeless scene here. just want to voice my concern and overwhelming frustration as a business owner, tax payer and San Rafael native... In my 10 years at this location on A St. my homeless interactions have gone from occasional to weekly to daily. It's a real shame when I'm interrupted or accosted while trying to work with a young family buying their first kit. Ten years ago I bought this building, and we both know how much my taxes are. If it weren't for owning, I'd be long gone. Pretty ironic when the homeless rule this city. Very frustrated... can ya tell.?. Anyway, I hope that you and the kids are well. All the best, Robert A Drummer's Tradition 5-79 Caron Parker From: Jason Chan < Sent: Wednesday, February 24, 2016 9:11 PM To: Caron Parker Subject: Relocate Ritter House City of San Rafael, My name is Jason Chan, a once proud native of San Rafael, but now totally disgusted with what has and is happening to this once lovely and beautiful city. I grew up in Brett Harte, attended Coleman Elementary School, Davidson MS, and SRHS. I am in my late 30's, residing in Gerstle Park with my beautiful wife and two young children. I am writing this email to express my utter disappointment on how the city has been unable to control the increase of homelessness and crime in and near the surrounding areas of the Ritter House and St. Vincent's. I directly blame this ugly bi-product (i.e., crime, transients taking over our city, homeless living in our public parks, public urination, public masturbation, illicit drug use as well as drug deals etc.) on the two foundations mentioned above and the city for not taking an aggressive stance/actions in resolving this perpetual issue. The city continues to be reactive versus proactive, and it is band aid approach versus focusing on the root of the problem (relocate these services from SR). Now the residents, community, and businesses of SR are being effected daily by this epidemic. It has negatively effected SR residents quality of life, put a financial strain on the city and local business owners, home values, and the allure of the city. I will sadly admit, my family and I avoid visiting downtown SR, Alberts Park, or the perimeter of B street to Lindaro St (AKA - Tenderloin II). Instead, we go to surrounding cities where it is much safer w. cleaner parks (no used needles on the ground or people masturbating or people urinating in public), and more so to not have my family bare witness to people publicly partaking in illicit activities. Why does San Rafael have to carry this burden? Why is the city handling this major issue with kid gloves? You can go to any other city in Marin County and none of these issues are present. This is only the tip of the iceberg and the problem will only get worse without swift action. I beg you to please relocate the Ritter house, I want my beautiful city back. PROBLEM AREAS: 0 2nd St driving to work see people urinating, drug deals, illicit drug use etc. 0 4th st. (Great historical downtown (huge opportunity), yet no one wants to go downtown to experience transients/homelessness. No businesses want to move downtown either. Don't you want to promote businesses to move to SR and not deter residents from local businesses? o Alberts Park + San Rafael CC (trash our parks/drinking/drug use... these facilities are for the kids/families, yet we let these people live in these parks (complete waste of space) / 7-11 + Safeway spawning ground for transients drugs/alcohol usage and CRIME (Two shooting within a month at 7-11) o Children walking to Davidson Middle School seeing drugs/alcohol usage at the Albert Park Tennis courts. o Boyd Park o Wal Greens on Lindaro st. 5-� o Caron Parker From: Kehoe, Shane < Sent: Thursday, February 25, 2016 2:29 PM To: Caron Parker Subject: Ritter Use Permit Hello Caron I understand you are reviewing the Use Permit for Ritter House. I am hoping the City does not renew the Use Permit as the negative impacts of having Ritter House in downtown San Rafael far outweigh the positive contributions they offer. San Rafael has been taken over by homeless and vagrants who are drawn to downtown because of places like Ritter House. It is time for them to move on. The impacts Ritter and their homeless clientele have on the residents, business owners and the City have been devastating over the last few years. Thank you Shane Kehoe 5— 2` Ritter Center and Surrounding Area Calls for Service October 1, 2008 — September 30, 2015 LexisNexis® RISK SOLUTIONS 03/16/2016 ' "Q"ms's AT&T erCi-ai pj Theresa & Comfort Fo r Hech 9 0 Walgreens Golden Cream �] Doughnl9 0 $ O �� f U Mauna Loa 3rd Hawaiian BBO ... 9 o e St o 9• c Ivy s� j Marin Beverage p bullet fi � O 1 Goodwill Pittmerter c JaVelOLIF P t0~0r 6 8 Marin ,N� •0 ��1PfS •9 o e d St o tj )u Sr 4 0 The above map shows 16 Ritter Street at the center and calls for service at locations within a 400 foot radius from the Center. There are 51 different locations that make up 4,259 calls for service between October 2008 and September 2015. LexisNexise RISK SOLUTIONS Businesses and Calls for Service These five (5) businesses have the most calls for service during the 7 year time period. CFS Time Period Comparison The top five (5) business within 400 - feet of Ritter Center (including Ritter Center) have seen an increase in Calls for Service from the first time period to the second time period. CFS Pre v. Post Trailer 10.1.09-9.30.12 vs 10.1.12 - 9.30.15 LexisNexis RISK SOLUTIONS Walgreens 1,088 Ritter Center 1,081 Goodwill Industries 215 Perry's Delicatessen 181 Marin Beverage Outlet 167 Walgreens 435 653 T 50% Ritter Center 421 660 T 57% Goodwill Industries 92 123 T 34% Perry's Delicatessen 89 92 T 3% Marin Beverage 54 113 'r 109% Outlet TOTAL 1,091 1,641 T 50% Perry's Deli and Marin BevMo switched ranks between the 1st time period and the 2nd time period. Post Pre 0 1000 2000 3000 1 There was a BS% increase in calls for service within 400 -feet of Ritter after the trailer opened at Ritter Center. Calls for Service Count to Top Five Businesses LexisNexise RED numbers represent most CFS for time period RISK SOLUTIONS Walgreens Ritter Goodwill Perry's Deli Marin Total Center BevMo 10/1/08— 3/31/09 40 30 7 9 6 92 4/1/08— 9/30/09 60 46 12 10 9 137 10/1/09— 3/31/10 46 33 10 11 11 111 4/1/10— 9/30/10 59 35 13 24 3 134 10/1/10— 3/31/11 54 78 15 20 7 174 4/1/11— 9/30/11 76 100 18 6 8 208 10/1/11— 3/31/12 100 99 17 9 10 235 4/1/12— 9/30/12 106 83 12 13 20 234 10/1/12— 3/31/13 91 70 17 5 15 198 4/1/13— 9/30/13 87 51 17 16 15 186 10/1/13— 3/31/14 95 145 16 6 14 276 4/1/14— 9/30/14 69 134 25 12 19 259 10/1/14— 3/31/15 77 107 16 17 15 232 4/1/15— 9/30/15 128 70 20 23 15 256 Total 1,088 1,081 215 181 167 2,732 LexisNexise RED numbers represent most CFS for time period RISK SOLUTIONS Ritter Center and Surrounding Area 4,259 calls for service within 400 feet of Ritter Center 450 400 350 300 250 200 150 100 50 Total Calls for Service by Time Period 419 401 398- 74 T16% X12% T17% T13% T25% T15% T2% �6% X11% T41% �4% �7% T6% 0 10/1/08- 4/1/08- 10/1/09- 4/1/10- 10/1/10- 4/1/11- 10/1/11- 4/1/12- 10/1/12- 4/1/13- 10/1/13- 4/1/14- 10/1/14 4/1/15- 3/31/09 9/30/09 3/31/10 9/30/10 3/31/11 9/30/11 3/31/12 9/30/12 3/31/13 9/30/13 3/31/14 9/30/14 3/31/15 9/30/15 LexisNexis- RISK SOLUTIONS Walgreens open 24 hours 17 days a week 830 Third Street ----------------------- Walgreens Calls for Service by Time Period 140 120 100 80 60 40 - t 20 T50% .l-23% T28% �8% T41% T32% T6% .114% �4% T9% �27% T9% T71% 0 10/1/08- 4/1/08- 10/1/09- 4/1/10- 10/1/10- 4/1/11- 10/1/11- 4/1/12- 10/1/12- 4/1/13- 10/1/13- 4/1/14- 10/1/14 4/1/15- 3/31/09 9/30/09 3/31/10 9/30/10 3/31/11 9/30/11 3/31/12 9/30/12 3/31/13 9/30/13 3/31/14 9/30/14 3/31/15 9/30/15 Top 5 Call Types to Walgreens @ 830 Third Street (1,088) 220 UnwantedI 160 Out w/ I 69 Welfare check 143 Theft 135 Drunk subject subject subject 69 Suspicious circ. 43 Extra Patrol 35 Verbal argumt Post Pre CFS Pre v. Post Trailer 10.01.09 - 09.30.12 v. 10.01.12 - 09.30.1S 0 200 400 600 There was a z4Y I I increase in calls for service to Walgreens I after the trailer opened i at Ritter Center. L LexisNexis® RISK SOLUTIONS Time Period Top Call(s) for Service Count 10/1/08 — 3/31/09 Unwanted Subject 7 4/1/09 — 9/30/09 Out with Subject 10 10/1/09 — 3/31/10 Out with Subject 11 4/1/10 — 9/30/10 Unwanted Subject 12 10/1/10 — 3/31/11 Unwanted Subject 13 4/1/11 — 9/30/11 Panhandler 14 10/1/11 — 3/31/12 Unwanted Subject 26 4/1/12 — 9/30/12 Out with Subject 33 10/1/12 — 3/31/13 Unwanted Subject 16 4/1/13 — 9/30/13 Unwanted Subject 20 10/1/13 — 3/31/14 Unwanted Subject 19 4/1/14 — 9/30/14 Unwanted Subject 11 10/1/14 — 3/31/15 Unwanted Subject 20 4/1/15 — 9/30/15 Unwanted Subject 39 i ----------------------i Ritter C Ritter Center is open M -F gam -spm 16 Ritter St, 12 Ritter St, & 815 Third St 160 Ritter Center Calls for Service by Time Period 140 120 100 80 60 40 51 ' •s07. � . �o 20 10/1/08 — 3/31/09 4/1/09 — 9/30/09 10/1/09 T53% • 28% T6% T123% T28% �1% �16% .116% .1.27% T184% �8% .1.20% � 35% 9/30/11 10/1/11 — 3/31/12 4/1/12 — 9/30/12 10/1/12 10/1/08- 4/1/08- 10/1/09- 4/1/10- 10/1/10- 4/1/11- 10/1/11- 4/1/12- 10/1/12- 4/1/13- 10/1/13- 4/1/14- 10/1/14 4/1/15- 3/31/09 9/30/09 3/31/10 9/30/10 3/31/11 9/30/11 3/31/12 9/30/12 3/31/13 9/30/13 3/31/14 9/30/14 3/31/15 9/30/15 Top 5 Call Types to Ritter Center @ 16 Ritter St, 12 Ritter St, & 815 Third St (1,081) Outwith I Unwanted Extra Patrol 167 Misc. Subject a danger 240 107 I 96 I 62 Subjiect Subject Request Service to self or Others Post Pre CFS Pre v. Post Trailer 10.01.09 - 09.30.12 v. 10.01.12 - 09.30.15 0 200 400 600 There was a 5Y I Iincrease in calls for service to Ritter Center I after the trailer opened i at Ritter Center. LexisNexis- 40 RISK SOLUTIONS Time Period 10/1/08 — 3/31/09 4/1/09 — 9/30/09 10/1/09 — 3/31/10 4/1/10 — 9/30/10 10/1/10 — 3/31/11 4/1/11 — 9/30/11 10/1/11 — 3/31/12 4/1/12 — 9/30/12 10/1/12 — 3/31/13 4/1/13 — 9/30/13 10/1/13 — 3/31/14 4/1/14 — 9/30/14 10/1/14 — 3/31/15 4/1/15 — 9/30/15 Top Call(s) for Service Out with Subject Out with Subject Out with Subject Miscellaneous Service Probation Search / Home Visit Out with Subject Out with Subject Out with Subject Quality of Life Unwanted Subject Extra Patrol Request Out with Subject Out with Subject Welfare Check Count 11 13 7 7 17 35 25 20 11 10 42 39 26 12 Goodwill Industries r------------------,— 7 Goodwill is open 809 Lincoln Avenue Mon -Sat 9am-7pm & Sun 10am-6pm ------------------ 30 Goodwill Industries Calls for Service by Time Period 25 25 20 70 j17 17.17 15 15 .........� 16 15 123.... 1' 2► 10 —10 'J T S T71% •i•17% T30% T15% T20% �6% X29% T42% 0% �6% T56% �40% T33% 0 4/1/11 — 9/30/11 0 50 100 150 10/1/11 10/1/08- 4/1/08- 10/1/09- 4/1/10- 10/1/10- 4/1/11- 10/1/11- 4/1/12- 10/1/12- 4/1/13- 10/1/13- 4/1/14- 10/1/14 4/1/15- 3/31/09 9/30/09 3/31/10 9/30/10 3/31/11 9/30/11 3/31/12 9/30/12 3/31/13 9/30/13 3/31/14 9/30/14 3/31/15 9/30/15 4/1/14 — Top 5 Call Types to Goodwill Industries @ 809 Lincoln Avenue (215) — 3/31/15 UnwantedI 4/1/15 — 9/30/15 I Theft I Property: 35 16TheftI 13 Drunk Subject 12 11 subject Report Just Occurred Lost or Found Post CFS Pre v. Post Trailer 10.01.09 - 09.30.12 v. 10.01.12 - 09.30.15 Time Period 10/1/08 — 3/31/09 4/1/09 — 9/30/09 10/1/09 — 3/31/10 Top Call(s) for Service Unwanted Subject Theft/ Property/ Alarm Vandalism/Unwanted Subj/Theft/Subj danger to self others/ Prop/Fight/ Fraud/Drunk/DV/ Standby Unwanted Subject / Theft Report Unwanted Subject Theft Report Theft Report / Theft Just Occurred Out with Subject Unwanted Subject Theft Report/Just Occurred/ Subject danger to self Subj a danger to self/Out w Subject/Drunk Driver Unwanted Subject Subject down Unwanted Subject Count 2 2 1 2 4 4 3 2 4 2 2 5 3 8 4/1/10 — 9/30/10 Pre 10/1/10 — 3/31/11 4/1/11 — 9/30/11 0 50 100 150 10/1/11 — 3/31/12 ere was a 3z°� Thncrease 110/1/12 4/1/12 — 9/30/12 • iin calls for — 3/31/13 Iservice to Goodwill I 4/1/13 — 9/30/13 I after the trailer opened i 10/1/13 — 3/31/14 • at Ritter Center. 4/1/14 — 9/30/14 LexisNexis• 10/1/14 — 3/31/15 RISK SOLUTIONS 4/1/15 — 9/30/15 Top Call(s) for Service Unwanted Subject Theft/ Property/ Alarm Vandalism/Unwanted Subj/Theft/Subj danger to self others/ Prop/Fight/ Fraud/Drunk/DV/ Standby Unwanted Subject / Theft Report Unwanted Subject Theft Report Theft Report / Theft Just Occurred Out with Subject Unwanted Subject Theft Report/Just Occurred/ Subject danger to self Subj a danger to self/Out w Subject/Drunk Driver Unwanted Subject Subject down Unwanted Subject Count 2 2 1 2 4 4 3 2 4 2 2 5 3 8 cow M1 p -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Perry's Delicatessen Calls Perry s ulencatessern -------------- L 1" Perry's Deli is open Mon -Sat 7am-8pm & 909 Lincoln Avenue i ' Sun lam -7 m p -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Perry's Delicatessen Calls for Service by Time Period 30 25 24 23 20 20 15 16 17 ......... 10 .....I.........12 - 9...... 10 1 i 9 5 6 5 6 T11% T10% T118% �17% .170% T50% T44% .i•62% T220% �63% T100% T42% T35% 0 10/1/08- 4/1/09- 10/1/09- 4/1/10- 10/1/10- 4/1/11- 10/1/11- 4/1/12- 10/1/12- 4/1/13- 10/1/13- 4/1/14- 10/1/14- 4/1/15- 3/31/09 9/30/09 3/31/10 9/30/10 3/31/11 9/30/11 3/31/12 9/30/12 3/31/13 9/30/13 3/31/14 9/30/14 3/31/15 9/30/15 Top 5 Call Types to Perry's Delicatessen @ 909 Lincoln Avenue (181) 42 Out with 19 Unwanted 13 Drunk 12 Drug Activity 8 Subject Subject Subject Subject 12 Misc. Service Down Time Period Top Call(s) for Service Count CFS Pre v. Post Trailer 10/1/08 — 3/31/09 Drug activity observed 2 10.01.09 - 09.30.12 V. 10.01.12 - 09.30.15 4/1/09 — 9/30/09 Out with Subject/ Battery just occurred 2 10/1/09 — 3/31/10 Out with Subject 2 Post 4/1/10 — 9/30/10 Unwanted Subject / Miscellaneous Service 4 10/1/10 — 3/31/11 Out with Subject 7 Pre o 2, 4/1/11 — 9/30/11 Out with Subject 3 10/1/11 — 3/31/12 Physical Disturbance / Out with Subject 2 75 80 85 4/1/12 — 9/30/12 Drug Activity/Drunk Subj/Misc Sery/Unwanted Subj 2 • �/• 110/1/12 There was a ; l� — 3/31/13 Assault with Deadly Weapon/Drug Activity/Out 1 with Subject/Quality of Life/Subject Down decrease in calls for I 4/1/13 — 9/30/13 Out with Subject 3 . service to Perry's after the trailer opened • I 10/1/13 — 3/31/14 Advice/Drunk Driver/Subject danger to self or 1 I other/Subject Down/Unwanted Subject • at Ritter Center. — — • — • — • 4/1/14 — 9/30/14 Out with Subject 6 LexisNexis• 10/1/14 — 3/31/15 Out with Subject 7 RISK SOLUTIONS 4/1/15 — 9/30/15 Out with Subject / Unwanted Subject 12 Marin Beverage Outlet ------------------ I Marin BevMo is open 855 Third Street Mon -Sat Sun 10am-7prn & m-7pm ----------------- 25 Marin BevMo Calls for Service by Time Period 20 10/1/11 — 3/31/12 3 Out w Subj/Theft Just Occurred/Unwanted Subj 2 There was aI 4/1/12 — 9/30/12 I increase in calls for 10/1/12 – 3/31/13 service to BevMo 4/1/13 – 9/30/13 I after the trailer opened occurred/ Suspicious Circ Report/Theft 15 10/1/13 – 3/31/14 at Ritter Center. -- 4 115 15 14 15� 14 10 11 ..- ....elo ... ..... .... ...... 4/1/15 – 9/30/15 .... 8 �6 7 r S 3 1`50% T22% • 73% T133% T14% T25% T100% .125% 0% �7% T36% �26% T7% 0 10/1/08- 4/1/08- 10/1/09- 4/1/10- 10/1/10- 4/1/11- 10/1/11- 4/1/12- 10/1/12- 4/1/13- 10/1/13- 4/1/14- 10/1/14 4/1/15- 3/31/09 9/30/09 3/31/10 9/30/10 3/31/11 9/30/11 3/31/12 9/30/12 3/31/13 9/30/13 3/31/14 9/30/14 3/31/15 9/30/15 Top 5 Call Types to Marin Beverage Outlet @ 855 Third Street (167) Unwanted I Out w Theft Just I Suspicious 7 I Drunk Subject 31 subject 26 Subject 23 Occurred 10 Circumstance 7 Suspicious. Person Post Pre CFS Pre v. Post Trailer 10.01.09 - 09.30.12 v. 10.01.12 - 09.30.15 Time Period 10/1/08 – 3/31/09 4/1/09 – 9/30/09 10/1/09 – 3/31/10 4/1/10 – 9/30/10 10/1/10 – 3/31/11 4/1/11 — 9/30/11 0 50 100 10/1/11 — 3/31/12 3 Out w Subj/Theft Just Occurred/Unwanted Subj 2 There was aI 4/1/12 — 9/30/12 I increase in calls for 10/1/12 – 3/31/13 service to BevMo 4/1/13 – 9/30/13 I after the trailer opened occurred/ Suspicious Circ Report/Theft i 10/1/13 – 3/31/14 at Ritter Center. Theft Just Occurred 4 -- — - — - —- 4/1/14 – 9/30/14 LexisNexis° 10/1/14 – 3/31/15 RISK SOLUTIONS 4 Out with Subject 4 4/1/15 – 9/30/15 Top Call(s) for Service Count Theft Just Occurred 3 Out w Subj/Theft Just Occurred/Unwanted Subj 2 Suspicious Circumstance/ Unwanted Subject 3 Drunk Driver/Theft Report/Verbal Argument 1 Out with Subject / Theft Just Occurred 2 Assault w deadly weapon/Drug activity/ Flagdown/Out w Subj/Fight/Suspicious Circ just 1 occurred/ Suspicious Circ Report/Theft Theft Just Occurred 2 Out with Subject/ Unwanted Subject 4 Theft Just Occurred 4 Unwanted Subject 6 Out with Subject 3 Unwanted Subject 4 Out with Subject 4 Out with Subject 4 Ritter Center Intersections I •. ' -' "1 '-+ Comfort Food s M � L I aoCFS Pre v. Post Trailer Hecho En Ca 6 Walgreens Golden Cream j 10.01.09 - 09.30.12 v. Doughnut Shop g 10.01.12 - 09.30.15 7co rn Sal Faod 0 c3 Mauna Loa �1 4'1 Post S Td t Hawaiian BBQ o 15 Pre Marin Beverage Outlet 0 200 400 600 Goodwill O Ri¢r ['pnt¢r U t} c Java Detour Y *Md St 2nd St There was a ZIl I I increase in calls for 76' Mar' service to the nearby k R. I intersections r t . after the trailer opened I at Ritter Center. 6%ndSt .—.—.—.—.J 10/2008 — 3/2012 4/2012 —9/2015 % Difference 119 143 T20% a 67 88 T31% These are the Intersection 9 intersections Third Street & Lootens Place surrounding Ritter Center. Third Street & Lincoln Avenu Combined, these cross Second Street & Lindaro Street streets make up 22% of all Third Street & Cijos Street calls for Second Street & Lincoln Avenue service in the 400 feet Third Street & Lindaro Street surrounding Ritter Center. Ritter Street & Lincoln Avenue Third Street & Ritter Street Cijos Street & Commercial Place LexisNexis• RISK SOLUTIONS TOTAL 48 60 T25% 47 59 T26% 47 52 T11% 25 53 T112% 17 45 T165% 20 24 T20% 1 4 Increased 3 391 528 T35% Caron Parker From: Ben Leroi <Ben@rittercenter.org> Sent: Tuesday, March 15, 2016 2:55 PM To: Caron Parker; Cia Byrnes Subject: RE: second SRPD police report Hi Caron, thank you for forwarding this second report covering 7 years of police calls within a 400 foot radius of Ritter Center. The report divides that 7 year period into two 3.5 year time frames: 3.5 years before Ritter's medical modular, which was unanimously approved by the City Council, became operational in October 2012 and 3.5 years after the medical modular opened. Given the incredible number of variables that factor into police calls in the downtown area, whether within 400 feet of Ritter or slightly farther afield, this is an overly broad time sample to draw conclusions about police calls pre vs. post installation of the medical modular. If research scientists wanted to try to draw conclusions from this data re: police calls pre and post installation of the medical modular, they would look at the time periods most proximal to October 2012 when the modular became operational. The screenshot from page 3 of the report (excluding the report cover page from pagination) shows the number of calls from 12 months before the modular became operational and the 12 months after the modular opened. Walgreens Ritter Goodwill Perry's Dell Marin Total Center Bevmo 10,%1%11— 140 i 99 — 17 9 10 235 3/31/12 4/1/12— 106 83 12 13 20 � 234 9/30/12 10/1112— 3/31/13 0%1f1Z- 3/31/13 91 70 17 5 15 198 4/1/13— 87 51 17 16 IS 186 9/30/13 As the report clearly illustrates, police calls for the area within 400 feet of Ritter actually decreased by 18% in the year after the medical modular opened compared to the year before the medical modular became operational. Any analysis of police call data outside of this 2 -year period most proximal to the opening of the medical modular introduces so many confounding variables that it would be impossible to draw any credible conclusions re: police calls pre and post installation of the medical modular. Beyond the overly broad time period being employed to analyze police calls pre and post modular installation, there are a number of other questions that a thorough analysis of police calls needs to address, such as: 1. How do these trends of increasing police calls compare with other areas of downtown, such as the B Street corridor? 2. How many of these calls are placed when Ritter Center is closed? This is a very important factor to consider in the analysis of calls. The analysis of calls in the current 8 month use permit report period illustrated that the vast majority of calls were from Walgreens, which is open 24 hours per day, 7 days a week and that upwards of 80% of Walgreens' calls were placed on evenings/overnight and weekends when Ritter Center is closed. Attachment 7 3. The report does not adequately distinguish "calls" that are actually extra patrols initiated by SRPD and not an a citizen initiated call. Page 6 of the report indicates that there were 96 "extra patrols" (i.e. not initiated by a citizen call) at Ritter Center alone. In which time periods did these extra patrols take place and at what frequency? The same questions apply for all the other areas of "calls" documented in this report, how many were actually extra patrols and what is the frequency breakdown of those extra patrols by time period? 4. Is the impact of the police department encouraging businesses/citizens to call police dispatch for every quality of life issue they see being factored into the analysis of these police calls? In a Business Improvement District meeting on March 27, 2013 representatives of SRPD (Lt. Raffaello Pata was one of those present) advised the downtown business owners to call police dispatch for every single quality of life issue. They indicated they may not be able to send a patrol for every call, but that all the calls would be logged so there would be a record of each call to create a larger aggregate. It is very likely that this advice from the SRPD to businesses and citizens accounts for a large proportion of the increase in police calls that are being reported beginning October 1, 2013 — one full year after Ritter's medical modular became operational. 5. Has the City evaluated whether Walgreens has increased its police calls since it began selling hard liquor? An analysis of Walgreens' police calls for a year before and a year after it began selling hard liquor may help shed some light on their increase in police calls. Thank you for this opportunity to provide feedback on this report, BENJAMIN LEROI DEPUTY DIRECTOR, RITTER CENTER ph: 415-457-8182 x106 I fax: 415-457-7471 1 www.rittercenter.org snail mail: PO Box 3517, San Rafael, CA 94912 i office location: 16 Ritter St, San Rafael The information contained in this email and any attachments may be privileged, confidential, and protected under applicable law and is intended solely forthe use of the individual or entity to which it is addressed. If you are not the intended recipient orthe employee or agent responsible for delivering the message to the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution, or copying of this communication is strictly prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please notify the sender immediately by telephone and destroy the document. From: Caron Parker [mailto:Caron. Parker@cityofsanrafael.org] Sent: Tuesday, March 15, 2016 9:05 AM To: Cia Byrnes Cc: Ben Leroi Subject: second SRPD police report Hi Cia- Please see attached SRPD report covering 8 years of calls for service in the Ritter vicinity, from October 2008 to September 2015. We just received this yesterday. If you want to send a response to me, please do so and I will make sure a copy is sent directly to the Council. My staff report is being reviewed by the City Attorney as we speak so I don't know that I can add your response to the report. C a,rd-wJo- T1cwker Associate Planner City of San Rafael Community Development Department 1400 Fifth Avenue San Rafael, CA 94901 415-485-3094 ROUTING SLIP / APPROVAL FORM INSTRUCTIONS: Use this cover sheet with each submittal of a staff report before approval by the City Council. Save staff report (including this cover sheet) along with all related attachments in the Team Drive (T:) --> CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEMS 4 AGENDA ITEM APPROVAL PROCESS 4 [DEPT - AGENDA TOPIC] Agenda Item # Date of Meeting: 3/21/2016 From: Caron Parker Department: Community Development Date: 3/15/2016 Topic: Review of Ritter Center Performance Report (covering May 2015 to December 2015) Subject: Review of 6 month Performance Report on the Ritter Center's adherence to the Use Permit (UP13-030) operational conditions of approval regulating client limits, litter control, security and police service calls to the facility for May 2015 — December 2015. Type: ❑ Resolution ❑ Ordinance ❑ Professional Services Agreement ® Other: Report ® Finance Director Remarks: ® City Attorney Remarks: LG -Approved 3/15/16 ® Author, review and accept City Attorney / Finance changes Remarks: City attorney comments accepted and report ready for City Manager review and comment ® City Manager Remarks: FOR CITY CLERK ONLY File No.: Council Meeting: Disposition: