Schroeder Army Hall and MHA Project Request for Waiver Council Item Withdrawn
By Councilwoman Gerrie Schipske January 21, 2009

On the advice of the City Attorney, item #18 which was co-sponsored by Councilwoman Rae Gabelich, Councilmember Pat O’Donnell and myself, to request a waiver of the requirement that the City provide property for homeless services in order for the City to obtain 5 acres of property now occupied by the US Army, was withdrawn.

The City Attorney advised that in order to make any changes — whether to ask for a waiver or to ask to be allowed to offer cash equivalent for the property at Burnett and Grand instead of land as a full accommodation — that the Council has to vote to withdraw plan submitted to HUD and the contract with MHA terminated and a new public hearing must be held before the City submits the new plan.

The City Attorney will draft an agenda item that sets these actions out for a council meeting in February.

I had attempted to find a solution where both parties could win in this difficult situation. There wasn’t sufficient public outreach when the proposal to use Burnett and Grand for a homeless program for the mentally ill. I had hoped that by requesting a waiver for the accomodation on the basis that I believe the City of Long Beach provides a great deal of services to the homeless –especially compared with cities which surround us — the City could still obtain the Army property without bringing the homeless program to the area.

If you don’t live in the 5th Council District — you need to contact your councilperson and let him or her know if you want the proposal withdrawn from HUD and the process started all over. Without 5 votes, the proposal will stand as written when this issue comes back to the City Council.