It was recently announced that the Downtown Streets Team organization, with whom the city of Davis contracts to manage and provide services at the Daytime Respite Center on L Street will cease operations statewide. Therefore, its last day of services at the Respite Center will be Oct. 31.
On Tuesday, the Davis City Council had a conversation on its homelessness system of care and reviewed options available for the Daytime Respite Center.
These options presented to the council included implementation of staff operations in-house at the current location as a temporary measure; seek an alternative contractor to assume operations at the current location; research alternative locations or direct staff to plan for the closure of the site effective Oct. 31.
“If it closes for 30 days, 60 days, 90 days, I truly don’t believe it’s ever going to open back up again,” remarked council member Josh Chapman.
The current site is not perfect when it comes to location or infrastructure. Plumbing and sewer line problems are issues that are affecting the building at this moment.
Ultimately, the council decided to not allow for any pause in operations in the Daytime Respite Center. The hope is to hire the current Downtown Streets Team staff as temporary city workers while putting out a Request for Proposals for a new operator.
The RFP will take time, according to Social Services and Housing director Dana Bailey. While this process is occurring, staff has also been directed to look into homelessness spending and where is best to invest; look into potential other sites for the Respite Center; determine if the L Street site could be used for any other purpose and to make sure that seven days a week, services are offered between the Respite Center and Paul’s Place.
Running the Daytime Respite Center in-house instead of contracting the services out will also be considered as an option. Keeping the current L Street site as the Respite Center long term will also be a part of staff analysis.
Bailey says that there is funding allocated ($350,000-$400,000) that can be used for rehabilitative repairs at the Daytime Respite Center, including the plumbing and sewer line problems.
There was well over an hour of public comment on this item. Concerns ranged from helping unhoused neighbors find permanent solutions and services, safety, location and the center’s impact on the surrounding community.
Based on the council’s decisions, there will be no disruption to services at the Daytime Respite Center despite the Downtown Streets Team ceasing operations on Oct. 31.
The council also approved a 90-day extension of Heart of Davis’ Safe Park pilot program, which serves five pre-screened “parkers” to park overnight. This program operates from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. with one staff person and multiple volunteers. Participants are referred to professional case managed services.
Additionally, the city’s winter shelter was approved for this season to ensure that medically vulnerable residents are sheltered during life threatening cold weather.
Social Services Commissioners Judy Ennis and Chris Ringer put together a subcommittee landscape assessment and community navigator proposal, which they shared with the council.
After over 10 hours of interviews with organizations and unhoused individuals, the subcommittee determined that there is a high need for shelter of all types; there is a lack of consistent access to mental health professionals; there is a lack of access to detox and residential substance abuse treatment and there is an increasing number of seniors experiencing homelessness and housing insecurity.
The subcommittee’s recommended actions include supporting increased service hours for the Daytime Respite Center; expanding winter shelter availability and considering summer options for high heat; continue supporting expanded shelter beds at Paul’s Place; evaluate Safe Park program for permanency and expansion; consider a volunteer-based program to provide outreach to housing insecure seniors; coordinate with 4th and Hope to identify ways to support the detox and substance abuse treatment program at Walter’s House and Yolo Wayfarer Center in Woodland and support Communicare within Davis for outpatient programs.
Solid Waste
The council also unanimously directed staff to initiate the Prop 218 process to consider implementation of rate adjustments for solid waste utilities by Jan. 1, 2026. Staff was also authorized to extend the current agreement for collection and handling of solid waste between the city of Davis and Recology Davis for two additional years, with a new expiration date of Dec. 31, 2029.
Solid Waste utility rates were last adjusted by the council in 2023.
“Since the end of the last approved rate adjustment calendar, costs of providing solid waste services have once again exceeded revenue and will continue to put significant pressure on the reserve for the Solid Waste utility fund if not adjusted,” reads the staff report.
A cost-of-service study was conducted. Proposed rate adjustments for single-family residential customers are as follows:
Cart Size Current
2026
15%
2027
6.5%
2028
6.5%
2029
6.5%
2030
3%
Small/34-35 GAL $44.52 $51.20 $54.53 $58.07 $61.84 $63.70 Medium/64-65 GAL $49.28 $56.67 $60.36 $64.28 $68.46 $70.51 Large/95-96 GAL $58.80 $67.62 $72.02 $76.70 $81.68 $84.13
Notices will be sent to property owners beginning on Sept. 30. A public/protest hearing will be held at the Nov. 18 City Council meeting. Rates will become effective on Jan.1 if adopted on Nov. 18.
Tuesday marked new Davis city manager Daryel Dunston’s first official council meeting.
The Davis City Council will next meet on Sept. 30.
