CC 2019-04-09_11a Supplemental No. 1MEMORANDUM
TO: CITY COUNCIL
FROM: JAMES A. BERGMAN, CITY MANAGER
SUBJECT: SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
AGENDA ITEM 11.a. – APRIL 9 , 2019 CITY COUNCIL MEETING
INFORMATION REGARDING HILLSIDE CHURCH DEVELOPMENT
CONCEPTUAL PROJECT IN NEIGHBORING GROVER BEACH
D ATE: APRIL 8, 2019
Attached is correspondence received regarding the above referenced item.
cc: City Attorney
City Clerk
Public Review Binder
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---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "Zach Melson" < >
Date: Sat, Apr 6, 2019 at 8:24 PM -0700
Subject: Hillside Church Homeless Shelter Project
To: "Caren Ray Russom" <crayrussom@arroyogrande.org>
Hi Mayor Russom,
I grew up on Newport Ave and my parents still have a residence on the street. I have an
extensive knowledge of the area and seeing this proposal is concerning.
There is absolutely no way bringing potentially dangerous or desperate individuals into
this neighborhood is a smart idea. Many children walk themselves to school at Ocean View
every school day. I used to do that myself. How could something like this in this
location even be conceived as a smart choice. Yes, housing and supporting our homeless
should be a priority, but not here.
This needs further consideration and relocation. I’m shocked that ejected officials would
be so naive to even consider this.
Have a great day!
Zach Melson
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From: susan chiarappa []
Sent: Sunday, April 7, 2019 1:15 PM
To: Caren Ray Russom
Subject: Hillside Church Development
Susan Chiarappa
Arroyo Grande, CA 93420
Mayor Caren Ray Russom
Arroyo Grande City Council
215 E. Branch St., Arroyo Grande, CA
Re: April 9, 2019 Agenda Item 11.a Hillside Church Development Concept Project‐ OPPOSITION
Dear Mayor Caren Ray Russom,
First off, let me start by saying we didn't expect to be in this position at this time in my time life of having to fight to
preserve the peace and sanctity of my neighborhood. We retired here almost 3 years ago from Ventura County and
picked this location because we saw all the neighbors out walking their kids and dogs, there wasn't tons of traffic, and
we get a little peak at the ocean. This looked like a nice, family friendly neighborhood and this is where we wish to live.
My husband and I invested all our savings to purchase this house. We know the neighbors and their children. We enjoy
living here.
We are retired... retired from work and tired from dealing with our own homeless family individuals. When our family
members went through their addictions and such we went through it with them. They sucked the life blood out of us for
several years. We tried to help, tried to do the right thing. Money, time, emotional despair, theft, meetings, rehabs,
jails, prisons, and ultimately homelessness. Our neighbors cringed every time one of them would try to "come
home". We didn't want them in our house because there is no trust that you wouldn't be robbed, hurt,
abused. Somehow, with a lot of tough love our family members found their way to agencies that helped them find their
way to living life successfully. Both of them were helped by places similar to the project you want here, however it was
NOT in a residential neighborhood. Two different cities, Thousand Oaks and San Bernardino, had programs in
commercial/business areas of their cities.
Imagine to our surprise when we found out just a few weeks ago about this Hillside Homeless Project! We have had
some issues with the warming shelter but tried to keep it in perspective and hoped someone would find a more suitable
location, only to find out that this is a proposed permanent location. I don't understand why you would pass something
like this through without the community input. We went to the "Homeless Services Oversight Council" (HSOC) meeting
on April 3 where Mariam Shah stated that they had input from the community! Not our community!!! Nobody knew or
were asked about this project here in this neighborhood! Who is the community that she speaks of? Certainly not the
taxpaying voters that we are! At this last meeting speakers could speak and for only 2 minutes. None of it made a
difference. It was clear that this committee already had its mind made up. Ms. Shah stated that only 4 letters came in
opposition of the project and 68 letters that were for the project. Clearly all the agencies that requested funding
2
months ago, they knew they had to write letters. Since we, the community/residents, are just hearing about this are
struggling to catch up with the system. We were left out! On purpose! Everyone knew how we would feel!
Please consider this is a residential neighborhood with an elementary school, senior housing, lots of family and dog
walking. There are issues of safety, criminal element, traffic, etc. I agree that help for the homeless is needed but this is
not the right location. Please, let's find a more suitable location in a commercial/business area of our 5 cities.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Susan Chiarappa
Arroyo Grande, CA 93420
1
From: ]
Sent: Monday, April 8, 2019 11:03 AM
To: Caren Ray Russom
Subject: Hillside Church plans
I am a resident of Grover Beach but my children and grandkids all live within a few blocks of the Hillside Church
property. To say that I was shocked when I found out about the plans for that land would be a great understatement.
The lack of transparency exhibited by the 5CHC and the Grover Beach city Council is really disturbing. The idea that the
neighborhood most directly affected by these plans should be left in the dark is inexcusable. If any of the council
members drives thru the neighborhood near the church you will see signs in many of the yards opposing this project
location also well over 400 people have signed petitions opposing this. The project is just not a good fit for this
neighborhood.
I have had over 25 years experience in Bakersfield dealing with the homeless. I own commercial property that is across
the street from a park where families and children used to gather now it has been taken over by the homeless. There is s
school a block to the north of my property and one a block to the south and where children used to walk to school
unescorted by parents that is no long the case. There are two shelters within a six block radius of my property that
provide shelter and programs for the homeless and there is a day shelter half a block from my property that my
husband volunteered and supported for years. I am not unsympathetic to the plight of the less fortunate. However the
behaviors exhibited by some of these people makes it impossible for me to get behind this proposal. I have had to clean
up feces smeared on doors and left on the ground in front of businesses, used condoms have littered my property as
well. My tenants have been plagued by panhandling, shoplifting and burglaries. The mentally ill are totally
unpredictable and one of my renters was attacked and bitten resulting in his having to be tested for HIV and hepatitis. I
don’t want these kinds of problems visited on the Hillside neighborhood , this is a good idea but the wrong
neighborhood. Thank you.
Mairead Jaime
Sent from my iPhone