Council Member Morano questions Dalton on VA grant and advisory boards

So starting with Councilmember Murano, followed by Wilson, and then Brewer.

Thank you, Chair.

Thank you, Commissioner.

Before I ask you a little bit about your testimony today, you were kind enough to testify before the last committee hearing that

Chair Hudson and I co-chaired, and you indicated that you'd get us some information about the legal analysis that the city relied upon to decline the VA grant for homeless veterans.

Do you have any idea when you might be able to get that to us?

I don't, as I said here, but we can respond in writing with a timeline.

I appreciate it.

Thank you.

In your testimony, you discussed the good neighbor policy and community advisory boards.

And you say these boards bring together elected officials, community boards, businesses, and neighbors to discuss concerns.

But isn't it true that these advisory boards generally function?

After the city has already decided where to put a shelter.

So the neighborhood gets a chance to discuss problems after the decision's already been made, but not necessarily a meaningful opportunity to raise concerns before the decision's finalized.

Is that a fair characterization?

I think it's fair that the community advisory boards are set up to be a good neighbor with the shelter that is there.

So I think it's right to characterize it as an ongoing process with the community.

But certainly we work with community boards and electeds and community members.

Aligned with the process that we use to site shelters.

So there is engagement with community prior to...

Wouldn't it make more sense to conduct a community impact assessment and solicit neighborhood input before committing taxpayer dollars to a location rather than asking residents to live with the consequences and complain afterward?

I appreciate that as a sentiment, and we can certainly take back as we look at any potential changes to the way we do shelter siting in the city.

Thank you.