Monterey to readdress safe parking for homeless women.

After rejecting safe parking for homeless women at the Monterey United Methodist Church two weeks ago, the Monterey City Council is expected to vote on an emergency ordinance tonight to fast track the One Starfish Safe Parking in city lots.

“I went to church and I was almost crucified,” said Councilmember Libby Downey at last week’s council meeting, in response to her vote against providing safe parking at MUMC. “I think we did the right thing, but people should know that we do support One Starfish.”

While the city is readdressing safe parking for the 100 or more homeless women who are illegally sleeping in their cars in Monterey, allowing churches to shelter up to 25 people might not be addressed again any time soon. The council voted that down in the Jan. 19 meeting.

The week following council's vote against two homeless service items, city staff began scouting suitable city parking lots to provide up to six vehicles between the hours of 7pm and 7:30am.

“We woke up Wednesday morning after being in the city council chambers past 1am and started working on this issue again,” said Assistant City Manager Hans Uslar.

In regard to an emergency warming shelter, “I think the idea is to get safe parking right now,” he continued.

One issue the city is facing while finding a suitable parking lot for One Starfish is that, unlike churches and other privately-owned locations, the city is required to abide by the Americans with Disabilities Act. The staff lot behind the police station was considered a promising choice until the 3-percent grade at the back of the lot was found not to be in accordance with the ADA.

If the city council approves the emergency ordinance 4-1, safe parking on city lots could bypass the use permitting process through the planning commission.

Two churches in Monterey, St. John’s Chapel and Shoreline Community Church, have also opened their parking lots to the One Starfish program. Jim Nelson, director of the One Starfish program, hopes that these churches being away from residential areas, won’t have the public backlash found with the MUMC location.