What: the committee's first formal recommendation that the city formalize a communications plan on homelessness.
Where it stands: Presented to the Council at the 2026-10-14 workshop; councilors favored adopting it as part of the city's broader communications work, and no vote was taken.
Next: Staff to look for low-cost first steps, such as resource information and committee minutes on the city website.
Details
Four focus areas: what the city is doing to address homelessness, regular updates on the committee's work, success stories, and how the public and property owners can get help (including cleanup of encampments). Related: Homelessness Strategic Plan, Winter Warming Shelter.
The City Manager said staff capacity is limited and transforming communications might need an outside expert at added cost.
Councilors discussed who would produce the communications, staff capacity, using an outside contractor, and starting with the committee's page on the city website. No vote.
Agenda item 5: the City Manager's memo reports the Advisory Committee on Homelessness unanimously recommended a communications plan (what the city is doing, committee updates, success stories, how to get help) and asks the Council to approve it; staff are already formalizing a plan.