Board Approves $3.56M Emergency Shelter Repair as Federal Voucher Freeze Stalls Housing Aid

The Solano County Board of Supervisors confronted two sides of the same affordability crisis on April 14: a crumbling emergency shelter that needs immediate stabilization and a federal housing voucher program blocked from serving new families. Between those headline items, Sheriff DeWall's annual immigration report revealed just how narrowly California's sanctuary laws limit local cooperation with ICE.

• $3.56M approved to reroof and stabilize McCormack Hall, the County's designated emergency shelter at the fairgrounds, drawing down the capital reserve to one of its lowest levels

• Housing Authority plans adopted while 56 vouchers sit unused — HUD has frozen new issuance after a funding shortfall, even as rising rents shrink the number of households served

• Sheriff DeWall reports only 1 of 181 ICE detainer requests resulted in a transfer to federal custody in 2025, under a judicial warrant

• Rabbi Chaim Zaklos calls for "remembrance that leads to action" as the Board marks Holocaust Remembrance Day

• Supervisor Williams proposes first-ever State of the County event for fall 2026

Fix It Now or Lose It: McCormack Hall Gets Emergency Funding

Why it matters: McCormack Hall — a 20,000-square-foot building at the Solano County Fairgrounds — doubles as the County's designated emergency relief shelter and a busy community venue. A corroded roof and compromised structural framing threaten both functions, and $1M in ARPA funds earmarked for the project must be spent by December 2026 or be forfeited.

Where things stand: Capital Projects Manager Mark Hummel told the Board that construction documents are at 50% completion. A single-ply rubber roofing system was selected for 10-15 years of durability, but the structural engineer found the north wall framing must be repaired before any new roof weight can be added. Additional unknowns — hazardous materials, aging HVAC, corroded electrical conduits — could increase costs.

Staff presented five options ranging from the $3.56M reroof-and-stabilize approach (Option A) to a full $14M modernization, a $15-20M complete replacement, a $7M-plus temporary sprung structure, or redirecting funds elsewhere entirely.

The other side: Supervisor Mitch Mashburn voiced concern about incremental cost escalation:

"This is like my neighbor's kid's car. It's a '92 Celica, and he's got a $3,000 stereo in it. The car's worth 600 bucks. I don't want to end up with a building like that."

County Administrator Ian Goldberg acknowledged the tension but cautioned that the capital renewal reserve would drop to $11.3M after approval — "one of the lowest levels our capital renewal reserve has been at in the last number of years" — while unfunded capital demand exceeds $500M. Replacement costs of $15-20M far exceed available resources, and the ARPA deadline makes deferral risky.

Solano Fairgrounds CEO Tom Keaney offered some good news: the roof coating tested negative for asbestos, and the building is fully booked through 2026 with dates into 2028. PG&E funding may help with ventilation costs.

"We're not sitting here just waiting for the county to feed us. We are actually trying to fix this stuff," he said.

Senior Management Analyst Georgette Portier presented the funding breakdown in support of the project.

Decisions: The Board approved $2.5M from the Capital Renewal Reserve Fund and $59,894 from the County Liability Fund on a 4-0 vote (For: Brown, James, Williams, Mashburn; Absent: Vasquez). The vote required a four-fifths supermajority for the appropriation transfer.

What's next: Supervisor Williams requested a follow-up plan addressing longer-term remodeling after the immediate stabilization is complete. Construction documents will advance to 100% design. The Board will need to revisit the larger modernization question — a $14M-plus decision — once the roof and structure are secured.

56 Vouchers Idle: Housing Authority Plans Move Forward Under HUD Freeze

The basics: The Solano County Housing Authority administers Housing Choice Vouchers for Dixon, Rio Vista, and unincorporated Solano County — up to 372 vouchers distributing nearly $3M annually in rental assistance.

Why it matters: The Authority recently entered what HUD calls "shortfall status," meaning available funding cannot cover housing assistance payments to current participants. While HUD provided additional money to close the gap, it imposed restrictions that block the Authority from pulling new families off the wait list.

Where things stand: Housing and Community Services Administrator Celinda Aguilar-Vasquez told the Board that 313 vouchers are currently under lease — an 84% utilization rate — with 56 sitting unused.

"Although we're authorized for 372 vouchers, we can only lease as many as our funding allows each year. As costs increase, the number of households we are able to serve decreases even if vouchers remain available," she said.

Administrative plan revisions clarify residency preferences under a new HUD notice, add policies for GAP vouchers, foster care referrals, project-based authority, and Family Unification Program and Foster Youth to Independence voucher preferences. Staff is budgeting conservatively — not issuing from the wait list, billing rather than absorbing port-in costs, and monitoring payment standards.

Supervisor Wanda Williams asked about landlord recruitment. Staff described a Vacaville pilot program reaching out to current and potential landlords for feedback. Williams further requested staff share feedback from landlords in the current system to help recruit additional landlords.

Vice Chair Cassandra James pressed on alignment with homelessness strategies. Staff responded that the City of Vacaville is presenting a "move up program" setting aside five to 10 vouchers annually for homeless continuum-of-care referrals. James also asked whether the Authority applied for expanded VASH (Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing) vouchers when HUD opened a registration window in September. Staff confirmed they submitted a registration of interest but had not yet received a response.

Supervisor Mitch Mashburn raised the barrier of security deposits for voucher holders:

"Is there any other type of assistance for them when trying to obtain residence? With regard to a deposit in our county where an average two-bedroom place rents for over $2,000, the deposit is going to be $4,000 or more."

Staff said the Authority itself does not provide deposit help but refers applicants to outside agencies.

Decisions: The plans were approved 4-0 (For: Brown, James, Williams, Mashburn; Absent: Vasquez) after a public hearing with no testimony.

What's next: Staff will continue monitoring the HUD shortfall restrictions and VASH application status. The landlord incentive pilot in Vacaville could expand if it yields results.

Sheriff: California Sanctuary Law Limits ICE Cooperation to a Trickle

Why it matters: Under the state-mandated TRUTH Act, the Board must hold an annual public forum on local law enforcement interactions with Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The data shows California's sanctuary framework — codified in SB 54, the California Values Act — sharply constrains cooperation.

Where things stand: Sheriff Brad DeWall reported that the county jail processed 11,600 bookings in 2025. ICE submitted 181 detainer requests. Of those, only nine met the cooperation criteria under SB 54, which limits engagement primarily to cases involving violent crime or serious public safety offenses. Of those nine, just one person was actually transferred to ICE custody.

"There was one ICE pickup or transfer that took place in 2025, and I can tell you that was a result of a judicial federal warrant that was in place," DeWall said.

For the remaining eight qualifying cases, the Sheriff's office only notified ICE of release dates — it did not hold anyone past their release or share personal addresses.

Supervisor Wanda Williams expressed concern about protecting law-abiding residents and asked about reports of increased ICE presence in Vallejo. DeWall confirmed a temporary increase during a specific event a month or two prior but said agents had since departed.

Vice Chair Cassandra James clarified that a recent media article about ICE sightings in Vallejo referenced 2025, not current activity:

"There was an article that was released last month about ICE sightings in Vallejo last year, not this year. And I wanted to be very clear in that."

She added that her office works closely with the Rapid Response Team and community organizations serving immigrants.

No public testimony was received, and no vote was required.

Holocaust Remembrance: Rabbi Urges Community to Turn Memory Into Moral Courage

Supervisor Wanda Williams read a resolution recognizing April 14, 2026, as Yom HaShoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day, marking the 93rd anniversary of the beginning of the genocide that killed 6 million Jews and millions of others.

Rabbi Chaim Zaklos of the local Chabad accepted the proclamation and delivered a moving address.

"Remembrance must lead to action. To remember means to educate, to ensure that future generations know not only what happened, but why it matters," he said, urging the community to speak out against antisemitism and hatred.

Quoting the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Zaklos added:

"When you're in a room of darkness, one candle of light dispels all that darkness. Each act of kindness, each time we stand up for truth and each moment of moral courage adds light to our world."

The Rabbi also acknowledged Supervisor John Vasquez's past support for these proclamations despite his absence. The resolution passed 4-0.

Minor Items

• Administrative Professionals Day resolution adopted 4-0 — the County's first formal recognition of roughly 500 administrative staff. Director of Health and Social Services Cohen noted HSS alone employs over 300; department heads from the District Attorney's Office and Probation also spoke.

• Consent calendar (Items 3-6) approved 4-0 with no items pulled, covering: the FY2025 Single Audit Report; a three-year WorldPay payment processing contract (through April 2029); a Kaiser Foundation agreement to administer CalAIM transitional rent for specialty mental health clients; and a $14,740 environmental prosecution grant for an HD low-light camera for the DA's Office.

• FY2026/27 user fee hearing opened and continued to April 28 at staff's request to complete the review process. No public testimony. Passed 4-0.

• Closed session on labor negotiations — The Board adjourned to closed session on labor negotiator conferences covering Solano County and In-Home Supportive Services Authority bargaining units. No report out.

• Supervisor Williams proposed a State of the County event — a first for Solano County. County Administrator Goldberg said he would bring back options for dates, locations, and format, likely targeting fall after budget season.

• Meeting adjourned in memory of Claudia "Tudy" Fulmer Huffman, a 60-year Vacaville resident and founding member of the Friends of the Dixon Mayfair, as announced by Supervisor Mashburn.