Vacaville Keeps Weather-Triggered Warming Center, Eyes Contracted Operator
City Council • VacavilleOctober 28, 2026
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Vacaville's warming center will keep opening only on the worst winter nights for now. After the longest debate of the night, the City Council steered staff toward a competitive search for a contracted operator, with about $67,000 left in its homelessness allocation. The council also created a Housing Trust Fund and voted 5-2 to stay neutral on the state's Prop 1 housing bond, a cautious posture on both homelessness spending and state endorsements.
- Warming center stays weather-triggered while staff solicits proposals; report due Dec. 8
- Council declines Prop 1 resolution, 5-2, staying neutral on the $11 billion bond
- Housing Trust Fund created, seeded with about $2.9M in existing HOME funds
- Downtown business district previews a roughly 150% assessment increase, its first since 1999
Warming Center: Cautious Now, Options Open
Why it matters: The city has about $67,000 left from a finite homelessness allocation, and the winter is forecast to be wet. This choice shapes shelter access, city costs and conditions for businesses near the site.
Where things stand: The current model is a weather-activated center at the former Greyhound depot on Mason Street. It opens four to six nights a year. It cost the city about $10,000 last year. Of $110,000 allocated, $42,800 has been spent.
Staff laid out three options:
- A full seasonal shelter, which staff did not recommend. Fairfield pays about $150,000 for its version.
- A hybrid with 59 guaranteed nights in January and February, at $37,000 to $57,000.
- Continued weather activation, at $14,000 to $20,000.
A survey showed high need, but no partner offered a facility.
"Staff is recommending that the city move forward with a competitive request for proposals for contracted warming center operations at the Greyhound Center," said Tamara Colden, Housing and Community Services Director.
The other side: Councilmember Ted Fremouw opposed an RFP. He cited a doubled homeless population, more rain and impacts on businesses. "I would say my vote is going to be to continue with the Weather Activated Warming Center the way that it is right now," he said.
Councilmember Roy Stockton worried about funding and the lack of the CREW outreach team. He warned that guaranteed hybrid nights could drain the reserve. "The money that we have right now is kind of like, in case of emergency, break glass," he said.
An online public commenter, Marion, came from the opposite direction. She said some council remarks put the budget ahead of unhoused residents' lives. She urged the city to open for whole stretches of bad weather so people can count on shelter.
Decisions and stakeholder impacts: The middle of the dais leaned toward testing the market. "I'm in strong favor of continuing with the current weather-triggered model and entertaining RFP to see if that in itself is more cost-effective versus the staff," said Vice Mayor Michael Silva. Councilmember Sarah Chapman backed an RFP with a hybrid pilot. "I'm in support of an RFP going out with that for a hybrid," she said.
Mayor John Carli also supported an RFP and floated a contracted 15-day trigger. "I'm in support of staff bringing an RFP for exploring both the hybrid and the weather trigger, because we can see both," he said.
Silva moved to continue weather-triggered operations and go out for an RFP, with other options also considered. No formal vote was taken. Staff said council direction was sufficient and that issuing an RFP would not commit the city to a contract.
Unhoused residents get no guaranteed nights this winter under the status quo. Nearby businesses avoid a longer-running operation, at least for now.
What's next: Staff expects to return Dec. 8.
Council Stays Neutral on Prop 1 Bond
Why it matters: The League of California Cities asked cities to back the Veterans and Affordable Housing Bond Act of 2026 about a week before the election. Vacaville's answer shows how this council applies its legislative platform to a measure already before voters.
Where things stand: The resolution was pulled from the consent calendar. "This was a request that was made from League of California Cities," said City Manager Savita Chaudhary. She noted that cities would receive bond funds if the measure passes.
A public commenter opposed any resolution. He called the $11 billion bond a waste and warned that taxpayers would carry any defaults.
The other side: Fremouw and Councilmember Gregory Ritchie II criticized how the bond was framed around veterans. "I think it's like 2,350, like 2,300 veterans would benefit out of $11 billion," Ritchie said. Chapman and Silva saw benefits for the city.
Councilmember Jeanette Wylie noted that most voters had likely already decided. "We just need to decide whether or not we want to send a resolution," she said. Carli used the item to discuss when the city should make exceptions to its legislative platform. "Being neutral doesn't mean that people can't vote for it," he said.
Decisions and stakeholder impacts: In this vote, "yes" meant not issuing a resolution. The motion passed. For: 5 (Carli, Stockton, Ritchie, Fremouw, Wylie). Against: 2 (Chapman, Silva). Absent: 0.
The city takes no formal position on the bond, but Vacaville could still receive funds if it passes. The vote also raises process questions about how the council handles future Cal Cities requests.
Housing Trust Fund Clears With No New Dollars
Why it matters: The fund gives the city a permanent account to pool loan repayments and donations. It can also be used to match state grants and to strengthen Vacaville's application for state pro-housing designation.
Where things stand: The fund carries out Housing Element Program HE-5B. A housing element is the state-required housing plan every city must adopt. The fund starts with about $2.9M in existing HOME recapture funds. It will also collect repayments from eligible multifamily loans, which have about $26M outstanding.
"It's not a new request for funding or new general fund dollars," Colden said. Creating the fund does not commit any money or change the council's approval of individual projects. Restrictions tied to each funding source still apply.
Councilmembers tested the fund's limits:
- Wylie asked whether it could support land banking.
- Chapman asked about unused funds and developer fees.
- Fremouw asked how much control state and federal agencies would keep.
Ritchie cast it as a path to homeownership. "This is where this trust fund will be so vital," he said. A public commenter called the fund versatile and useful for leveraging matching money.
Decisions and stakeholder impacts: The resolution passed on a voice vote. The tally was not announced. Affordable housing developers gain a local source of matching money, and the general fund is not touched.
What's next: Staff will return in the first quarter with ongoing funding options, such as fees.
Downtown District Wants Its 1999 Assessments Raised
Why it matters: Downtown business assessments have not changed since 1999. The district is seeking a roughly 150% realignment, which would hit downtown business owners directly.
Where things stand: LeAnne White, Executive Director of the Downtown Vacaville Business Improvement District, presented the mid-year report. She cited:
- More than 80,000 event visitors from January to September
- 5.6 million total visitors
- 4.5% sales tax growth, including a 20.8% rise in the fourth quarter of 2025
"Our current assessments generate only $50,000 to $60,000 a year, the same level set 27 years ago," White said. She added that membership is mandatory but not every business complies.
The district also asked for a seat at downtown planning tables and for city-branded wraps on trash cans. Carli supported the wraps. He steered the council away from debating fees, because the meeting had not been publicly noticed for that topic.
Decisions and stakeholder impacts: The council received and filed the report and took no action. Members asked about compliance, alternative membership models and partnerships.
What's next: The assessment request will return at a future meeting, with possible effects in 2027.
- State update: Lobbyist Jason Goncalves said AB 1751, which allows up to 150 townhome units per project by right, passed despite opposition from Vacaville and other cities. "You are the planning agency and you control the land use, but you don't build the housing," he told the council.
- Consent and agenda: The consent calendar passed on a voice vote, except Item 9C. Item 12D was postponed because a contract is still being negotiated.
- Honors: The council recognized 12 Fire Academy 2601 graduates and proclaimed Nov. 6, 2026, as Georgeanne Meggersmith Day for the retiring assistant city manager.
- Transit seat: Carli flagged that Vacaville pays for Solano Express service but has no seat on the SolTrans board that sets stops and costs.
- Public comment: Resident Chris Whitaker urged slower growth and a no vote on Prop 45. Another resident pressed the council to scrutinize spending.
Looking ahead: The warming center returns Dec. 8, and trust fund funding options come in the first quarter. The council's legislative committee is on hold until January. The meeting adjourned in memory of former City Attorney Jerry Holbrook, the city's longest-serving city attorney.