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9.B.2. PUBLIC DISCUSSION ITEM - HOMELESS REVIEW - <br />INDIAN RIVER HOMELESS SERVICES COUNCIL. INC. (LEASE AT <br />2525 ST. LUCIE AVENUE, VERO BEACH - HUD GRANT <br />APPLICATION - HIBISCUS MANOR, 720 4TH STREET) <br />The Board reviewed the backup provided. <br />Dick Van Mele, 781 George Street, Sebastian, advised that he is the current board president <br />of the Homeless Assistance Center, formerly referred to as the Coalition for the Homeless of Indian <br />' River County. He was asked by Richard A. Stark, vice chairman of the County's Homeless Task <br />Force, to read his letter because he could not be present in person. The letter refers to the approval <br />of a lease of 2525 St. Lucie Avenue to the Homeless Assistance Center. He had edited the letter with <br />the permission of the writer and proceeded to read it into the record. (CLERK'S NOTE: Mr. Stark's <br />letter is on file with the backup in the office of the Clerk to the Board.) <br />Mr. Van Mele stated that his purpose in reading Mr. Stark's letter was to ask for a motion <br />for adoption of the lease for the County's building at 2525 St. Lucie Avenue. <br />Commissioner Stanbridge advised that discussion of the lease went back to May 23"' and she <br />understood the pending lease was to be used as leverage in the HUD application. The Commissioners <br />did not have a copy of the application, only summaries, and when they indicated that they were not <br />comfortable with that lease being signed on that date, it was determined that a "pending lease" could <br />be added to the HUD application. The application was due to be submitted on May 31` and the <br />summaries were approved so the application process could begin with "pending" in the application. <br />The Board received a copy of the application on May 31' and it does not refer at all to a lease, <br />"pending" or otherwise, and makes no mention of leasing the building at 2525 St. Lucie Avenue. <br />Mr. Van Mele agreed she was correct. The whole concept of leasing that facility (at that <br />time) was to use it for transitional housing and supportive services. (Clerk's Note: The City of Vero <br />Beach Council met on May 2, 2000, and, from testimony, it appeared the proposed use of the <br />building would not be approved without extraordinary efforts.) Mr. Van Mele stated that the <br />application referred to the facility at 720 4d` Street (Hibiscus Manor) and since that time they have <br />July 18, 2000 <br />77 <br />