County will let city decide on shelter

BURBANK — If an armory intended to shelter the homeless is not approved for that purpose at next week’s City Council meeting, Los Angeles County officials said they will not stand in Burbank’s way, despite the fact that the state is mandated to make armories available when such facilities are needed.

County and local officials met Tuesday to discuss using the Burbank National Guard Armory for a temporary winter shelter to house the area’s homeless population, in the wake of news that Glendale’s armory must close for repairs.

On Oct. 29, officials announced that the Glendale facility on Colorado Street will be closed for maintenance and construction from Dec. 1 to March 15 at a time when many homeless people seek shelter during the cold winter months.

If the council votes against using the armory as a shelter, there might not be another option for the area’s homeless population, said Dave Martel, a contract manager for the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority.

“We hope the council takes a positive position,” he said. “We don’t have another alternative. If it’s not approved, there won’t be a shelter in this area.”

Los Angeles officials said they have no desire to go over Burbank’s head trying to enforce the issue.

“Supervisor [Michael] Antonovich supports whatever the city wants,” said Helen Berberian, Antonovich’s deputy. “We won’t do anything over the city’s objections. We are going to let the process do what it does.”

Because of its proximity to Glendale, Burbank’s armory was chosen as the next best option, but officials are concerned that safety issues could arise from the proposed shelter close to Pacific Park and Providencia Elementary School. The plan would entail busing in homeless people from Glendale to the Burbank center at 6 p.m., where they would stay the night before returning to Glendale at 6 a.m., Martel said

The armory, at 3800 Valhalla St., would be staffed by authority officials and supervised by the National Guard, who would impress upon those staying in the shelter that their residency is contingent upon them not leaving. But any limitations on transient movement will not involve personal restrictions, he said.