City Council President Stacy Head wants to know what the city is doing about, what she calls, homeless snowbirds - people who spend the winter months in the city to escape cold weather up north, then leave to escape the city's hot summers.

The issue came up Monday as a council committee heard a presentation on the city's plan to reduce homelessness.

Head says homelessness appears to be a lifestyle choice with this group of homeless people, who typically hang out in the CBD and the French Quarter.

"The negatives they bring are too costly for our city to bear, particularly the small parts of the city that are having to bear those costs," Head said.

Head also expressed concerns about a sizable number of homeless who've been camping out under the Pontchartrain Expressway, generally between Camp and LaSalle Streets.

In response, the city's point person on homelessness, Stacy Koch, said, "We are currently working diligently with the city's attorney's office, and Mr. (Cedric) Grant is currently working with the state to get site control in order to fence the area."