June 27, 2006
The Board of Commissioners of the City of
The Consent Agenda item regarding authorizing the continued participation in the Mid America Council of Public Purchasing for appropriate City vehicles purchases was deferred until July 11, 2006. (1)
RECOGNITION/PROCLAMATION/PRESENTATION:
With
Commission approval Mayor Amyx presented the Habitat for Humanity Bike and
Build program; proclaimed the week of June 25th to July 1st
as “CASA Week” and “Citizen Review Board Week.”
CONSENT AGENDA
As part of the consent agenda, it was moved by Schauner, seconded by Highberger to approve the City Commission meeting minutes of June 13, 2006. Motion carried unanimously.As part of the consent agenda, it was moved by Schauner, seconded by Highberger to receive the Parks & Recreation Advisory Board meeting minutes of May 9, 2006 and June 26, 2006; the Sister Cities Advisory Board meeting minutes of May 10, 2006; Historic Resources Commission meeting of May 18, 2006; Recycling and Resource Conservation Advisory Board meeting of May 10, 2006; the Mechanical Code Board of Appeals meeting of April 25, 2006; and Lawrence Memorial Hospital Board meeting of May 17, 2006. Motion carried unanimously. As part of the consent agenda, it was moved by Schauner, seconded by Highberger to approve claims to 417 vendors in the amount of $2,384,616.77 and payroll from June 11, 2006 to June 24, 2006, in the amount of $1,662,059.09. Motion carried unanimously.
As part of the consent agenda, it was moved by Schauner, seconded by Highberger to approve the Cereal Malt Beverage License (on-premise) for Imperial Garden Chinese Restaurant, 2907 West 6th Street
As part of the consent agenda, it was moved by Schauner, seconded by Highberger to concur with the recommendation of the Mayor and appoint Joseph Harkins to the Lawrence-Douglas County Metropolitan Planning Commission to a term which will expire on May 31, 2009. Motion carried unanimously.
As part of the
consent agenda, it was moved by Schauner,
seconded by Highberger to award the sole bid for maintenance service,
repair, labor and parts for the HVAC system for the Community Health Facility
to Chaney, Inc., in the amount of $19,500.
Motion carried unanimously. (2)
The
BIDDER BID AMOUNT
Pump and Power Equipment, Inc. $31,960.00
Douglas Pump Service, Inc. $33,558.00
As part of the
consent agenda, it was moved by Schauner,
seconded by Highberger to award the bid from Pump and Power Inc. in the
amount of $31,960.00. Motion carried
unanimously. (3)
As
part of the consent agenda, it was moved
by Schauner, seconded by Highberger to authorize the Administrative
Services Department to renew coverage provided by Emergency Services Insurance
Program (ESIP) for emergency vehicles, general liability, management liability,
and portable equipment for the Fire/Medical Department for the period of July
1, 2006 to July 1, 2007 for an estimated premium of $68,229; and, renew
coverage provided by Affiliated FM for the City’s building/property coverage
for the period of July 1, 2006 to July 1, 2007 for an estimated annual premium
of $124,000. Motion carried unanimously. (4)
The
BIDDER BID AMOUNT
Goddard & Sons Roofing Co, Inc $18,850.00
Delta Innovative Services, Inc. $21,529.00
Premier Contracting, Inc. $27,740.00
Boone Brothers Roofing $31,310.00
As part of the
consent agenda, it was moved by
Schauner, seconded by Highberger to award the bid to Goddard & Sons
Roofing Co., Inc., in the amount of $18,850.00.
Motion carried unanimously. (5)
As
part of the consent agenda, it was moved
by Schauner, seconded by Highberger to place on first reading, Ordinance
No. 7993, rezoning (Z-06-40-05) approximately 37.580 acres from A (Agricultural
District) to RS-2 (Single-Family
Residence District), property generally described as being located south of
East 23rd Street/K-10 Highway between O’Connell Road and Franklin
Road. Motion carried unanimously. (6)
As part of the
consent agenda, it was moved by
Schauner, seconded by Highberger to place on first reading Ordinance No. 7994,
rezoning (Z-06-38-05) 35.211 acres from A (Agricultural District) to RM-D
(Duplex-Residential District) property generally described as being located
south of East 23rd Street/K-10 Highway between O’Connell Road and
Franklin Road. Motion carried
unanimously. (7)
As part of the consent agenda it was moved by Schauner, seconded by Highberger to place on first
reading Ordinance No. 8010, rezoning (Z-03-07-06] 4.6 acres from M-2 (General
Industrial District) to O-1 (Office District), property generally described as
being located west of Haskell Avenue, and south of East 20th Street
(2001 Haskell Avenue). Motion carried
unanimously. (8)
As part of the consent agenda it was moved by Schauner, seconded by Highberger to place on first
reading Ordinance No. 8011, rezoning (Z-04-09-06) .28 acres from RO-1 (Residence-Office
District) to RM-3 (Multiple-Family Residence District), property generally
described as being located at 640 Arkansas.
Motion carried unanimously. (9)
Ordinance No. 7880, adopting the codification of ordinances of the City of Lawrence, Kansas as authorized by Ordinance 7879, was read a second time. As part of the consent agenda, it was moved by Schauner, seconded by Highberger to adopt the ordinance. Aye: Amyx, Hack, Highberger, Rundle, and Schauner. Nay: None. Motion carried unanimously.
(10)
Ordinance No. 8013, TA-03-02A-06, a table of clarifying text/corrections to clean up the November 11, 2005 Edition prior to the July 1, 2006 effective date, was read a second time. As part of the consent agenda, it was moved by Schauner, seconded by Highberger to adopt the ordinance. Aye: Amyx, Hack, Highberger, Rundle, and Schauner. Nay: None. Motion carried unanimously. (11)
Ordinance No. 8014, TA-03-02B-06, Section 20-205, proposed revisions to the purpose statement for the new RMG, Multiple-dwelling Residential-Greek Housing District and to clarify that conversion of Greek Housing to other uses deemed to be compatible with adjacent residential development are permitted through a special use permit for Adaptive Reuse, was read a second time. As part of the consent agenda, it was moved by Schauner, seconded by Highberger to adopt the ordinance. Aye: Amyx, Hack, Highberger, Rundle, and Schauner. Nay: None. Motion carried unanimously. (12)
Ordinance No. 8015, TA-03-02C-06, Section 20-403, currently permits the development of Retail Establishments, Large in the CS, Commercial Strip District. Public comment has indicated concerns regarding the potential redevelopment of CS properties with big box stores as permitted use in this district, was read a second time. As part of the consent agenda, it was moved by Schauner, seconded by Highberger to adopt the ordinance. Aye: Amyx, Hack, Highberger, Rundle, and Schauner. Nay: None. Motion carried unanimously. (13)
Ordinance No. 8016, TA-03-02E-06, proposed revisions to Article 7, Planned Developments, was read a second time. As part of the consent agenda, it was moved by Schauner, seconded by Highberger to adopt the ordinance. Aye: Amyx, Hack, Highberger, Rundle, and Schauner. Nay: None. Motion carried unanimously. (14)
Ordinance No. 8017, TA-03-02F-06, proposed revisions to 20-1304 regarding the criteria for Major Changes to Final Development Plans, was read a second time. As part of the consent agenda, it was moved by Schauner, seconded by Highberger to adopt the ordinance. Aye: Amyx, Hack, Highberger, Rundle, and Schauner. Nay: None. Motion carried unanimously.(15)
Ordinance No. 8018, TA-03-02H-06, proposed revisions to 20-1304 regarding the criteria for Major Changes to Final Development Plans, was read a second time. As part of the consent agenda, it was moved by Schauner, seconded by Highberger to adopt the ordinance. Aye: Amyx, Hack, Highberger, Rundle, and Schauner. Nay: None. Motion carried unanimously. (16)
Ordinance No. 8019, TA-03-02I-06, amendment to 20-1739 to identify additional uses permitted in the Manufacturing and Production, limited category to address public comment received at the February 22nd meeting, was read a second time. As part of the consent agenda, it was moved by Schauner, seconded by Highberger to adopt the ordinance. Aye: Amyx, Hack, Highberger, Rundle, and Schauner. Nay: None. Motion carried unanimously. (17)
As part of the consent agenda, it was moved by Schauner, seconded by Highberger to adopt
Resolution No. 6657, declaring
As part of the consent agenda it was moved by Schauner, seconded by Highberger to adopt
Resolution No. 6658, declaring
As part of the consent agenda it was moved by Schauner,
seconded by Highberger to adopt Resolution No. 6659, declaring
As
part of the consent agenda, it was moved
by Schauner, seconded by Highberger to concur with the Planning
Commission’s recommendations to approve the Final Plat (PF-04-07-06) for Yankee
Tank View Addition 2nd Plat, a replat of approximately 125.189 acres,
located at
1. Execution of an agreement not to protest the
formation of a benefit district for future street or sidewalk improvements for
2. Provision of a revised Master Street
Tree Plan with the following changes:
a. List the required number of trees
required for the future Olympic Drive extension.
b. Correct name of plat on MSTP to ‘Yankee
Tank View Addition 2nd Plat”
c. Correct the botanical names of the
species as follows: Norway Maple—Acer platanoides ‘Summershade’; Sugar
Maple—“Acer saccharum ‘Legacy’; and Pacific Sunset Maple is Acer truncatem x
platanoides.
3. Provision of the following revisions to
the final plat:
a. Standard road
right-of-way on the plat for the extension of Olympic Drive to the City park to
the north.
b. Show unnecessary
easements as vacated or remove from the plan. The utility easements on the rear
and west property line of the northern portion of the property previously
platted as Lot 2A, The Landing are no longer necessary and should be shown as
vacated or deleted from the plan.
c. Utility easement
provided along the rear and side perimeter of the property.
d. Minimum area and elevation of
existing buildings must be shown.
e. Section, township and
range must be corrected on the plat to SW ¼, Sec. 4-T13S-R19E
4. Submission of public improvement plans
prior to the recording of the Final Plat with the Register of Deeds Office.
5. Provision
of the following fees and recording documentation:
a. Recording fees made payable to the
Douglas County Register of Deeds;
b. Provision of a revised
master street tree plan. The species list on the master street tree plan must
be completed and the legal description changed to: ‘Yankee Tank View Addition 2nd
Plat’.
Motion carried
unanimously. (21)
As
part of the consent agenda, it was moved
by Schauner, seconded by Highberger to receive the staff update on the
status of the taxiway project for the
CITY MANAGER’S REPORT:
During
the City Manager’s Report Commissioner Schauner asked about the issue of mail
delivery to some of the residents on
Chuck
Soules, Public Works Director, said there was a box placed in an area where
residents could pull off of Kasold to pick up their mail. He said the difficult area was on the east
side of Kasold because traffic was stopped when mail was delivered, but staff
was trying to provide a safe area for the residents.
David
Corliss, Interim City Manager/Legal Services Director, said staff had discussed
with the mail service several options to alleviate the problem, however,
providing that box was the best resolution, although inconvenient.
Soules
said concerning trash pick-up either one of the contractors or staff would
handle the issue of trash pick-up so that area residences could keep the trash
at their curbs. (23)
REGULAR AGENDA ITEMS:
Receive report from Lawrence Memorial
Hospital regarding expansion plans.
Consider adopting Ordinance No. 8020 to refinance bonds and authorize
the issuance of $35 million in new monies.
Joe Flannery, Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees at Lawrence Memorial Hospital, said they were asking the City Commission to authorize the issuance of $35 million dollars in new hospital revenue bonds plus refinancing $15 million dollars in existing bonds for the purpose of constructing and equipping a new energy center, a new patient tower which would allow them to convert patient rooms to all private, a new emergency department, an additional 6 other rooms in the new surgery center.
He said
The expansion of the hospital would be necessary to keep pace with the demands of the community and respond with services and staff as appropriate. They remain committed to provide the highest quality health care to the area’s patients.
Commissioner Rundle said if there were any slight changes by the Planning Commission would those changes impact the bond issue.
Flannery said they would not. He said depending on what the Planning Commission decided, this bond request was different.
Mayor Amyx asked if a vacation of a roadway and several other items would not cause the amount to change.
Flannery said that was correct.
Commissioner
Schauner said one possible change would be in lieu of vacating that block of
Flannery said it was a fair statement because any changes as far as that parking structure, they would take out of their existing funds.
Mayor Amyx called for public comment.
Commissioner
Rundle asked
Stogsdill said at the Planning Commission meeting there were two items related to the hospital on their agenda which was the revision to the master plan and the final plat. The revision to the master plan was deferred to the July meeting so they could try and work further with the hospital representatives. The project had been moving at a rapid pace and they had changed the plan to respond to comments. There were some neighbors who felt they were not fully informed as to what the latest plans were and therefore, they would be working with the hospital staff to schedule a neighborhood meeting to try and resolve any unanswered questions for the July agenda.
The Planning Commission approved the final plat which would permit the vacation of that right-of-way. Staff did not have a problem with the vacation, but whether the circulation path would remain open and that was what they were working on in terms of the design. The Planning Commission felt that having an overall footprint for the hospital staff to work with in terms of how the circulation was redesigned within that footprint would allow things to move along the path that hopefully would still permit some parking to be built later this year so there would be a staging area available when the tower expansion begins in the fall.
Commissioner
Rundle said if there were any easements added such as tying down the use of
abandoned
Stogsdill said the final plat was conditioned and needed to show access easements with a number of other conditions. If there were additional easements needed after the plat was filed, those could be provided through a separate written instrument recorded at the Register of Deeds.
Commissioner
Schauner said in part those conditions were designed to assure appropriate
ingress and egress to those folks who lived north of the vacated portion of
Stogsdill said she was not certain that point had been fully determined, but there would be ingress and egress through the property and whether it would go straight through was somewhat dependent on the redesign.
Mayor Amyx asked if they were going to turn a parking lot into a city street or vice versa.
Stogsdill said yes. By vacating, it allowed the layout of the parking lot to not be required to have the setbacks that was needed when adjacent to right of way. It provided more flexibility in how the parking area would be laid out and one of the issues to nail down would be exactly what that circulation path should be.
Commissioner Schauner asked if it was one of the topics to be addressed with the neighbors at the proposed unscheduled meeting.
Stogsdill said yes. Staff could delay bringing the final plat to City Commission for acceptance of easements and rights-of-way until after they had that meeting. Normally, those plats come to the City Commission two weeks after the Planning Commission, but staff could hold the final plat and place it on the City Commission agenda when staff felt they had addressed most of those other issues.
David Corliss,
Interim City Manager, Legal Services Director, said he wanted to make sure the City
Commission understood the nature of debt financing. He said the way the hospital issued debt was
with industrial revenue bonds. He said
it was not the debt of the City of
Commissioner Schauner said the issuance of the bond did not affect the City’s credit worthiness or capacity to borrow money.
Corliss said that was correct.
Mayor Amyx
said he knew the hospital had been working toward some plans of expansion to
work in today’s market. He said as a
community owned hospital, he hoped the hospital board would take it upon
themselves to discuss mental health possibilities. He said when it came to health care, not only
in
Commissioner Rundle said, echoing on that note, it would be a partnership effort. He said the Mayor, Bert Nash, and other interested parties needed to figure out what it would take for the possibility of a mental health facility.
Commissioner Schauner said he wanted to make sure that not only did the hospital retain its competitive place in the market, but also that they did not at the same time, overlook the fact that people did live in that neighborhood and they were going to be impacted on a regular basis by the growth of that hospital. He said when he lived in another city, the hospitals were in a competitive war to acquire property and the neighbors suffered significantly. He was not suggesting that was the case, but suggested that Flannery carry back his message that the hospital continue to be good neighbors. He said he was particularly concerned about access and ingress and egress to those neighbors north of the proposed new parking lot.
Flannery said mental health was a big concern of the hospital. The Task Force on Mental Health was scheduled to release their report this Friday. The hospital also provided the crisis stabilization service and they hoped with the expansion, they could also enlarge that service. They monitor that usage every month and it was something they were also concerned about and he would take those comments back to the board.
Mayor Amyx said at a meeting that was held with the board in May, he appreciated the update on the number of people LMH had helped and asked Flannery to keep the City Commission updated on information the board received and the committee’s plan. He wanted to make sure they were providing health care to individuals who needed it and to handle situations as they developed.
Flannery said they would continue to work closely with Bert Nash because this was their community and they wanted to make sure this issue was covered because it was important.
Moved by Schauner, seconded by Rundle,
to place on first reading, Ordinance No. 8020, authorizing the issuance of
not-to-exceed $56,000,000 aggregate principal amount of Hospital Revenue Bonds,
Series 2006 (Lawrence Memorial Hospital) to provide funds to refund and redeem
certain outstanding City of Lawrence, Kansas Hospital Revenue Bonds issued for
the benefit of Lawrence Memorial Hospital, to finance an additional project for
Lawrence Memorial Hospital, to fund a debt service reserve fund for the bonds
and to pay the cost of issuing the bonds; an authorizing and approving certain
documents and actions in connection with the issuance of bonds. Motion carried unanimously. (24)
Receive proposal and request from
David
Corliss, Interim City Manager/Legal Services Director, said Loring Henderson from
the Lawrence Community Shelter provided the proposal and indicated that time
critical issues were at hand as far as their view of this property and
therefore, he placed it on the City Commission agenda for consideration. He said staff had not contacted area property
owners, had not engaged in any land use review of this property, and had not done
any type of review of the structure of the property itself. Staff was awaiting City Commission direction,
but staff had not done anything other than respond to
Commissioner
Schauner said he knew the City’s boundaries were jagged along
Corliss said correct.
Mayor Amyx said if the Lawrence Community Shelter came up with the sale price of property, he asked if it would need to be considered as a use permit.
Corliss said that was correct. It would require a Use Permit Upon Review.
Mayor Amyx said if the City participated, he asked what kind of position it would put the City in as far as conflicts.
Corliss said it would not place the City in legal conflict, but it was somewhat analogous to the last item which they discussed a city hospital that was going through land use reviews as far as the master plan and plat. The City owned the property with the hospital and was being asked to look at the plat of the property as well. Traditionally, they had not tried to separate themselves from making land use decisions on their own property. In this case, a number of those details had not begun to be worked out worked as to whether or not the City would have any property interest in this property or whether Lawrence Community Shelter would continue to function as they do now as a vendor, a provider of services, that received some money from the public through the City. The City traditionally had not tried to separate itself, but to recognize the City had different roles, a role as a service provider and a role of a land use regulator.
Loring
Henderson, Director of the Lawrence Community Shelter (LCS), presented the request. He said they were asking for assistance from
the City to support the next step in LCS’s initiative to relocate from 10th
and
He said it
was a special opening for the City and the people working on homelessness to
show their commitment in reducing homelessness in
The possibility for relocation did several things which were:
1. Responded to the request of neighbors in the Oread Neighborhood and downtown business areas for LCS to move;
2. Took LCS out of downtown; and
3. Overcame limitations of the current building that was small and crowded, not fully accessible, and inadequate for programs.
He said the
surreal location would help meet the requirements of the Mayor’s taskforce in
human services and planning which was approved by the City Commission about a
year ago and had been a guide for helping the issue of homelessness in
The relocation opportunity addresses the bond with the community. The Lawrence Community Shelter currently slept 20 plus people per night. The Salvation Army slept 50 plus people per night. The Salvation Army was looking to relocate sometime in the next two years, but at any rate, at the point the Salvation Army relocated, they were not going to do any emergency shelter and were going to be a transitional shelter. The people who were in need of an emergency shelter and all of those members will come to the Lawrence Community Shelter and it was impossible to think about putting any more people in their building. It was an unfortunate position that they were in, but they had to be ready at the same time the Salvation Army was ready, because when they move they would stop.
He said the Lakeview Manor was closed suddenly and they had been discussing, with the owner, the possibility of buying the property. They did not have a contract and were still in discussions. The asking price was $2 million, but that was not necessarily the final negotiated price.
The potential move had support of resolutions passed by the Community Commission on Homelessness and the Coalition for Homeless Concerns. He said they were excited because Lakeview Manor features 100 sleeping spaces. If they bought this building, all of the beds and telephone system would convey with the building, the building was fully sprinkled, and a commercial kitchen and dining room was available that seated 100 people with tables and chairs. Also, the roof was 5 years old, the building was fully handicapped accessible, and there was 7 acres of land. He said the purchase of that property would be a great opportunity because it would be almost a turn key, although he could not say for certain because no inspections had been completed on that property yet. Although, the layout of the building was one that would be immediately suitable to their programs and to the current and future need for the City.
Lakeview Manor allowed for the enhancement of their current programs. It allowed for better collaboration with agencies through better co-location. They currently had DCCCA, Bert Nash, Kansas Legal Services, a chiropractor, a nurse practitioner, an arts therapy program, and AA meetings. All those things were going on at the shelter and there was not enough room. The representatives from Bert Nash and attorneys from Kansas Legal Services did not have privacy, which would be something they could improve with the additional space.
He said the owner of building stated that if he did not sell it to someone like them, the owner would put it on the market. The property was not going to sit there for years waiting for them to be in a better position. He planned to take what they were currently doing and move everything into Lakeview Manor. While the Salvation Army was finishing up its construction and preparation for refocusing its program, they would be evolving, but not instantly from 20 to 100 people and it would not be for new, additional homeless people.
The Director of the Topeka Rescue Mission had agreed to be a program advisor to work with Lawrence Community Shelter as they evolved their programs in the new space. He said the Topeka Rescue Mission had a number of the same agencies, such as Kansas Legal Services. He said that Director had 20 years of experience that he could bring to the discussion.
The new building would give them better control of guests. It would allow them to have tiered programs. Right now they just have an emergency facility. He said the facility would give them a chance to have an emergency space, but as people start to commit to programs, goals, working with case managers, they could then have more privacy and an identity that would give them some goals to work further on. It would give them better segregation of genders and emergency shelter for families with children. There were three wings of the building that could help with the separation of genders and individual adults from children. It would possibly allow for infirmary space because they occasionally had people who had serious illnesses. It was possible that they would also have a detoxification space and possibility of transitional housing.
He said this week they were moving four people from the Lawrence Community Shelter into housing, which was a big achievement for those people and the LCS. If they had a separate wing, it would give them an opportunity to separate and to rent rooms with space to people who were disabled and had Social Security income and establish those habits before moving out into the general market.
He said he
knew there were people present from the neighborhood and he knew there were
going to be neighborhood complaints. It
seemed with the buffer of 7 acres of land and very few immediate houses; it
would be very different from the situation they had with Oread
Neighborhood. This was about as good a
situation they could find in
He said the
case managers were in place and working.
Piece by piece, as a community, they were beginning to deal with
homelessness. The HMIS system was in
place to collect data and most agencies were online with that system and
everyone would be receiving better data about the demographics of homelessness
in
Mayor Amyx said through the pledges that were made in this budget and previous years, they had made great commitments in helping people who were in a homeless situation. He said as for this facility, he asked how the facility would be paid for, how long would the process take, and how would they pay back a $50,000 loan.
The initial proposal they made to the owner was for 7 months of time to sort through the paperwork, which had not been accepted. He said $50,000 was not a figure the owner suggested, but a figure he came up with. He said it was an arbitrary figure, but one that was high enough to make the owner interested and low enough that without embarrassment, he could ask for that kind of help. He said in other situations, people had mentioned that 10% was a typical percentage of earnest money, which was $200,000 which was way out of line.
Mayor Amyx
asked what
Commissioner Rundle said he assumed with this type of facility, programs would change so the LCS would not turn people out into the streets everyday and this would be actually housing.
Commissioner Schauner asked if the $50,000 was intended to be used as escrow money against an agreed upon purchase price.
Henderson said he supposed that was the correct terminology, but he wanted to give the owner some money to hold and not sell that property to someone else as they were scheduling inspections, going through the UPR process, and fundraising.
Commissioner
Schauner asked if it was
Commissioner Schauner asked if the owner was willing to hold the property for an agreed upon period of time with $50,000 earnest money that would be returned to him after that period of time and there had been no ability to raise sufficient funds.
Henderson said they actually proposed two trigger points. One was the sense of the fundraising was going well or not and the UPR site plan process if it looked like that was not going to happen and they could still get their money back.
Commissioner
Schauner said in looking at Henderson’s correspondence to the City Commission
about this issue, Henderson indicated utilities were approximately $70,000 a
year, the property taxes, unless exempted, were about $14,000, and there were
no insurance or maintenance costs for the building. He asked if
Henderson said that was his general level of thinking. He did not have specific figures that were based on inspections of that building.
Mayor Amyx asked if the $50,000 of earnest money that would be held up to hold the property for the agreed upon period of time would go to the owner if the obligation was not met.
Commissioner
Schauner said he heard that if the LCS was unable to raise sufficient funds to
make a final purchase, the initial proposal to the owner had been that the
$50,000 escrow fee would be returned to
Henderson said yes.
Commissioner Schauner said his lack of understanding was why the owner would need any escrow money if he was going to return that money after some period of time. He said every time he had tried to complete a real estate transaction, it had been his expectation that if he did not close on the purchase, the escrow money was lost.
Commissioner
Rundle said
Commissioner
Schauner asked
Commissioner
Highberger asked
Mayor Amyx said their question was whether or not the City Commission asked LCS, as a private vendor, to give the City a site or this facility to take care of what might be a responsibility of the City and whether it was the responsibility of the City to come up with a plan for the location of the facility, level of service, and the number of individuals they might possibly afford. He said they could not allow the building size available today or six months from now to dictate what the programs were going to be. He thought that was the City Commission’s responsibility along with the Community Commission on Homelessness.
Commissioner Highberger asked Stogsdill to summarize the zoning and the surrounding land uses.
There was a
small portion of flood plain along the southeast corner of the property. The buildings and parking lot did not appear
to be in the flood plain. The property
to the east was also zoned RS-1. The property directly to the north was a home
in the City and also zoned A. The
property to the west was not in the City limits, and also zoned A. Across
Mayor Amyx said the item before the City Commission was whether or not the Commission would participate in the request of $50,000 for earnest money or loan. He said they needed to be very careful on whether they were to consider this as a use permit or special zoning. He wanted to caution the City Commission in that the only item they were considering was whether or not they, as a body, were going to participate financially in this facility.
Mayor Amyx called for public comment.
Bruce
Levine,
Ann
Marshall-Levine,
She said they
lived on the corner of
1.
How many homeless people, on average, were in
2. Was it a good idea to place such a large number as 100 people in one facility in one part of the City.
3. Would this be a place to sleep only or would the facility be closed during the day, or would there be daytime treatment and training programs or even the opportunity to stay inside if it was raining or cold.
4. Among homeless people, she had read as many as one third were probably mentally ill and asked if they would be mixed in with the drug and/or alcohol addicted and the merely indigent. She said it seemed like a step backward to the old county homes in the past in which the mental health community worked very hard to change in the 1950’s.
5. If a residential drug rehabilitation program was to be part of this facility.
6. How much preplanning, if any, on how this building would be used or was it a leap to purchase a building that suddenly became available due to the closing of a nursing home.
7. Has there been an attempt to study the impact of such a facility housing 100 or so clients, on local property values, crime rates, and the general safety of residents in the neighborhood and their children.
She said in this particular area where she lived, it was very common for individuals to walk alone or in couples either very early in the morning or quite late into the evening. She said they might find people out walking before dawn or after dark. She asked if there was a safety concern when the facility opened and if that practice would need to change.
She said
the City had the walking/bike trail that went right behind that building on the
other side of the pond and the City needed to post signs warning people not to
walk alone. Having lived in
She restated in closing that they were not opposed to the development of residential treatment facilities for the homeless, but they were leaning towards smaller facilities scattered around the city designed to meet the needs of the various subgroups that the homeless represent. She said they would accept a small facility in their area if they could be assured that it would be beneficial to the homeless and meet concerns of the residents in the neighborhood.
Jane Fabian, Chair Community Commission on Homelessness, said the Commmunity Commission grew out of the original Task Force on Homelessness initiated by Mayor Dunfield, and as most of them knew there were a body of recommendations that came out of three years of work, done by the task force, the Representative Plan on Homelessness as well as recommendations that took into account the number of gaps in their services currently.
The Task Force created the Community Commission on Homelessness, (CCH) and was tasked with implementing that plan and with trying to coordinate the multiple services that were currently available to the homeless that might not be looked upon as particularly coordinated at the present time. She wanted to go on record to say that the CCH absolutely supported the LCS’s initiative to raise money to look further into finding a new location.
One of the cornerstones of any homeless plan had to be safe, decent housing, emergency shelter for anyone in need, and she challenged anyone to go down and spend any time at the current shelter and come away feeling it was safe, humane, decent, or therapeutic at all, with individuals having to sleep shoulder to shoulder on mats at night. She was very happy to hear concerns brought up about the mentally ill and those needing detoxification from substance abuse. The way it stood, the only shelter in town, with 21 beds, did not segregate any of those individuals.
The opportunity that fell into their laps would offer an amazing opportunity for expansion of programs, etc. There were a lot of details to be worked out, but it was important for them to know that this was very consistent with the emergency shelter domain of the task force recommendations.
Wesley
Dahlberg, Lawrence Salvation Army
It was important that LCS have a facility that would allow them to house sufficient numbers of people in such a way that would allow them to have a clean, wholesome place to live rather than sleeping on a two inch mat on the floor. He did not think anyone wanted to see that continue. He supported LCS and the idea and opportunity that had come before the City Commission and hoped they would assist the LCS to take the next step to better serve the homeless population.
Susan
Cardin,