Everett Council of Neighborhoods

Council of Neighborhoods Meeting Minutes July 28, 2014 Meeting was called to order at 4:06pm. Agenda was approved. Minutes of the previous meeting were tabled for review in September. Citizen Comments: Mayor Stephanson: Mayor announced music series is under way, music at the fountain, Word on the Street runs through next week, out on street right now. Street tunes will roll out on August 6. Riverfront residential portion has been transferred to William Lions Homes. Hampton Inn opens at the end of the month. Marriott Hotel starting soon, prep work to start in 30-45 days. A number of citizens have commented on Bond Street Closure about the public access at that location. Burlington Northern abruptly closed access as a result of safety concerns. California bridge overpass is access route for now. Having community access is community priority and he will continue to push for that. Started community streets initiative last week with first meeting of several community leaders and lots of observers were present. Has to do with increasing number of homeless on streets, some acting out, with substance abuse or undesirable personal habits. Desire to help the homeless, but issues are complicated, seeking to understand the issues, develop understanding and plan, feeling impact on streets downtown, at library, transit center. Meeting every other Thursday, 3-6pm, next meeting August 7th, at Weyerhaeuser Room. Stay tuned, trying to find good solutions to solve this issue. Most every community in state and many across the country face. Have help from police, planning and other staff to help task force develop recommendations. Question – George Lockeman – totally impressed with first session, excellent information. Mayor responded that effort is to develop common level of understanding before taking action. Need to be very thoughtful about steps to take. Tom attended and commented that members were very professional, good presentations and capable facilitator. Mayor responded that there is a lot of skepticism, distrust about task force. Andrea thanked Mayor for pursuing KC topsoil coverage for the KC plant site. Colleen asked about Mill Bank and whether that is part of the KC site. Not sure about whether that is part of site or not. Steve asked about Wiggums Hollow bathrooms repair. Staff will follow up Michael commeneted on card City Council Liaison: City Reports: Evergreen Library Update - changes in city budget as a result Started with SDAT process with city employees to work through solutions to budget issue. Several ideas came forward, including related to the library Merge with Sno-Isle Cut outreach services Library specific library Early in 2013, two staff announced they were planning to retire. Because of SDAT process, we were told not to take action until after process. After SDAT process, the city said library needed to cut $200,000 to help with budget crisis. All departments have had similar reductions so this is not unique to the library. But Eileen is speaking about the library. 17% reduction in personnel since 2014 No reduction in hours. New technologies and more public computers add to librarian’s workload. Takes staff to make things happen. Librarians have been learning about social media, need more and better ways to spread the word. Blogs, email newsletters, digital NW history collections, higher program expectations. Total Library budget is just over $5 million. Personnel is 82% of budget. Materials budget (12%) used to be over $700,000. Reduced by $100,000. Other is security guard service, public internet, Wi-Fi, copiers, etc. Supplies 2% covers paper, CDs, etc. Cutting $200,000 would require either one third of materials account, or approx. 3 staff members, or entire operations budget plus $10,000. Library board and staff teams identified top priorities: Excellent service, good collections, open hours for two buildings, maintenance of facilities No easy answers – all services are valued by the people who receive them. Outreach Services: Van Service to adult family homes and preschools and day cares Staffed by two staff, one of whom retired. Board evaluated board service and number of people reached. Outreach 35,000 items, buildings served over 1million items. Cost per circulation – Outreach services are high touch services - $6 per item Building circulation cost is $1.31 We value all the services we provide, each service has customers who value the service. As population ages, there will be many more people who need services, not possible to provide services. Board made the decision to end current model of outreach. Develop most vulnerable, place bound residents. Maybe be a combination of books by mail, family friends and neighbors. Developing ideas at this stage. Reducing staff by 2.7 FTE saves $200,000. Net loss of one librarian. Now find ourselves with out cutting hours at both locations. In process of winding down outreach services, limited book mobile services. Outreach librarian will come into the building to work. New hours at libnary, starting day after Labor Day. Main branch -- M-W 10am – 8pm, Thurs/Fri 10 – 6pm Sat 10-5pm, Sun 1-5pm Evergreen – Mon 10-6pm Tu/Wed 12 – 8 Thur Fri 10-6pm Sat 10-5pm Sun closed Question – Tim asked about foundation to contribute to library. Greater Everett Community Foundation, endowments for EPL, Friends of Library endowment. And Friends of library 501©3. Raises money for the library special events, book awards for summer reading program. Question about appealing to public to provide services if enough donations came in. George asked about funds received from donations, Eileen said they spend only the interest, not principal from funds at the foundation. Interest was about $25,000 from endowment. Will continue to explore technology, digital tech, may change how we deliver services. Victor asked about levy process, and length of time to get on ballot. Steve asked about percent of collection that could be switched over to digitized collection. Could private entities sponsor digitizing of books? Eileen was not optimistic Elly commented she is amazed at library and closure of library on Sundays. Makes more sense to keep main library open. Question about late fees? City does charge for CDs. Chief Dan Templeman , new police chiref. He has a long history working with neighborhoods. Introduced himself and shared info on some items coming up. In department for 22 years has held many positions throughout the department over the years. As captain, worked in investigations unit, commander for SMART team, spent a year in administrative roles and has been deputy chief over patrol and special units. H Has had opportunity to work with neighborhoods and he is committed to working with neighborhoods. He presented info on Strategic Plan, mission statement to enhance quality of life, reduce crime, promote public safety. He discussed community streets initiative and issues related to addressing these issues. Will take community working together to come up with solutions that will address long term issues. We cannot arrest our way out of issues, revolving through jail system. Staffing police department, have great support from city – have lost of few non uniformed positions. Many retirements lately, several more people, can’t find qualified people to meet standards of police department. Backgrounds of applicants indicate changes in city, will not lower standards to fill positions. Responding to calls is more challenging for non priority calls in terms of response time. Looking at staffing, where recruiting, how we are recruiting. Looking forward to getting out to all the neighborhoods. Dennis asked about mental health beds at Providence Hospital being added. Police is not directly involved in that, but he supports countywide addition of services to take people who need services. Andrea asked about releasing people from jail at midnight. Sherriff is part of Everett Streets Initiative. From logistical perspective, the jail tries to stagger releases. Out of county contracts have been cancelled within last month. Dan is engaging Sheriff on dialogue about late night releases. Have discussed late night releases. Question about recreational marijuana and enforcement impacts. Dan said true impacts is yet to be seen, impact on kids of concern, given social cocnerns. Animal Shelter – Shannon Johnson described animal services and began describing new shelter. Nineteen thousand square feet. Open admission shelter, cannot decline taking in animals. Other shelters do adoptions are rescue groups, non-profit shelters and do not take animals on wait list. At Everett Animal Shelter, take in sick animals, behaviorally challenged. Closed major holidays, open 7 days a week. 24/7 access to contracting agencies, such as Snohomish County, Mill Creek, Lynnwood, etc. Animal control from those cities can take animals to shelter 24/7. Services include adoption, licensing, rescue, and search for rescues in community to take animals which need special care. Have own clinic to do spay and neuter in house, vaccinations, rabies, bordatella, etc. $500- 700 value. Have three animal control officers, lost positions due to retirement, not able to replace some positions. Provide evidence preservation, house animal pending court action, have to account for every shelter area where animal goes, and people who handle animal keep accurate records. Provide expert testimony on abused animals, necropsy, investigation of animal’s condition and document what is found. We are aggressively pursue animal owners who abuse or neglect their animals. Adoption services for many varied types of animals. Everett Animal Shelter partners with rescue groups, to increase adoptions by moving out animals to other places. Different shelters attract different adopters so it gives animals a chance for adoption. In last 7 years have not euthanized dogs for space - or cats for past 2 plus years for cats for space. Deborah Wright commented on deep volunteer pool of people who have helped with shelter operations. Taking back our own licensing from Snohomish County for City of Everett residents. Regional licensing program was developed but only city of Everett was only city that partnered. Licensing is revenue generator so our shelter will be taking it back. End of year, will start getting word out and will rely on neighborhoods to get word out. Over 300 volunteers are helping at shelter. Foster care program to take in mothers and babies until weaned, or post surgery care. Shelter provides everything you need to be foster home. Volunteer dog walkers, cat socializers, run the program with positions and schedule, check in, check out, depend on volunteers to be there when scheduled. 68,192 hours given by volunteers last year. Contract with several other cities. Vet Clinic with surgery services for two tables, surgeries for 4 hours per day. Vet helps with special diet and re-feeding plans. Vet does spays and neuters, minor surgeries to promote adoption. Forensics training. Evidence and Support – animal cruelty charges pursued, animal re-feeding program saves abused dogs. Work very closely with prosecuting attorneys, with police as well. Accountability – billing process needed fine-tuning, each jurisdiction gets detailed reports. Fee collection at time of service, charged to owner, 85% collection ratio. Take in 6,000 animals per year, increased save rate by 30% working with rescue groups, eliminating euthanasia for dogs or cats. Lots of adoption events in summer. Yearly fundraiser called Shakaroo, lots of fun and music at event. Yearly funds drives at events like Mutt Strut. Social media is useful for getting word out about needs, donations of supplies, project improvements for shelter by donations for post construction items. Animal Rescue Foundation raises funds for clinic. Store foods donated, have lots of info ASPCA Rachel Ray competition – $100,000 paired with shelter in Spokane, ahead so far. Social Media – website, interactive website shows animals and lots of info available on line. Facebook post has link to support animal shelter to vote for every day. Community Reports: Teamwork: Monte Cristo – update on selection process, seeking donations for the committee, music in two locations in the event venue. Next Social Practical - NNO event - list on website, shopping at Cash and Carry will be on Tuesday morning Wendy will send email out about time to show up. Council Project – Viola Ousler Park in Delta neighborhood needs attention. Andrea proposed to clean up the site as a community project. Pressure washing sidewalk, clean up graffiti, weed site. Site seems overlooked. Is there interest? Discussion and decision to go forward on project. Liz will call Parks to arrange for permission and get info. Victor asked what it would cost and if neighborhoods could use mini grant funds for this type project. Neighborhood Reports: Postponed due to time constraints Announcements: Top 5 Items to report: Fountain music program, 5-7pm concerts Notice of Riverside project still ongoing Streets Initiative – Aug 7 next meeting focused on street issues Dan Templeman – new police chief with 22 years with EPD Promote animal adoptions at Everett Animal Shelter Meeting adjourned at 6:15pm. Next meeting on Sept 22, 2014 Minutes prepared by Wendy McClure