Everett Council of Neighborhoods

Council of Neighborhoods Meeting Minutes Nov 23, 2015 Meeting was called to order at 4:05pm. Agenda and minutes of the previous meeting were approved. Attendance: Roger Hoot, Carol Gogarty, Tom Norcott, Colleen Kain, Elly Smith, GeorgaDee MacLeod, Shelley Weyer, James Prissel, Andrea Tucker, Victor Harris, Mary Alexander, Dennis Dudder, Jim Greico, Ethel McNeal, George Lockeman, Vanessa Randall. Staff: Deborah Wright, Lisa Newsland, Niels Tygesen, Lauren Rainbow, Mike Braley, Wendy McClure Citizen Comments: None Mayor Stephanson: Mayor expressed thanks to all who helped with clean up after storm. Storm impacts included over 120 locations with trees down. If you are curious about policy about clean up after storm events – a tree of any size, priority is to get it out of right of way. On your personal property, it’s your responsibility. Flooding occurred in some locations and there were abnormally high calls with police and fire during and after storm. If you have sustained damage, report to county, this has been declared an emergency. 2016 budget – Mayor will give the budget address on Oct 28, with a second reading on Wednesday, final reading will be a week from Wednesday – there are still opportunities to speak on it. Broadway bridge project is three months ahead of schedule. Watch for an opening date. Lisa Newland, cultural arts, will discuss winter events. Tuesday Dec 6, the Mayor’s annual holiday reception for boards and commission members takes place – please RSVP, hope you can attend. Lloyd Pendleton spoke at Historic Theatre. Had over 300 people in attendance. Mayor’s goal is to provide housing for 5 homeless people within 60 days, by June, to have 20 people in housing. Housing first model, so looking at property for sale and rental property for housing, until we can build something more significant to house several more people. Good success with people on the street through the outreach work. Mayor set aside an additional million dollars in budget for housing enforcement and diversion, and for social workers. Clear that low barrier housing is critical piece. Staff are developing a work crew model as an alternative to jail time for misdemeanor crimes instead of jail time. Been a bit like story in Bible on road to Damascus, in Mayor’s shift in reactions from an annoyance, a police problem, to a situation that these are people like you and I, anyone of us could be in this situation. To help people get connected with help and back with families is the goal now and use enforcement where appropriate. Feb 1 2016, Mayor announced there will be a 2nd housing first forum. This year, when developing legislative agenda, city will include requests for more state help around mental illness treatment programs, alcohol programs and housing. Three new aircraft carriers are coming to Everett next year, coming during 2016 – bringing about 350 more sailors than frigates from before. Governor Inslee was here, celebrated an Everett and Snohomish County project. Mayor is working on Sound Transit 3, to bring light rail to Everett. Bringing initiative to voters next November for transportation projects – Mayor says we must be insistent that Everett get served as it should be. Location for meeting: Mayor held a meeting with WSU, and new Dean of medical school, working to get certification by end of next year. Providence and Everett Clinic will be locations for placement as part of education process. George – on Sound Transit 3 – front loaded so much out of area, will out of area folks support Sound Transit 3 to market it to those who have services already. Mayor – spine was supported 20 years ago, Tacoma and Everett need to be highest priority, Seattle mayor wants to have funds for Ballard. Mayor commented on need to be willing to stand our ground to have it go to Boeing - a battle will occur, starting in December. Carol Gogarty commented on Lloyd’s description of “citizens who are homeless”. This approach made a big impression on her. Mayor wants to know personal stories. Pendleton talked about different phasing for housing development and different categories of homeless people. Mayor commented on integrated housing, putting folks in a 40 unit complex, and the need to “build a village” with wrap-around services. Might be possible to take a hotel and convert it. The point in time counts are always low – just under 1,000 who are homeless, probably the numbers are higher. Mayor commented that he expects that other municipalities are going to step up to help with housing as well. County Council member Brian Sullivan proposed another million $ in funding from county. Victor –Is there a levy or bond in future to solve this problem? Can it be sold? Mayor – I think we have to show we can do some within the means we have, may have to go get grants, funds, then go to people. Get groundswell of support, then ask public for support. City Council Liaison Council president Bader: Budget ordinance is to be voted on in December. General government hearing on Dec 2, Public safety subcommittee will meet on Dec 16. Fitch study will be discussed – the Fire union and management will speak. Charter review committee is coming up next year. Go to city website, see section on boards and commissions and fill out application on website. Will thank Councilmember Gipson for his service, and will welcome Councilmember Franklin to council. Her first meeting will be Jan 6, 2016. Wishing you all a Happy Thanksgiving – we’re more grateful for things we may not give pause to give thanks for, after the storm. Focused on gratitude for what we do have. Shelley – asked about council members attending neighborhood meetings. He will encourage more visits and suggested the neighborhoods invite the councilmembers as well. City and Community Reports: Everett Police - Sgt. Mike Braley, EPD Admin Sergeant – Mike described the transition to the New World program, a new dispatch software – the police department is moving away from Crimemapping.com, so the neighborhood data is not getting out to neighborhood meetings. The dept is going with new vendor soon for crime stats. For crime stats handed out at meetings, EPD is having challenge pulling data for various neighborhoods. George asked about selection of replacement for stats system – suggested criteria include that residents could log into site to get info directly. Sgt. Braley introduced Lauren Rainbow, the new social worker serving within the police department. She started back in August to help assist officers to help chronic utilizers who frequently need police, medics, ER services. There is a heavy need for services, so someone who knows services is a big help to department. She is scheduled for a full working day shift downtown – office at north precinct near patrol area. Mon – Thurs 9am – 7pm. Agencies are open in daytimes, so her hours make it possible to help get people connected to get them and off the street. Here efforts focus on services like detox, getting them through treatment, housing job training, re-uniting with family. Her role is to help patrol better connect with people to help with folks in need. Dennis – The hours fit in with programs dinner programs when people are gathering. Mayor mentioned he wants to meet people in person, Lauren works closely with people, she and patrol bond with them, move very fast once we do that. Tom asked about her contact with social workers here. She described importance of utilizing resources in King County, such as a detox facility. We only have one detox facility with 16 beds in our county. In 2016, a second detox facility is to be added. Always need more resources. People on the street need intensive fast services, very vulnerable people have to jump on bandwagon when its ready – placed a 20 year old female, now in treatment program in California. The bike officers are getting out there, helping folks on street. Lauren is going out to encampments, working with chronic utilizer program, as well as one on one with folks from other departments to get people off street. Her work is not straight outreach but support for police as they make contacts with people on the street who needs services. Discussion on resources across county lines, questions about housing, treatment. George very proud of EPD and process they’re going through. Carol – her local Nextdoor.com group has expressed remarks which are discouraging. What can neighborhoods do or convey ? Mike suggested to use 211 for assistance (Lauren is not city’s on-call social worker) She is there to help patrol navigate social services. Neighbors could be potential organizers for drives for specific things like personal items for people on the street. A reminder to consider making donation directly to organizations, not to someone on the street. Smith Street – don’t give donations on the street. On cold weather nights, there are cold weather shelters that open up. Salvation Army opens up. Not just a county problem – all communities in county are dealing with this problem. Need to solve problems one at a time. Sgt. Braley reported there is a new ordinance on aggressive panhandling. Cultural Arts - Lisa Newland – Mayor’s Arts Awards event coming up in December – “The Wendts” awards are open to the public, at EPAC on Dec 1with 6pm social hour, awards at 7pm. Six citizens who contribute to community are receiving awards. Then come downtown for Dec 3rd Wintertide, a free community event. Santa arrives on a fire truck, carolers and singers perform, you can take photos with Santa. There are arts and crafts, and a short version of Junglebook to be shown twice. Lots of music. Train ride. Check the website www.EnjoyEverett.org Planning Dept - Niels Tygesen – Niels reminded the council of the request to consider zoning code regulations re: community centers and alternative uses for community centers. The commission meeting was rescheduled to Dec 1st meeting, next Tuesday. The commission is looking at adaptive reuses of churches and location of community centers. Both items are for discussion and public can give comments, 6:30pm across at council chambers. Teamwork: Diversity Outreach – Diversity board went to hear Lloyd Pendleton presentation. Delta could not meet due to storm. CERT – volunteers were active in recent storm, assessing storm damage, helping with sandbagging, etc. They also helped with CERT drill. The drill has several very realistic components with lots of volunteers. Storm damage reporting to Snohomish County. See article - Get to Know Thy Neighbor – editorial in Herald. Neighborhood Reports: Bayside – restarting, had small but enthusiastic crowd discussed potluck. Cascade View/Twin Creeks – see Twin Creeks Delta – no meeting due to storm Evergreen – crime prevention meeting, well attended, lots of discussion. Glacier View – no meeting, there was a meeting in October. May have new leaders, to be determined. Harborview-Seahurst-Glenhaven – Tom was out of town. No power in neighborhood – lessons from storm are the need to do more drills, and walk-throughs. H-S-G will have potluck on Dec 15, all welcome. Socials have helped build connections. Lowell – small turn out, police report, 7 in attendance. No quorum. Discussed mini grants. Northwest – 38 people Sgt Braley and Lauren Rainbow explained their services. Port was invited to discuss bridge and moving Weyerhaeuser building. Parks staff also spoke. Terri Battuello from Port spoke about development at port. Public Works will come in January to discuss bridge. Lots of new faces. Parks will come in January. Christmas Party is Dec 5. Pinehurst – 17 people at meeting, Officer Drake about gangs in area. Lions Park has young organized. Police have activities for youth, also discussed graffiti which is down in neighborhood. Boys and Girls club in neighborhood, planning activities in neighborhood. Organizing parents night out for parents, boys and girls club will co-host event with neighborhood. Did inventory of cache, radio check on Oct 14. Lions Park emblem no longer at the site. Port Gardner – 19 people, parks and rec spoke. Snohomish Health District also spoke with video and handouts. Good presentation. In March, people from the group WestSeattleBePrepared will be guest speakers. Sequoia High School, 36th & Rucker. Riverside - 24 people. Officer MaryJane Hacker, a lot of discussion about new marijuana shop coming into neighborhood Everett Ave and Walnut. South Forest Park – had parks dept visit to get info on parks master plan. Had a city councilmember drop by. Introductions of new officer. Dealing with crime in neighborhood. Twin Creeks – 10 people, two from Parks, Lisa from Port, two officers from EPD. Weyerhaeuser building, how port operates. Largest container ship port in two years to bring in bigger containers. Parks input was more dog parks. Power point presentation from Port. Valley View – the meeting was same night as the storm - , 3 people made it to the meeting, power lines came down. Precinct only had emergency lighting, no lights in parking lot. George will ask about bringing Jeff Price, Parks, in February. View Ridge Madison – 12 people, new beat officer in neighborhood. Sgt. Zeka answered questions from neighbors. Needles at elem. school, lots of problem houses in area. Rental properties with weak tenant agreements can be a problem. Parks and police responded quickly to concerns. Top 5 Items to report: Businesses and homes need to report damage to Snohomish County ASAP Feb 1st is second Housing Forum Welcome new Navy families, lots of new sailors coming to Everett Sound Transit 3 – stay tuned, bring to neighbors’ attention to this item Police reporting crime stats - changes – New World system being implemented for dispatch Police – embedded social worker is not a substitute for social services, call 211 for referrals Send donations to agencies and do not give not directly to individuals Dec 3 Wintertide – on EnjoyEverett.org No meeting in December, next meeting is on Jan. 25, 2016 Meeting adjourned at 6:00pm. Next meeting on Minutes prepared by Wendy McClure