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Home My WebLink About10-16-19 Public Comment - Graham - HRDC Warming Center SiteFrom:Chris Mehl To:Agenda Subject:Fwd: Proposed HDRC Warming Center - Westridge and 3rd next to Morning Star School Date:Wednesday, October 16, 2019 2:27:40 PM Sent from my iPhone Begin forwarded message: From: Okie Okie <montanaokie16@gmail.com> Date: October 16, 2019 at 1:55:39 PM MDTTo: Chris Mehl <CMehl@bozeman.net>, paige culver <mrsculver0798@gmail.com>Subject: Re: Proposed HDRC Warming Center - Westridge and 3rd next to Morning Star School Hi Chris, I really appreciate the fast response. Folks around here are pretty worked upabout this issue, considering what we found out at last nights meeting hosted by the HDRC. Communication with the community regarding this issue has beenvery poor. Please see below notes from our meeting at the Pilgram Church last night. Sarah Rosenberg (Associate Planner) recommended that we sendcomments and concerns to her. We will do that, but I want to also include your office due to the severity and timing of this issue. Alder Creek, Figgins, WestMeadow, Sundance Springs and other neighborhoods are also organizing to provide public comment. To say the least, it is harshly opposed. Guess that'swhat happens when people find out a 36 capacity homeless shelter is about to go in next to one of the busiest school crosswalks in Bozeman. Please offer any and all suggestions you have so that we are effective in ourmessaging regarding this issue. thank you. Below are some notes from our meeting with HRDC last night. In attendance wehad Neighbors, HRDC, The Chronicle, a principle from Meadowlark Elementary and a representative from Christ Lutheran Church. Unfortunately, principlesfrom Sacajawea and Morning Star were not informed and had no prior knowledge of the meeting. 1. The proposed warming site on Westridge will process up to 36 people per nightfrom Nov to March. They need the house to handle overflow from other locations. Occupancy will vary but 9 bedrooms with bunks can handle 36 people (maxcapacity). Seasonal usage of this facility could range from 1500 on the low end (10 per night) to 5400 (at full capacity) Note - usage is defined as beds used per month. Many individuals and families cold stay multiple days. 2. They have applied for a special use permit with the city which they hope to getby Nov 1. A permit is required because the home is zoned R1. They do not have a permit yet. Again....Please voice your concerns to city planner SaraRosenberg srosenberg@bozeman.net 406-582-2297. Sara is reviewing HRDC's application for a special use permit for the shelter. 3. HRDC does not deny housing for people with a criminal history. There is NOapplication process or qualification process to stay the night. Simply show up. We reviewed this is great detail last night. HRDC does not perform criminalbackground checks. All are welcome 4. HRDC confirmed that people staying at the shelter could have criminal records. At their men's shelter, police were called out on average 2 times per week thisyear. Feel free to explore police records related to this shelter. HRDC reasured everyone that they have a great relationship with the police and that they would beworking closely with law enforcement at the new shelter on Westridge. 5. HRDC requires the homeless to check all weapons at the door. When we pressed HRDC on this issue, they reference "nail files" and avoided anydiscussion related to "real weapon types". This was a common theme for the meeting. HRDC worked hard to focus on mild offenses and avoided discussionsrelated to "what could really happen". 6. The shelter would be managed from the hours of 7pm - 7am by two HRDC volunteers. Thats right...2 volunteers to manage 36 people. But...they do checkweapons at the door. 7. HRDC has not conducted any surveys to determine impact on surrounding area. When asked, they did not know how many children use the cross-walk infront of the proposed shelter. They were not familiar with existing congestion issues related to pedestrian and vehicle traffic. They did not know the distancefrom the house to the crosswalk. 8. HRDC will use 2 vans to transport homeless to and from the site each day. Arrival 7pm and departure 7am. This conflicts with children who leave early forschool activities. It also conflicts with anyone who uses the crosswalk and sidewalks for early morning runs, dog walks, etc. 9. HRDC is working to identify a designated smoking area for the shelter. 10. HRDC was not aware of Montana laws related to sexual offenders andrestrictions on proximity to children, schools, public places, etc. 11. HRDC discourages people from leaving the house at night, but they can't stop them from doing so. When pressed on this issue, HRDC said they would call thepolice if someone left in the night. If this is the course of action, we can expect police searches anytime a person leaves the shelter between the hours of 7pm and7am. 12. The house is within 100 yards of school property and within 50 feet of the main crosswalk for Morning Star School and Sac. I will mention again thatHRDC offers "low barrier" housing and DOES NOT perform background checks. 13. In hopes of expediting the approval, HRDC has designated this shelter as aWoman and Family location. Fathers are also welcome. HRDC could not share future plans for the location. With a special permit, usage and designation couldchange from year to year based on revisions to operating plan. Seasonal usage times could also vary. This means we could see a year-round shelter withchanging demographics in the coming years. Men's shelter in 2021? HRDC was asked multiple times for feedback regarding future plans and they had little to nocomment. Please share any ideas you have on how we can address this issue within our community. Some ideas from the meeting included, flyers, social media, PACinvolvement, town-hall meeting at morning star or Sac, door to door education, petitions to the city. This is going to take some volunteers. Ideally we have several representatives in each neighborhood that can cometogether and help organize and mobilize. Please contact me at montanaokie16@gmail.com with any suggestions. I'm also available at918.633.7307 On Wed, Oct 16, 2019 at 1:18 PM Chris Mehl <CMehl@bozeman.net> wrote:Hey Graham, Got your message, here's my contact info. Pretty slammed today but frees up asthe week goes on. Here's some notes on process that I sent Emily Mason earlier today: I wasn't able to go to the HRDC open house as you know but did track downsome city staff and they helped answer some process questions. The proposal by HRDC would need a "special use permit" or SUP. HRDC has contacted the city about its potential interest and submitted some paperwork butthe application has not yet been deemed complete. Once/if it is complete, staff will analyze and then the application AND staff analysis will be posted (sign inyard) and the information will be on the web or available at the Stiff bldg. Once that happens it starts a 15 day comment period. Folks certainly can commentnow, and I've forwarded your emails to staff and the other commissioners. I'm asking staff to give commissioners a heads up once the process starts and will send you a note (hopefully redundant) to make sure you and neighborsknow. Chris MehlBozeman Deputy Mayor cmehl@bozeman.net 406.581.4992________________________________________ From: webadmin@bozeman.net [webadmin@bozeman.net]Sent: Wednesday, October 16, 2019 12:59 PM To: Chris MehlSubject: Proposed HDRC Warming Center - Westridge and 3rd next to Morning Star School Message submitted from the <City Of Bozeman> website. Site Visitor Name: graham culverSite Visitor Email: montanaokie16@gmail.com Hi Chris, Just wrote the mayor. We need your help. We have a major safety issue at associates with the proposed HRDC warming house on the corner of Westridgeand 3rd. We had our first meeting with the HRDC last night and the findings were alarming. I have meeting notes to share and need a way to communicatewith your office so you are involved. I understand HRDC's application for special permit is incomplete, but this community needs some reasurance thatthis will not go through. Can you provide an email or phone so we can chat. thank you GrahamCity of Bozeman emails are subject to the Right to Know provisions of Montana’s Constitution (Art. II, Sect. 9) and may be considered a “publicrecord” pursuant to Title 2, Chpt. 6, Montana Code Annotated. As such, this email, its sender and receiver, and the contents may be available for publicdisclosure and will be retained pursuant to the City’s record retention policies. Emails that contain confidential information such as information related toindividual privacy may be protected from disclosure under law. -- Graham