CEIC Security Meeting Monday, July 30 at 9:00 am

ADOPTED – minutes

 

In attendance:

Robert McDonald, Marc Jolin, Eric Hoffman, Trell Anderson, Jay McIntyre, Bill Toepper, Michelle Sprague, Ryan Engweiler, Mike Crebs, Mike Geiring, Brooke Cabatic, Karen Withrow, Chad Withrow, Father George, Valerie Chapman, Bridgid Blackburn, Susan Lindsay, Brad Malsin, Kate Merrill, Angie Garcia, Stephanie Prybyl, Shanon Wiltz, Cassie Archer, Rina Jimmerson.

 

Introductions

 

 

DESCRIPTION OF THE PILOT PROJECT

Kate and Rina describe a little about the project.  Give a brief history of the Request for proposals, the process and the selection committee.  Announce that the chosen security committee is Northwest Enforcement (Karen and Chad Withrow).  Describe the perimeter for the Pilot project is between 14^th, SE Ash, SE Grand and SE Morrison.

 

CHARTER

Adoption of the Committee Charter that was submitted.

 

DESCRIPTION OF SHIFT APPLICATION

Description of SHIFT Application by Karen and Chad Withrow from Northwest Enforcement.

• The PowerPoint will be sent by e-mail
• The software that was developed by them allows them to track vandalism, abandoned autos, biohazard, garbage, graffiti and for example this tracking system can easily be sent to Central City Concern…along with pictures and a description….so a good system. We can also track camps so after a while, we will be able to show the committee a geographical map with pins and data
• Part of our goal is to not be viewed as an authority figure and be kind – try not to have people take drugs in front of the kindergarten
• We will ask questions like – how long have you been living on the street…we will put parameters that can be sent to sources / avenues of help that could go and meet that person
• Still trying to figure out best practices for sending that information out to those who can help … we will figure it out over the beginning of this project
• We are in uniform and recognize that it may take time to get to know the clientele in the area
• We are trying to see if we could put a navigator in place – like a first responder
• I am continuously working on the software
• Reports and data will be sent to the CEIC and this committee will have access to that
• We are going to perfect over time …mold and change things as we go along

 

 

ANNOUNCEMENT BY ST. FRANCIS TEMPORARY DINING HALL CLOSURE

Father George – announces that the St. Francis Church is in a transition period and we intend to close from August 11 to August 26 the Dining Hall

 

Valerie – we need to do a reset and a chance to make some updates to the Church and Hall. My concern is about the predator camps.  We would really like the drug store across the street from us be gone and those who are vandalizing the new courtyard as well.  Our primary clientele are people over fifty and these are not the ones using our services right now.  Many folks are waiting for housing.  These are my primary concerns.

 

Chair – predatory people in the area will be looked at and we hope that the officers from will be able to track those with that behavior and involve police and judicial services.

 

Valerie – should we use the same security company since it is Northwest Enforcement.

 

The committee feels it would probably be a good idea so that the same Security services are communicating with each other.

 

Rina – presented an idea that had been discussed in previous meetings where it would be a good idea for the officers to start out their shift at the St. Francis Dining Hall as their shift starts at the same time as the Dining hall closes.

 

Also, confirms that the Church has office space for the patrol officers.

 

PERIOD OF DISCUSSION AND COMMENTS ON DRAFT OUTCOMES AND THE ACTUAL SITUATION

 

Marc Jolin – the challenge how long the lines are for the kinds of services that they need, so rather than thinking of this as a pathway into services for folks, it would be more useful to think of it as part of a coordinated effort to stay engaged with them. EX. The waiting list is 4 months for housing and often when their name comes up…they are not able to be found.  For me, building the patrol officers into his existing system would be helpful.

 

Chair – many links have yet to be established and Northwest will be making these links.

 

Karen – patrol will search the software and after a while will hopefully know where they are and can track them when their name for housing comes up, to use the example.

 

We will also track the predatory ones so that we can figure out how to handle those situations.

 

Brad – President of the CEIC, thanks everyone.  Question : is it true that 80-90% of the infliction of harm occurs to other homeless people by those on the street

 

Valerie- yes, she thinks so

 

Brad – So, happy to see this pilot project start ….one of his responsibilities is to sell the Enhanced Service District district wide.  This is a good start and we will learn.  Back up…is it true that most of the malicious behavior occurs from a small group of the homeless.

 

Valerie – yes

 

Brad – so if we can target in on those problems.  For the ESD …it involves a lot of money and I have to look at them and tell them that this will work.  So, is it possible to also do “hot spots” in other areas in the district.  So, can Northwest help me to respond to hot spots?  How can we keep our costs down and not pass up the opportunity that we engage the entire district.  District will have common benefit.

 

Angie- asking about the measurable parts….

 

Chair – we will be soon, before we get into that is there a response to Brad’s question about hot spots?

 

Chad – anytime there is a crime, we can make an arrest…we can call the police and they do their part as far as if we are consistently in an area we will be able to improve the situation.  It is about being consistent.  If you see something during the day…we can follow up at night

 

Kate – Chad should say a little about hours and give some details

 

Chad – our shifts are from 7 am to 7pm Monday through Saturday. Two officers walking or cycling.  For the first 30 days there will be a lot of data collection.  At the beginning they may be in a car.

 

Brad – my sense is that I don’t want you just looking for needles, I would like to see you go to every camp and let them know if they need something but also that we are watching them…a little like community policing.

 

Karen- I hear what you are saying about the larger district and I want to say that it is amazing what the CEIC is doing and my reaction to hot spots outside the pilot area – we are flexible and able to respond but if we keep the finance part that same – it may be a service impact because it will be these officers that would respond.  The CEIC would just have to let us know.

 

Brad – I would like to avoid the “how did they get into the pilot project and not our area?”

 

Kate – There are so many hot spots in this area and we have chosen the hardest hit area

 

Chair – so can we move onto the quantitative and qualitative part of the discussion?

 

Marc – we need to think of what kind of goal we want. Is it to focus on the high impact encampments so getting clarity of what you are trying to create…is it no campers at all or no high impact camping and reducing some of the destructive behaviors that go beyond just sleeping on the sidewalk.

 

Susan Lindsay – the folks that I represent are concerned about people setting up on sidewalks and blocking sidewalks…I am concerned that no one from Parks is here.  For example, the Washington High School area and the complete obstruction of the sidewalks chronically with multiple encampments that require hours and hours of volunteer time to get something done.  I see your point, Marc but we cannot diminish this importance.  My people are going to want to know will these camps be moved ?  and if there is movement …what kind of displacement will occur?  I imagine a scenario that they will move just outside the pilot zone…I believe that there has to be a focus on breaking up camps.  I think residents are quite tolerable to those who keep the area clean and manage their wastes.  Issue is around the litter, the needles, the open fires…

Can I say…that things are going to change or are the police now going to back off since the CEIC is doing this now.  What can we anticipate will change?  How do we remove the predators and the junky vehicles that are permanently parked?

 

Chair – this may be at an infancy state and we can’t necessarily answer all those questions yet…we are not quite there yet.  However, large camps could be emphasized

 

Susan – many folks receive letters this time of year that ask them to maintain their 6 feet of sidewalk or we will fine you 4-5000 $ but we see these sidewalks completely blocked.

 

Brooke – about the sidewalk comment, the ordinance says that they have to be down by 7 am , maybe the patrol officers could remind them about that

 

Marc – there is no ordinance that says that..it used to exist under a former Mayor but has been rescinded …technically a tent is not allowed at any time

 

Brooke – maybe we could always say that they could be respectful and mindful of the local businesses

 

Chair – can we have some comments on the qualitative/quantitative outcome data sheets that were suggested by Northwest Enforcement

 

Kate – we can add to them or cross off, Northwest will be gathering data this month

 

Valerie – I have something I would like to add to this sheet : we have a large number of people that serve our population that are not from here and are not conscious of our community situation and for example, kind hearted groups come around and feed everyone on the street when we at St. Francis make an effort to serve to those with predator behaviors.  It would be good to track those you come from outside who are doing service work.

 

Trell – service providers can be involved and identify them more and include them in our meetings

 

Kate – when do they usually come ?

 

Valerie – at night when we are closed

 

Chair – so Northwest will probably engage with them organically

 

Michelle – one thing that is unique is large things that come here that are not marked so we can’t send them back ex . laundry carts, etc.  Could we add something for that?

 

Chair – maybe add an industrial container box to the sheet

 

Susan – how about where the sidewalks are blocked

 

Chair – anything else?  My first blush at this was that it was very comprehensive…I am looking forward to seeing what happens.

 

Karen – if you concentrate efforts in one area – then you often make more of an impact

 

Kate – I have been telling people that we are going to perfect the pilot project and then spread it out

 

Brad – one thing that perplexes me ….I think that until we have enough housing there will be people on the streets so why don’t we have a Good Neighbor Policy that Northwest hands out to the camps.  The idea of moving them all the time doesn’t work.  It is important to understand that there are a few that create fear but not all of them.

 

Angie – as a business owner that has young children in her care – concerned about biohazards: urine, feces…anything that creates chaos.  Talking to them about how they can be where they are and create the least amount of chaos for those around you…how can we live together peacefully.  I can’t take my preschoolers on a walk because there are too many people shooting up.

 

Bridgid – a way to engage businesses who are open to the public…we are open for bathroom use at Cargo…sometimes it goes well and sometimes it doesn’t so maybe we could identify that too

 

Eric and Mike – is transportation involved and on board for vehicles that never move

 

Mike – it is a delicate balance, because a car or truck that has a family living in it is not abandoned.

 

Kate – aren’t there provisions for biohazards

 

Mike – yes

 

Brad – are you legally allowed to sleep in your vehicle ?

 

Mike – yes you are…the vehicle is not abandoned…we need to due process…we can’t take a car because people live in it

 

Eric- can you work with Northwest and try to enforce something…this is a huge concern for Angie and myself

 

Mike – a car has to be abandoned for 72 hours and then if it moves just a few feet away the clock starts over again…I have seen it happen.

 

Bridgid – will you issue citations and an accumulation of citations would add up to something

 

Angie – there are 5 vehicles that no one can even get in the vehicles…the situation has been like this for 2 months….it is a problem …no one is living in it.  It is not safe …we don’t even know what is in that car…there must be something that can be done

 

Karen – we will talk with Mike offline and clarify the rules

 

Mike – we can give citations but they can’t pay them ….if you have a certain number of citations we can boot your car … we can work on that.

 

Susan- there is a double standard about parking …I got a ticket and yet these cars/vans don’t have tickets…how do we stop the double standard that is imposed on everyone else that is not using their car as storage and a danger.  Also, I want the same signs that every other park has in this City they say “no camping”…why aren’t they put up here…we need help here…transportation department keeps thinking we are different and that is unfair.

 

Marc – the difference is that some folks have no option but to live out of their cars.  So, we have to find a way to understand…technically it is illegal but we need to find a balance…I heard you before saying that if they keep it clean, do urinating and feces, etc…we need to address clarity like I said at the beginning.  We need to do triage between most dangerous cars and dangerous cars.

 

Every agency has limited resources and when it comes to people sleeping in their cars…they have the same issues

 

Brad – I am kind of caught in these two public/private roles.  This is about managing the street…if you remove people from their vehicle is it more of a problem or …. I think this still comes down to developing a good neighborhood policy/agreement.  If you keep the area clean and contribute to making the environment safe…then it is okay to live there.  My heart goes out to Marc because he has a tough job.  We have great partners in Central City Concern. Maybe both CCC and Northwest can hand out these good neighbor policies.  It could improve lives for many – for Susan, for Marc, for me….

 

Chair – lot of passionate people in this room and a lot who are affected.  We are going to be active about the situation.  Couple housekeeping items that we need to address like meeting times/venue.  I suggest every second Tuesday of the month and about venue

 

Rina – this venue has been offered to us by Catholic charities so if this works for everyone then this would be the venue

 

Kate – we may need to work on the times of the meetings that would allow for public to attend

 

Chair – why don’t we do the second Tuesday of the month for September (not August because just a couple days away) and then at that meeting discuss subsequent meetings.

 

Kate – the officers start on August 1 and they will be mostly focusing on data collection for the first month.  This may be a little difficult as St. Francis is closing for 2 weeks but it will help us to have a

 

Brad – where is the repository ?

 

Rina – it is me, everyone here has my e-mail

 

Kate – we will also be at the Buckman picnic to inform people.

 

NEXT MEETING – Tuesday, September 11, 2018 at 9:00 am at the St. Francis Park Apts Community Room

 

ADJOURN