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HomeMy WebLinkAbout12-10-18 Health and Public Safety r�o�spu111141./. z BEd PEACE / \��186b xv OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK KAREEMAH FOWLER, CITY CLERK HEALTH &PUBLIC SAFETY DECEMBER 10, 2018 4:59 P.M. Committee Members Present: Jo M. Broden, John Voorde, Karen White, Oliver Davis, Genevieve Miller(citizen member) Committee Members Absent: None Other Council Present: Tim Scott,Jake Teshka, Gavin Ferlic, Regina Williams- Preston, Sharon L. McBride Other Council Absent: None Others Present: Kareemah Fowler, Bianca Tirado, Graham Sparks, Bob Palmer Presenters: Oliver Davis, Bob Palmer Agenda: Bill No. 18-74- Weather Amnesty Resolution Committee Chair Jo M. Broden called to order the Health and Public Safety Committee meeting at 4:59 p.m. She introduced members of the Committee and proceeded to give the floor to the presenters. Bill No. 18-74- Weather Amnesty Resolution Councilmember Oliver Davis, 1801 Nash Street, stated, On the note that was sent, there was a substitute given the overlapping emails. Councilmember McBride also wanted to be a co-sponsor on that. You've seen the dialogue we've had. A Resolution of the Common Council of the City of South Bend, Indiana calling for continued provision of temporary shelter and protection from severe weather conditions in the City of South Bend, Indiana. I would like for our attorney to please talk about the substitute bill we are hearing today. Council Attorney Bob Palmer, offices located on the 4th floor of the County-City Building, stated, The substitute bill included some suggestions made by the Administration and by other Council Members. It actually goes into more detail than the original bill did. It fleshes it out a little bit. It defines the Gateway Center that is included in the resolution. It provides and makes certain for a weather amnesty shelter to open next year by November 1. It also requires that if a Gateway Center is not operational by November 1 that all permitting, licensing and such requirements will take place long before November 1 and actually no later than October 1. That is to make sure we don't have the problem we have this year of the State Fire Marshall not approving something in time for the cold weather. INTEGRITY! SERVICEI ACCESSIBILITY JENNIFER M.COFFMIAN BIANCA L.TIRADO JOSEPH R.MOLNAR CHIEF DEPUTY/DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS DEPUTY/DIRECTOR OF POLICY ORDINANCE VIOLATION CLERK EXCELLENCE I ACCOUNTABILITY I INNOVATION I INCLUSION I EMPOWERMENT 455 County-City Building 1227 W.Jefferson Blvd.I South Bend,Indiana 46601 I p 574.235.9221 I f 574.235.9173 I www.southbendin.gov •CITY OF SOUTH BEND ' OFFICE OF THE CLERK Councilmember Davis stated, So I think those were the key changes. Do you want to share a word on Emergency Management? Council Attorney Palmer stated, The original resolution called for the City to provide the criteria for declaring Weather Amnesty. One (1) of the suggestions from the Administration is that be more properly with Emergency Management. The Council and everyone in this proposed draft has agreed with it as it more specifically defines and sets criteria for weather amnesty. Councilmember Davis stated, Ok. And the resolution that was read into the record a few weeks ago for the call to action is still the same thing that we should be calling together in the beginning of the year. Representatives of local government including the City of South Bend, the City of Mishawaka, the St. Joseph County Council, the Commissioners, public schools and all of these different entities need to come together as we move forward. I still think that the burden of this shouldn't be just on the shoulders of the City of South Bend. Currently, given the fact like I have shared many times before, when our local Madison Center went out of operation, a lot of these things and activities had not been completely resolved at that time so we need to look at it. That was St. Joseph County's issue and yet we need to have a call to action. We've talked about it at prior times to help our other cities be involved. So, this again helps to re-inform that part. I think from that, we put some responsibility on Emergency Management. We've looked at the changes the Administration has shared with us in emails and we have understood the need. I'm glad it's open now but we all have discussed these numerous times over the past weeks and months. Council Attorney Palmer stated, Just to clarify, this substitute bill has not yet been filed. It is subject to discussion,here, and whatever the Council comes up with, if it does, it will be filed yet tonight and voted on by the Council in the full meeting tonight. Councilmember Davis handed out copies of the substitute version to Council Members and members of the media. Committee Chair Broden stated, Thank you for some of these changes. In section three (3), there is a date of no later than October 1 tagged as a beginning of process. I'm thinking that is not far enough in advance in terms of process and past practice. I would suggest changing that to August or September because I think what is important here is that if we fail to hit this mark as a community, then the burden of having these facilities is elsewhere. I want to make sure that if we are starting the process that it accommodates not only local permitting pieces required but also the State ones with the Fire Marshall. Councilmember Davis replied, I'm open to that. That is one(1)reason why I think we need to start while we have snow on the ground and it is cold so we won't run into an October rushed date. Committee Chair Broden followed up, I'm just suggesting something earlier. I don't know what past practice would suggest and whether August or September would be sufficient enough. Councilmember Davis replied, I don't have a hard fast date in terms of that but I think we could put that in so it is better to recognize that. Committee Chair Broden continued, And then my second(2nd) comment is about section five(5). So the last sentence, I think, it says thereafter to plan facilities. I would hope we are looking at EXCELLENCE ; ACCOUNTABILITY INNOVATION INCLUSION EMPOWERMENT 455 County-City Building 227W.Jefferson Bvld South Bend,Indiana 46601 p 574.235.9221 f 574.235.9173 TTD 574.235.5567 www.southbendin.gov 2 CITY OF SOUTH BEND OFFICE OF THE CLERK more than just facilities. I mean that is one (1) of the possibilities but I think one (1) of our outcomes, maybe a more inclusive term would be services, in my opinion. Councilmember Davis interjected, I would rather that, too. I'm ok. Committee Chair Broden followed up, And if you continue in that same sentence, I think we need to strike out that period after for homeless populations and maybe put a comma. Councilmember Davis interjected, I see. Committee Chair Broden continued, And then my last thoughts, I just want to make sure that as a Committee, first (1st), as a Council and then with the Administration that we all feel comfortable having looked at this document and had a chance to amend it. Councilmember Davis stated, I see the issue of services as a particular agreement because it is more than just funding a place. The comma is corrected. The only issue that we would have, if there are any suggestions I have, does anybody have suggestions other than October 1? Councilmember Tim Scott stated, For some reason when all this was going, I had the idea of August in my head. One (1) of the things we thought about, and it came up here, was actually having a location. I know Mr. Matthews stepped up to the plate but there were concerns with that. One (1) thing I stated during comments was I want it close to services but it might not be in the same location. Who knows with the transition of the trailers and that whole housing issue, it could be somewhere else. There was a lot of conversation, especially in Councilmember McBride's neighborhood about where this was going to be located. Those meetings were in September and I think that kind of pushed the wall, too. I'm thinking August would be a better date. And honestly, I think it's good to have people starting awareness when it is still warmer. Committeemember John Voorde stated, I would make that motion. Councilmember Sharon L.McBride asked,Historically,despite the winter starting earlier,weather amnesty opened December 1 instead of November 1, correct? Was it always November 1? I thought it was December 1 but I thought due to the strange weather,the last year or two(2)it went to November 1. I just wanted to make sure. I believe that was one(1)of the concerns or comments that I had. I think working and partnering with the Administration is great but also I didn't know the knowledge until I started having these meetings. I heard a lot of the negative feedback which we should definitely do something about. Of course. But I just wanted to make sure. I thought it began December 1 but it moved up that last year. Councilmember Davis interjected,My issue is that the last couple of years,we have said we would target people in the community. Councilmember McBride followed up, No, I'm wholeheartedly for it. I just wanted to make sure because, like I said, people need to have the right information out. Some people I know, and even my neighborhood, they have said it started December 1'so I guess just for clarification. I'm down with November 1St,but I just wanted to make sure, for the record,that I believe it started December 1St but because of the unusual weather, it was pushed up, which I'm totally in agreement with, but I wanted to follow up with that. EXCELLENCE ACCOUNTABILITY INNOVATION INCLUSION EMPOWERMENT 455 County-City Building 227 W.Jefferson Bvld South Bend,Indiana 46601 p 574.235.9221 f 574.235.9173 TTD 574.235.5567 www.southbendin.gov 3 CITY OF SOUTH BEND OFFICE OF THE CLERK Committee Chair Broden then opened the floor to members of the public wishing to speak in favor of or in opposition to the legislation. James Mueller, Executive Director of Community Investment with offices located on the 14th floor of the County-City Building, stated,We appreciate Council taking a look at some of our clarifying amendments and I think they were all taken. The ones offered right now we can support. We certainly support August, and perhaps even earlier. We need to remember that the plan is still trying to get the Intake Center and permanent supportive housing so we don't need all of these weather amnesty services. So, if we are able to do that, some of this becomes moot. The other important thing to remember is that the City doesn't directly run any of these weather amnesty services. So, we depend on partnerships and it is a give and take with our partners of when they're going to open and when they want to open or when they plan to open. We understand that if we are providing funding for weather amnesty, we will shoot for the November 1 deadline but know that the service providers,themselves,it is a give and take that we don't have control or jurisdiction over. Thank you. Committee Chair Broden stated, Maybe, perhaps June 1 would be a good date. When you think about timing of non-profits. We could also accommodate budget changes within the City of South Bend and our process. I think that would give everybody, I would hope, adequate time to hit the marks. Then perhaps in the last paragraph there, I think we have to include additional language. We are trying to have, with this amendment, a fall back. Not just for homeless individuals but earlier in our piece we talked about weather related emergency solutions. There could be and will be events that will not necessarily make people homeless but that we might need to accommodate solutions for. Things that are not weather related. So that is as many amendments as I would suggest. Councilmember Davis stated, I'm good. I like the June 1 date. We've scratched out facilities and changed it to services, and we want to add in solutions to help resolve housing instability. Housing instability is what they're calling it. We'll pass those out tonight. Committeemember Karen White made motion to accept the Substitute version of Bill No. 18-74. Committeemember Genevieve Miller seconded this motion which carried by a voice vote of five (5) ayes. Committeemember White then made motion to send Substitute Bill No. 18-74 to the full Council with a favorable recommendation. Committeemember Miller seconded this motion which carried by a voice vote of five (5) ayes. With no further business, Committee Chair Broden adjourned the Health and Public Safety Committee at 5:16 p.m. Respectfully Submitted, J� . Broden, Committee Chair EXCELLENCE ACCOUNTABILITY INNOVATION ; INCLUSION EMPOWERMENT 455 County-City Building 227W.Jefferson Bvld South Bend,Indiana 46601 p 574.235.9221 f 574.235.9173 I 10574.235.5567 www.southbendin.gov 4