MEETING AGENDA
The City is hosting a workshop for the Council of Neighborhoods and Presidents of Registered Neighborhood Associations to gather feedback on draft strategies for a long-term community response to homelessness.
Background: Since March, the City has heard from over 500 community members and key stakeholders at 17 different workshops, focus groups and online. The Community Work Group is using what they’ve learned to identify draft strategies, metrics and actions. Throughout October they will be sharing this work with the public, gathering additional input and using it to make changes.
Learn more and view the meeting summaries at EngageOlympia.com
email homelessness@ci.olympia.wa.us
MINUTES
Date: October 14 (Monday) Time: 6:30-8:30 pm
Location: Council Chambers, Olympia City Hall, 401 4th Ave E
Attending Officers: Denise Pantelis (CRANA), Chair. Dave Marty (ICNA), Vice Chair; Co-Secretaries & Secretary Marty Worcester (REHOA). Members: Clydia Cuykendall (WLH), Jennifer Davis (SCNA) Mark Toy (SWONA), Jim Sweeney (ENA), Bob Jacobs (GSNA), Don Law (East Bay Drive NA). Sixteen other members were present as well. Bruce Coulter
City & County Representatives: Clark Gilman (City Council). Mark Russell (Public Works), Lydia Moorehead (Community Planning), Eric Christiansen (Water Resources), Cary Retlin (Home Fund manager), Amy Buckler (Community Planning), Gary Franks (Waste Resources) & others.
The meeting was preceded by a presentation of the city’s progress on the Homeless Response Plan and draft strategies gleaned from 18 listening sessions and meetings to date. It was followed by an hour of gathering our input based on the two key strategies they were working on.
Mayor Cheryl Selby welcomed the group. Stacey Ray, Senior Planner & Amy Buckler, Strategic Projects Managers presented their work to date and provided a handout that summarizing the work that had been done to date. Details about this work and the entire Homeless Response Plan are found on-line at EngageOlympia.com. If you have questions you have about the Response Plan you can email homelessness@ci.olympia.wa.us
Since March, the City has heard from over 700 community members and key stakeholders at 17 different workshops, focus groups and online. The Community Work Group is using what they’ve learned to identify draft strategies, metrics and actions. Throughout October they will be sharing this work with the public, gathering additional input and using it to make changes.
Two of their key goals are: (a) to identify and engage all people experiencing homelessness and those of the verge of homelessness (all willing participants including businesses, non-profits, faith communities, and the homeless population) as partners in implementing the plan; and (b) to cultivate working relationships with regional and state governments in developing a long-term response plan to homelessness. January 2020 is the date projected to move from the planning to implementation state
Our Council of Neighborhood Associations’ (CNA) members were asked to provide input on two major areas of the strategies developed to date. Twenty-six members of the Council were present. Seven small tables of 4-5 CNA members reviewed the strategies and provided input on possible areas not already addressed and possible solutions. The two areas discussed were:
- Ways to address unmanaged encampments
- How to address behaviors that make people feel unsafe
A short Business CNA business meeting followed the meeting.
Business Meeting of CNA
- Call to Order: Chair Denise Pantelis called the meeting to order at 8:30 p.m. The only order of business was the Minute and Announcements
- Minutes: Changes were suggested to the September 9th The secretary will incorporate the changes. Approval will be deferred until the next meeting. The secretary will send out a final draft for members to review before the next meeting.
- Members were urged to spread the word about the two City of Olympia Homeless Response Community Conversations. They are scheduled for:
- October 26: Saturday 9:30-11:30 Am at Olympia Highschool and
- November 2: Saturday 9:30-11:30 at Capitol Highschool
Submitted by Marty Worcester, Secretary
Council of Neighborhood Associations 