2007-02-05 - Laserfiche WebLink

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13 Mr. Spears said grants are being submitted from two different revenue streams. Mr. Norris said the grants depend on the number of people being served. Dr. Brown asked if COMPASS will be coming back to the City for more funding, and Mr. Spears said they hope not to do that. Dr. Brown said that if they approach the City for funding they should also approach the County since the shelter will benefit the bigger community. Ms. Hamilton said she has received phone calls and e-mails from residents who feel their issues have not been fully aired and who feel as though they have been shamed into silence. She said concerns include the proximity of facilities serving children and about screening for violent and sexual offenders. She said concern was also expressed that there used to be a feeling on the downtown mall that it was not safe and that may happen again. She said there needs to be a thorough airing of the issues. Mr. Spears said that the COMPASS Board meets monthly and the public is welcome to attend and bring issues to the Board. He said COMPASS is committed to having an adaptive program. He said these people are already in the library and parks. He asked what will happen to them if we do not do this. Dr. Brown asked if there will be any incentives for people to be at the shelter. Mr. Spears said the intent is not to keep people captive, but to give them dignity and to provide access to other programs that will be available in the building. Ms. Hamilton asked what is being done to allay concerns, and Mr. Spears said a City police officers is on the COMPASS Board, and safety procedures will be developed architecturally. Mr. Norris said the vast majority of street people who would be served are from this community. Mr. Lynch said he has seen other communities, such as Flagstaff, Arizona, where they started with a few people and then became inundated. Ms. Hamilton asked what happens if they find the population at the shelter rising. She asked if it will be considered successful if they are serving more people. Mr. Spears said that ultimately serving fewer people would be considered a success. He said the numbers may go up before they go down. Ms. Hamilton asked what would be considered to be a failure or not working as desired. Mr. Spears said if the situation became grave enough it would no longer be supported. Mr. Lynch made a motion to approve the special use permit and Mr. Taliaferro seconded the motion. Responding to a question from Ms. Hamilton, Mr. Brown said that special use permits go with the land and remain as long as any conditions are met. Ms. Hamilton said she wants the shelter to be a success, but she would like for the community undercurrent to be addressed because she thinks that would contribute to the shelter’s success. She said she would prefer to delay a decision if there are no time constraints.