The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink AboutCity Council Committees - Operations and Public Safety Committee - 10/04/2022 Page 1 of 9 Pending Approval Operations and Public Safety Committee CC Ops and PS Regular Meeting Minutes October 4, 2022 Date: October 4, 2022 Time: 4:00 p.m. Place: Chambers Members: Bill Boyce, Chair Brenda Fincher, Councilmember Satwinder Kaur, Councilmember Marli Larimer, Councilmember Zandria Michaud, Councilmember Les Thomas, Councilmember Toni Troutner Councilmember Agenda: 1. Call to Order 4:00 p.m. Council President Boyce called the meeting to order. 2. Roll Call Attendee Name Title Status Arrived Bill Boyce Chair Present Brenda Fincher Councilmember Present Satwinder Kaur Councilmember Excused Marli Larimer Councilmember Present Zandria Michaud Councilmember Present Les Thomas Councilmember Present Toni Troutner Councilmember Present 3. Agenda Approval There were no changes to the agenda. 1. I move to approve the agenda as presented. RESULT: MOTION PASSES [UNANIMOUS] MOVER: Les Thomas, Councilmember SECONDER: Zandria Michaud, Councilmember AYES: Boyce, Fincher, Larimer, Michaud, Thomas, Troutner 4. Business A. Approval of Minutes Approval of Minutes dated September 20, 2022 Operations and Public Safety Committee CC Ops and PS Regular Meeting Minutes October 4, 2022 Kent, Washington Page 2 of 9 MOTION: Move to approve the Minutes dated September 20, 2022 RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS] MOVER: Les Thomas, Councilmember SECONDER: Toni Troutner, Councilmember AYES: Boyce, Fincher, Larimer, Michaud, Thomas, Troutner B. Ordinance to Repeal and Replace Chapter 8.09 of the Kent City Code, with a new chapter entitled “Camping on Public Property” - Adopt Chief Administrative Officer, Pat Fitzpatrick provided a brief introduction of the presentation regarding the camping ordinance and reviewed the background of Chapter 8.09 of the Kent City Code: Kent currently has a camping ordinance found in chapter 8.09 KCC. This ordinance has been in effect since 2000. While the City has used the ordinance as leverage to encourage campers to find alternative shelter, it has paused formal enforcement: • Federal court decisions were issued that made enforcement of our current ordinance challenging • COVID-19 interrupted the availability of shelter in the region • The law has largely been settled, and COVID-related shelter restrictions have been lifted. While some beds were lost during COVID, others will be coming on line Camping complaints have increased, as have the impacts to City investments and operations • Drug epidemic driven by opioids/fentanyl/methamphetamine • Blake decision which has made it difficult to enforce drug possession crimes • Regional acceptance and normalization of camping and its impacts as a way of life. Fitzpatrick reviewed the camping case reports and 9-1-1 calls for service for the period of 2019 - July of 2022. Fitzpatrick went on to review City invests significant resources in three areas being directly impacted by camping: · Environmentally Sensitive Areas - creeks, rivers, critical areas (steep slopes/wetlands), water retention areas, wellhead protection areas, water runoff/drainage facilities (NPDES), etc. · Parks Facilities and Programs - active parks and their facilities (bathrooms, fields, play areas, trails), passive parks, Commons, Senior Center, etc., as well as programs · Economic Investments - business community, investments in thriving economy and employment base These efforts and investments have been compromised by impacts of camping in spaces designated and maintained for other purposes. Operations and Public Safety Committee CC Ops and PS Regular Meeting Minutes October 4, 2022 Kent, Washington Page 3 of 9 Community members and staff express concern over safety, and concerns over the protection of property. Environmentally Sensitive Areas: The City follows federal, state, and local regulations aimed at protecting the natural Environment: · The City is obligated to maintain or take action to protects creeks, rivers, critical areas such as wetlands, water retention ponds, water supply areas, wellhead protection areas, etc. · The City also invests significant resources into the built environment - storm · drainage (NPDES), culverts, bridges, underpasses, salmon habitat areas, streets, sidewalks, etc. · Public Works has had to shift resources from general maintenance to cleanup of camps, and restoration of areas damaged by unauthorized camping · City resources are being diverted to cleaning camps. Work cleaning non- camp related litter in the right of way is not being completed Parks Facilities and Programs: · The City invests in active and passive parks as well as programs · Shift of staff resources to address camping impacts park maintenance levels of services resulting in a struggle to meet maintenance needs · Increased instances of vandalism of park bathrooms, barbeques, sinks, faucets and other infrastructure designed for public use - City has been forced to eliminate access to amenities thereby penalizing everyone · Staff secure restrooms to sure they are clear of illicit use and drug paraphernalia, and are available for the general public · Budgeted funds are going towards cleanup, not program improvement or maintenance needs · Significantly reduces the public’s access to nature - impacting community health and other outcomes · Facilities (e.g. Commons and Senior Center) deal with camping on site, which includes fires, vandalism, garbage · Parks employees must direct resources away from the customer experience, and reduces the willingness of the community to use the parks Fitzpatrick reviewed the resident surveys conducted by the Parks Department regarding resident’s level of satisfaction with safety in parks. The results indicated that the resident’s number one reason for not visiting parks/facilities is related to not feeling safe. Economic Investments: The City receives complaints regarding camps from business owners and residents on a daily basis: · The CAO meets with the Kent Downtown Partnership director monthly and a Operations and Public Safety Committee CC Ops and PS Regular Meeting Minutes October 4, 2022 Kent, Washington Page 4 of 9 common concern is camping and crime in the downtown area · Camping and associated crime are a common complaint of our business community at meetings · Businesses are seeking action - have attended council meetings, are seeking measures to protect their business by hardening property, spending money on security · In some areas, business have shuttered due to dangerous conditions (Starbucks closing stores in Seattle) · Other business are at risk of leaving Staff safety: The City has found it necessary to change its approach to performing work: · Field staff who work in our parks and in our natural areas are often confronted by individuals who demonstrate hostility · Some staff must work in pairs due to location · The City is currently looking to retain a consultant to train staff in dealing with unsafe individuals in the field · Staff are handing and exposed to an increasing volume of hazardous materials (drug paraphernalia including needles, human excrement, hazardous chemicals, etc.) that require additional care and resources · When staff and contractors show up for work at a sight, often they cannot do the work due to the location of camps. This delays work, interrupts employees, and increases contractor costs (delay costs) · All of this reduces resources for the provision of traditional services Quality of Life: Law Violations · Litter/illegal dumping, destruction of property · Vehicle theft/prowl, commercial/residential burglary, arson, shoplift, trespass · Violent crime and property crime within camps Quality of Life · Creates safety concerns for general public - public feels unsafe in spaces near camps · Impacts residential neighborhoods, particularly those with parks and green spaces · Loss of interest in caring for community Businesses · Threat to business viability · Employee and customer safety is a concern · Expense of cleanup and damage repair · Added private security costs · Business reluctant to expand or invest City Mission, Vision and Values - Expectations: The ordinance revisions will provide staff with an additional tool to help Operations and Public Safety Committee CC Ops and PS Regular Meeting Minutes October 4, 2022 Kent, Washington Page 5 of 9 achieve the City’s Mission, Vision and Values. The City does not expect many criminal filings - the threat of arrest will be sufficient encouragement to achieve results in most cases. Since 2000, the City has filed on average fewer than 11 cases per year (240 total cases). In some cases, charging will be necessary · The City recognizes that some individuals are dealing with significant challenges and may not be willing to make a decisions to take measures to improve their situation · The City will give individuals the opportunity to work with outreach staff to access temporary housing, with the goal that they will move into appropriate permanent housing · If individuals refuse opportunities to connect with providers and work toward being housed, we will have a tool to use more forceful measures Roles and Responsibilities Internal Taskforce Representatives from city departments meet monthly to discuss the impacts of camping within the city. This group works collaboratively to address underlying causes and impacts on the community and to focus resources. Human Services Works to strengthen regional and subregional partnerships to create strategies related to homeless individuals, works with neighboring communities, within Kent and with agencies and providers to connect individuals with resources, and provides support to Police and other city staff encountering encampments by assisting individuals and families in accessing emergency resources, and providing referrals and connections to direct service providers. Kent Police Department The Special Operations Unit responds to citizen complaints and known camping hotspots. Partners with PW (clean up) and Human Services (shelter and other services). Patrol officers respond to criminal matters that may be associated with encampments. Public Works and Parks Works in parallel with KPD and Human Services on identifying emerging encampments or individuals in need, primary source for cleanup of encampments through in-house labor or contracted services. Sergeant Kelso, Officer Chapman, and Human Services Coordinator, Christine Horn talked about the Police Department and Parks and Human Services outreach to the homeless. Operations and Public Safety Committee CC Ops and PS Regular Meeting Minutes October 4, 2022 Kent, Washington Page 6 of 9 Camps are discovered through: · Citizen Complaints · Parks Observation · Public Works Observation · Police Observation Small camps are dealt with by staff and larger camps or area trends are addressed through strategy sessions by the Internal Homeless Task Force. Criminal Consequences Many crimes are committed in areas surrounding and within encampments. Damage to the natural and built environment is severe and the goal is to encourage and educate individuals to change their behavior. When this does not work, criminal consequences in the form of citations and physical arrests become an option. Offer of shelter and Shelter Availability Police and Human Services offer shelter to every individual they contact. If there is a language barrier (extremely rare) language line services are used. A resource card is provided during every contact and resource cards are left at unoccupied encampments. Human Services staff monitor the availability of shelter and have individuals on call from a number of shelter providers if a person is willing to accept shelter. For large encampments, Human Services arranges for shelter representatives to be on site and available to help. The reality is that in a vast majority of cases, shelter is rejected for a variety of reasons. In cases in which shelter is accepted, it is not uncommon for individuals to change their mind before entering shelter or leave shortly after entering - we continue to work with them often over periods of months and sometimes years. A video of a recent outreach to a homeless encampment was presented. Fitzpatrick reviewed the proposed Ordinance that replaces the existing ordinance. There is a significant shift is to focus on: · Impacts of camping on the environment · Ensuring Kent’s improved spaces remain available for intended use · Addressing conflicts in use with a resolution in favor of intended use by the public · Shelter will be offered in every case • Filing charges will only be used as a last resort The public will not see change overnight. Like the entire region, the City is recovering from a period of low staffing levels in the Police Department At its peak, the Department had a sergeant and eight officers in the Special Operations Unit - currently the unit is made up of one sergeant and one officer. Staffing is improving and as more officers come on duty, the SOU will be Operations and Public Safety Committee CC Ops and PS Regular Meeting Minutes October 4, 2022 Kent, Washington Page 7 of 9 properly staffed. In the meantime, the City has increased (by double) its investment in the Catholic Community Centers Engagement Center for next year - increases the opportunities for individuals to get the services and case management they need for successful housing. Deputy City Attorney, Christina Schuck advised that although this ordinance repeals and replaces prior provisions; the main purpose of the chapter remains the same. Overall, it still makes camping in public places unlawful, unless otherwise permitted (e.g., designated campgrounds) and still makes storage of camp facilities in public place unlawful. Schuck advised the ordinance: · Updates definitions · Provides more details on how encampments are addressed · Prohibits activities related to camping that cause specific environmental harm · Updates how and where the camping provisions are enforced (These general provisions are not enforced when there is no available shelter.) This suspension also applied to the storage of camping facilities. This is to comply with the ruling in the Martin v. Boise case. One significant and important change to enforcement is the specification of locations in which the camping provisions can be enforced at any time - enforcement in these locations is not dependent upon shelter availability. There are three categories: 1. portions of parks developed for particular purposes - picnic shelters, designated trails, play fields 2. environmentally sensitive and naturally important areas such as wetlands, steep slopes, riverbanks, and watershed properties (protecting city’s drinking water). 3. City-owned buildings that must be available for staff to report to work and the public to conduct business. In these designated areas, the prohibition on camping can be enforced at any time. In addition to camping, Section 8.09.060 prohibits related harmful activities such as: • Starting fires; • Littering, Discharging waste • Destroying vegetation • Creating trails • Diverting streams • Disturbing wildlife habitat. Removal of Encampments - Outside of these specific locations, the Operations and Public Safety Committee CC Ops and PS Regular Meeting Minutes October 4, 2022 Kent, Washington Page 8 of 9 encampments are posted with at least 48 hours’ notice and individuals are: • Provided an opportunity to remove their property or ask for it to be stored • Offered assistance to seek alternative shelter In the rare event a citation is used as a tool within the situations this ordinance in leaves room for an individual to seek help and the City will support this effort. Council President provided comments regarding the importance of public safety and for staff to show compassion to individuals they come in contact with. Additionally, it’s important to protect investments while helping those in need. Fitzpatrick indicated if an individual is sincerely interested in being housed, the City will not file charges and is committed to obtaining shelter for them. All councilmembers expressed appreciation for the work of City staff on this issue. Fitzpatrick talked about the City’s trespass program and the ability for businesses to take advantage of trespassing individuals from their property. Fitzpatrick advised the prior ordinance was too broad and did not address damages to City facilities and the environment. Fitzpatrick provided examples of how surrounding jurisdictions are addressing camping. Officer Kelso and Christine Horn advised that rarely do individuals accept shelter and/or services. Horn talked about why services/shelter are not accepted. Fincher suggested working with King County to provide more shelters in the region. Larimer address emails received by the Council from housing advocates that are worried about displacing people that don’t have addiction/mental health issues and are currently living in their cards. Officer Kelso advised the SOU rarely comes across those folks living in their cars due to a series of bad luck. Chief Padilla talked about the benefit of addressing camping in close proximity to businesses. Fitzpatrick talked about the Police Department's trespass program for businesses. Council President Boyce requested staff collect data on the enforcement of Operations and Public Safety Committee CC Ops and PS Regular Meeting Minutes October 4, 2022 Kent, Washington Page 9 of 9 this ordinance and provide a report to the Council at a future meeting. At Councilmember Larimer’s request, Council President Boyce placed this ordinance on the October 18, 2022, City Council agenda under Other Business. MOTION: I move to adopt Ordinance No. 4443, repealing Chapter 8.09 of the Kent City Code and replacing it with a new chapter which prohibits activities that cause environmental damage and harm public property, including unlawful camping, storing of personal property and unlawful fires, and setting forth the circumstances under which unlawful camping is enforced. RESULT: MOTION PASSES [UNANIMOUS] Next: 10/18/2022 7:00 PM MOVER: Les Thomas, Councilmember SECONDER: Toni Troutner, Councilmember AYES: Boyce, Fincher, Larimer, Michaud, Thomas, Troutner 5. Adjournment 5:26 p.m. Council President Boyce adjourned the meeting. Kimberley Komoto Committee Secretary Revised Camping Ordinance Operations and Public Safety Committee -October 4, 2022 Presentation Summary •Staff is asking the Council to adopt amendments to the City’s camping ordinance •I will provide an introduction of why we are here •Human Services and Police will then provide information on how they address camping issues •The Law Department will then explain the proposed ordinance that, if adopted, will replace our existing ordinance. •We are proposing the ordinance be placed on the October 18 Consent Agenda •The City has a number of staff who work in the departments impacted by camping, and many of them are available to answer your questions Background •Kent currently has a camping ordinance found in chapter 8.09 KCC •This ordinance has been in effect since 2000 •While the City has used the ordinance as leverage to encourage campers to find alternative shelter, it has paused formal enforcement: o Federal court decisions were issued that made enforcement of our current ordinance challenging o COVID-19 interrupted the availability of shelter in the region •The law has largely been settled, and COVID-related shelter restrictions have been lifted. While some beds were lost during COVID, others will be coming online Camping Complaints Rising ●Camping complaints have increased, as have the impacts to City investments and operations ○Drug epidemic driven by opioids/fentanyl/methamphetamine ○Blake decision which has made it difficult to enforce drug possession crimes ○Regional acceptance and normalization of camping and its impacts as a way of life Camping Case Reports •2019 –60 •2020 –95 •2021 –72 •2022 –68 through July and trending towards 116 911 calls –key word “homeless” •2019 –235 •2020 –488 •2021 –465 •2022 –303 through July and trending towards 519 Case Reports and Calls for Service City Investments and Impacts ●City invests significant resources in three areas being directly impacted by camping: ○Environmentally Sensitive Areas –creeks, rivers, critical areas (steep slopes/wetlands), water retention areas, wellhead protection areas, water runoff/drainage facilities (NPDES), etc ○Parks Facilities and Programs –active parks and their facilities (bathrooms, fields, play areas, trails), passive parks, Commons, Senior Center, etc., as well as programs ○Economic Investments –business community, investments in thriving economy and employment base ●These efforts and investments have been compromised by impacts of camping in spaces designated and maintained for other purposes ●Community members and staff express concern over safety, and concerns over the protection of property Environmentally Sensitive Areas ●City follows federal, state, and local regulations aimed at protecting the natural environment ○The City is obligated to maintain or take action to protects creeks, rivers, critical areas such as wetlands, water retention ponds, water supply areas, wellhead protection areas, etc ○The City also invests significant resources into the built environment –storm drainage (NPDES), culverts, bridges, underpasses, salmon habitat areas, streets, sidewalks, etc ○Public Works has had to shift resources from general maintenance to cleanup of camps, and restoration of areas damaged by unauthorized camping ○Our resources are being diverted to cleaning camps. Work cleaning non-camp related litter in the right of way is not being completed Parks Facilities and Programs ●The City invests in active and passive parks as well as programs ●Shift of staff resources to address camping impacts park maintenance levels of services resulting in a struggle to meet maintenance needs ●Increased instances of vandalism of park bathrooms, barbeques, sinks, faucets and other infrastructure designed for public use –City has been forced to eliminate access to amenities thereby penalizing everyone ●Staff secure restrooms to sure they are clear of illicit use and drug paraphernalia, and are available for the general public ●Budgeted funds are going towards cleanup, not program improvement or maintenance needs ●Significantly reduces the public’s access to nature –impacting community health and other outcomes ●Facilities (e.g. Commons and Senior Center) deal with camping on site, which includes fires, vandalism, garbage ●Parks employees must direct resources away from the customer experience, and reduces the willingness of the community to use the parks Kent Parks Operational Impacts cont. What do the residents who want to use their public lands think? Public perception/subjectivity of personal safety: 75.9% of respondents ranked “feeling of safety” in parks as the item they want Kent Parks to focus on. Safety ranked ahead of maintenance. 2022 Park and Open Space Plan Survey 60% of respondents surveyed are dissatisfied with safety in parks. 2022 Park and Open Space Plan Survey 70.6% of respondents ranked “feeling of safety” on trails as the item they want Kent Parks to focus on. Safety ranked ahead of maintenance. 2022 Park and Open Space Plan Survey 67% of respondents surveyed are dissatisfied with safety on trails. 2022 Park and Open Space Plan Survey Not feeling safe in parks/facilities ranked #1 top reason for not using Kent Parks or visiting Kent’s parks and facilities.2022 Park and Open Space Plan Survey Not feeling safe in parks/facilities ranked #3 top reason for not participating or visiting Kent’s parks and facilities. 2019 Marketing and Engagement Survey Economic Investments ●The City receives complaints regarding camps from business owners and residents on a daily basis ●CAO meets with the KDP director monthly and a common concern is camping and crime in the downtown area ●Camping and associated crime are a common refrain of our business community at meetings ●Businesses are seeking action –have attended council meetings, are seeking measures to protect their business by hardening property, spending money on security ●In some areas, business have shuttered due to dangerous conditions (Starbucks closing stores in Seattle) ●Other business are at risk of leaving Staff Safety ●The City has found it necessary to change its approach to performing job ●Field staff who work in our parks and in our natural areas are often confronted by individuals who demonstrate hostility ●Some staff must work in pairs due to location ●The City is currently looking to retain a consultant to train staff in dealing with unsafe individuals in the field ●Staff are handing and exposed to an increasing volume of hazardous materials (drug paraphernalia including needles, human excrement, hazardous chemicals, etc) that require additional care and resources ●When staff and contractors show up for work at a sight, often they cannot do the work due to the location of camps. This delays work, interrupts employees, and increases contractor costs (delay costs) All of this reduces resources for the provision of traditional services Quality of Life •Law Violations o Litter/illegal dumping, destruction of property o Vehicle theft/prowl, commercial/residential burglary, arson, shoplift, trespass o Violent crime and property crime within camps •Quality of Life o Creates safety concerns for general public –public feels unsafe in spaces near camps o Impacts residential neighborhoods, particularly those with parks and green spaces o Loss of interest in caring for community •Businesses o Threat to business viability o Employee and customer safety is a concern o Expense of cleanup and damage repair o Added private security costs o Business reluctant to expand or invest Example Council received emails last week from the individuals responsible for this camp. They were asking to be allowed to stay where they were. They claimed to be keeping the forest in order and indicated they would be caretakers of the forest in return for being allowed to stay. They were offered shelter but refused. They planned to move to a parent’s home outside of Kent. Example Area is a wetland and headwaters for McSorley Creek which runs to the Puget Sound. WRIA 9 has a project that calls for $21 million investment in restoration of creek where it enters the Puget Sound at Saltwater State Park. City Mission, Vision and Values -Expectations ●The revisions to ordinance will provide staff with an additional tool to help achieve the City’s Mission, Vision and Values ●The City does not expect many criminal filings –the threat of arrest will be sufficient encouragement to achieve results in most cases ○Since 2000, the City has filed on average fewer than 11 cases per year (240 total cases) ○In some cases, charging will be necessary ■We recognize that some individuals are dealing with significant challenges and may not be willing to make a decisions to take measures to improve their situation ■We will give individuals the opportunity to work with outreach staff to access temporary housing, with the goal that they will move into appropriate permanent housing ■If individuals refuse opportunities to connect with providers and work toward being housed, we will have a tool to use more forceful measures Roles and Responsibilities Internal Taskforce •Representatives from city departments meet monthly to discuss the impacts of camping within the city •This group works collaboratively to address underlying causes and impacts on the community and to focus resources Human Services •Works to strengthen regional and subregional partnerships to create strategies related to homeless individuals •Works with neighboring communities, within Kent and with agencies and providers to connect individuals with resources •Provides support to Police and other city staff encountering encampments by assisting individuals and families in accessing emergency resources, and providing referrals and connections to direct service providers Kent Police Department •SOU responds to citizen complaints and known camping hotspots. Partners with PW (clean up) and Human Services (shelter and other services) •Patrol officers respond to criminal matters that may be associated with encampments Public Works and Parks •Work in parallel with KPD and HS on identifying emerging encampments or individuals in need, primary source for cleanup of encampments through in-house labor or contracted services Response to Camping Camps are discovered through: ○Citizen Complaints ○Parks Observation ○Public Works Observation ○Police Observation ●Small camps are dealt with by staff ●Larger camps or area trends are addressed through strategy sessions by the Internal Homeless Task Force •Initial Complaint/Observation •911 Call for Service •Routine Patrol •Complaints via Phone and Email •First Contact •Identify Individuals •Education on Laws •Offer Resources and understand individual situation and barrier •Provide Resources •Kent Emergency Resource Card •Bring resources to individuals in the field if willing •Store personal property if they utilize resources •Follow up with resources on individual’s path through services Engagement Process Engagement Process cont. •Posting Camps •48 Hour Notice to Remove Property if camp is on public property (48 hours is minimum –time is usually longer) •Trespass agreement if private property •Police maintain a storage unit to store property for individuals in transition •Rare language issue •Follow Up •Check status of encampment •Allow extra time if necessary if individuals are cooperative and progress is made •Clean Up •Public –Parks/Public Works/contractor if large complex camp •Private –Property owner has property cleaned up Engagement Process cont. •Criminal Consequences •Many crimes are committed in areas surrounding and within encampments •Damage to the natural and built environment is severe •Goal is to encourage and educate individuals to change their behavior •When this does not work, criminal consequences in the form of citations and physical arrests become an option Offer of Shelter and Shelter Availability ●Police and Human Services offer shelter to every individual they contact ●If there is a language barrier (extremely rare) language line services are used ●A resource card is provided during every contact and resource cards are left at unoccupied encampments ●Human Services staff monitor the availability of shelter and have individuals on call from a number of shelter providers if a person is willing to accept shelter ●For large encampments, Human Services arranges for shelter representatives to be on site and available to help ●The reality is that in a vast majority of cases, shelter is rejected for a variety of reasons ●In cases in which shelter is accepted, it is not uncommon for individuals to change their mind before entering shelter or leave shortly after entering –we continue to work with them often over periods of months and sometimes years Example of Contact Proposed Ordinance ●This ordinance will replace the existing ordinance ●A significant shift is to focus on: ○Impacts of camping on the environment ○Ensuring Kent’s improved spaces remain available for intended use ○Addressing conflicts in use with a resolution in favor of intended use by the public ●Shelter will be offered in every case ●Filing charges will only be used as a last resort Change Will Take Time ●The public will not see change overnight ●Like the entire region, the City is recovering from a period of low staffing levels in the Police Department ●At its peak, the Department had a sergeant and eight officers in the Special Operations Unit –currently the unit is made up of one sergeant and one officer ●Staffing is improving and as more officers come on duty, the SOU will be properly staffed ●In the meantime, the City has increased (by double) its investment in the Catholic Community Centers Engagement Center for next year –increases the opportunities for individuals to get the services and case management they need for successful housing Revisions to Ordinance The Law Department will explain the changes being proposed Staff members from various involved departments are here to answer questions following the Law Department’s presentation Once questions are answered, we request this to be placed on the Consent portion of the agenda for the October 18, Council meeting 0 1�� KENT WASHINGTON City of Kent Police Department In accordance with the laws noted below, it is unlawful to store property and reside on public land in the manner in which you are. You are hereby advised that you have 48 hours to remove your property by order of the City of Kent. If the property is not removed by (date), at (time), it will be removed and disposed of by the City of Kent. YOU HAVE THE RIGHTTO A HEARING. You have the right to a hearing to petition for more time to remove your property. If you would like a hearing prior to the removal of your property, you must contact the Kent Police Depart- ment before the date noted above. The Kent Police Department may be contacted at (253) 856-5800 or by visiting the Kent Police Department at 232 4th Avenue South, Kent, WA 98032. At the hearing, you may present any infor- mation you want the Kent Police Department to consider in determining whether the time to remove your property should be extended. You may present this information in person or in writing, and by your own information or by that of witnesses or representatives. If you have insufficient means of communication by phone, you may, prior to the date and time noted above, come to the police department Monday -Friday between 8:00 am and 4:30 pm to have your matter heard. Are You in Need of Housing or Health Services? If you are in need of referrals for housing or health services, you are advised to contact the Kent Housing and Human Service Department at (253) 856-5070 or 220 4th Avenue South, Kent, WA 98032. Laws that prohibit the conduct in question may include, but may not be limited to: • RCW 9.66.030: Maintaining or permitting nuisance • RCW 9.66.050: Deposit of unwholesome substance RCW 9A.48.050: Reckless burning in the second degree RCW 9A.48.070-090: Malicious mischief RCW 9A.52.080: Criminal trespass in the second degree KCC 8.01.020-030: Prohibited conduct — Public nuisance • KCC 8.04.030: Litter in public places • KCC 8.04.050: Litter in Parks • KCC 8.04.100: Litter on private property • KCC 8.09.010-020: Unlawful camping and unlawful storing personal property in public • KCC 9.02.195:Tampering or interfering with the property of another This notice was issued on Police Department at (date) at (time) by Officer on) in Kent, WA. of the Kent The officer signing below certifies and declares under penalty of perjury under the laws of the State of Washington that this notice was posted in a conspicuous place on the property at the above listed date and time. Signature of Officer kpd315_01 _17 OTHER ASSISTANCE Crisis Connections Community Information Line Dial 2-1-1 or 1-800-621-4636 24 Hour Crisis Line and Mental Health Resources 1-866-427-4747 Sound Health 206-302-2300 Housing Justice Project Maleng Regional Justice Center 4014th Ave N 91281 8:00 a.m. -10:30 a.m. Monday -Friday No appointments, no calls, in person only. Eviction matters only. Multi -Service Center 515 W Harrison St. Call: 253-854-4406 Department of Social and Health Services 1313 W Meeker St. Call:1-877-501-2233 Valley Cities Call: 253-833-7444 Domestic Violence Hotline 1-800-562-6025 Coatimwed on DICIK OTHER(CONT.) YMCA Arcadia Young Adult Shelter 206-749-7550 CSEC (Commercially Sexually Exploited Children) 855-400-2732 FOOD/HOTMEALS Kent Food Bank 515 W Harrison Street Suite 107 Walk up -Wednesday and Friday 10 a.m. -1 p.m. Thursday Seniors (55+) No exceptions 10:00 am to 11:00 am Birch Creek 12961 SE 275th Street Mondays at 10 a.m. -1 p.m. Kent Lutheran Church Supper 336 2nd Avenue S Monday and Thursday at 4 p.m. OTHER ASSISTANCE Health Point 403 E Meeker St 253-852-2866 Homeless Veterans 1-877-904-8387 Neighborhood Legal Clinic Appointment Line 206-267-7070 New Connections 422W.Titus -253-856-9200 KentHOPE Day Center Women and Children 9009 Canyon Drive 253-480-2325 Seamar Medical Clinic 233 2nd Ave S 206-436-6380 Catholic Community Services Community Engagement Center 1229 W Smith St 253-854-0077 FOOD/HOT MEALS(CONT.) Holy Spirit Parish 327 2nd Avenue S Call 253-859-0444 Tuesdays at 6:30 p.m. Last Friday of the month at 7 p.m. Seventh-Day Adventist Supper 25213116th Avenue Saturday at 1 p.m. Trinity Community Church 3807 Reith Rd Wednesdays from 4:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m 253-852-1044 Thursday Night Supper 336 2nd Ave S Thursday 4:30 p.m.-5:30 p.m. Calvary Chapel South 1340 W Smith St. Every 4th Saturday from 11:30 am -1:00 p.m. 253-852-7030 '�' SHELTERS Mary's Place Emergency Family Shelter Intake 206-245-1026 Catholic Community Services Shelter Program 253-854-0077 Downtown Emergency Service Center - Seattle 206-464-1570 Operation Nightwatch -Seattle 206-329-2099 Domestic Abuse Women's Network 425-656-7867 Union Gospel Mission 206-622-5177 KentHOPE 9009 Canyon Drive 253-480-2325 Severe Weather Shelter Options call: 2-1-1