Emily Armstrong the Houseless Programs Manager in the department of Community Planning, Development and Innovation presented the background and timeline regarding the Johnson Street Shelter. She provided a status update on the Health Department Variance request and reiterated the request specifics. She provided the contract specifics including the amount, the contract was specifically for operational funding, the American Rescue Plan Act funds as the funding source, County collaboration, the duration of funding, and the anticipated outcomes. Jill Bonney, Executive Director of the Poverello Center explained the Johnson Street shelter operations, goals, capacity, services, shelter rules, and provided staff trainings. Ms. Armstrong recapped the upcoming Johnson Street Shelter community engagement events, times, and locations. She reiterated the shelter was being opened as a response the houselessness emergency. For more information, please watch the attached video.
The committee, Ms. Armstrong, Ms. Bonney, Mayor Hess, Ellen Buchanan, Director of the Missoula Redevelopment Agency (MRA) and Eran Pehan, Director of Community Planning, Development and Innovation discussed the following:
- The feasibility and barriers regarding the shelter allowing needle use on site to mitigate drug use in the surrounding neighborhoods and possibly allow for more oversite for those experiencing addiction.
- The quality of food that was provided at the Poverello Center.
- The limited alternatives for those experiencing houselessness if the Johnson Street shelter was not to open.
- The reiteration that the Johnson Street Shelter was only a temporary solution in response to an emergency to address people living without shelter on community parks, trails, and rights of way.
- The long-term development planning process for the Montana Rail Link (MRL) triangle property including the intent to redevelop and the incorporation to the Midtown Master plan as the guiding document driving the planning process.
- Clarification on the start time of the upcoming public meeting at Franklin Elementary as well as the intent of the meeting to hear community concerns and provide staff, subject matter experts and community partners to answer questions.
- The updating of the resource list for reporting issues, concerns, and complaints as well as where and how it will be distributed and made available.
- The municipal codes that apply to the operation of the shelter, the past use classification, the current process of transitioning the use classification of the shelter, and the purpose of a public forum.
- The funding origination for the shelter and associated services as well as the City investment versus the County investment.
- The neighborhood engagement plan, the plan for addressing conflict and balancing the need of the shelter with the need of the residential area. The future engagement initiatives that would allow for ample community participation in the decision-making process to determine a long-term solution.
- The negative interactions conveyed by neighbors in the shelter area including trash, open drug use, the sale of drugs and sex trafficking.
- The potential use of the Camp-Make-A-Dream property.
- The new Code Compliance position in the City specifically focused on Urban Camping Related Issues.
- The role of private security and what the neighborhoods can expect regarding security and patrols.
- The potential for conditional approval of the contract with the commitment to start the master planning process including the demolition of the Johnson Street building timeline.
- The potential ordinance changes that will update Title 12 to create a no camping buffer zone around certain community features including waterways, playgrounds, parks, and shelters with the intent of discouraging problematic behaviors around those areas.
Councilwoman Jones made the recommended motion.
Public Comment:
Barbra Pulley, a Missoula resident, suggested the County take responsibility and utilize Marshall Mountain as an encampment location. She also recommended a transportation solution to go along with the suggestion.
Matts Larson, a resident of Ward 3, questioned what steps can be taken to mitigate drug use in the shelter. He suggested making fifty percent of the tax credit available to fund houselessness and affordable housing. He also mentioned the need for a temporary outdoor space for those that do not want to use the shelter.
Lander Karath, a Kensington Ave resident, expressed that the shelter was a huge burden to bear for a neighborhood to solve a problem that is city-wide. He mentioned the negative impact on the neighborhood when the shelter was open and the lack of support provisions. He commented on the lack of community engagement and outreach during this decision-making process.
There were technical issues with the call-in phone lines. Chairperson West asked those individuals to email their concerns.
Councilwoman Jordan moved to amend the contract to the following: The contract be for 1 year only, reworded to establish the shelter as low barrier to allow for needle injection on-site, refining the metrics related to opportunities for neighbors, state that additional data collected related to calls for service for Johnson Street will be compared to when it is closed then create a plan to address the top five issues that are gleaned from that data.
Councilman Nugent moved to hold the item in committee for further discussion.
Councilwoman Jordan withdrew her previous motion.
Committee Chair West held the item in committee until the next meeting.
Councilwoman Vasecka spoke to the huge burden on the neighborhood, the frustration of the neighbors, the need to ensure this does not continue to burden the neighborhood and the categorization of an emergency situation.
No vote was taken.