[2) CALL TO ORDER]
[00:00:08]
FIRST OFF, IN STUDY SESSION, ALAN KEMP, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FROM THE IOWA LEAGUE OF CITIES.
AND SO IT'S A PRIVILEGE TO COME OVER HERE. ABOUT A MONTH AGO WE HELD OUR ANNUAL CONFERENCE.
AND DURING THAT TIME, WE AWARD VARIOUS AWARDS, INCLUDING THE LEAGUE HALL OF FAME.
AND SO WE HAD TWO AWARD WINNERS. ONE WAS QUENTIN HART, THE MAYOR OF WATERLOO, BUT ALSO MATT WALSH AS MAYOR OF COUNCIL BLUFFS. AND SO I WAS UNABLE TO BE IN ATTENDANCE AT THE CONFERENCE.
AND I KNOW MATT WAS ALSO OUT OF TOWN, SO WE DIDN'T GET A CHANCE.
SO THE LEAGUE HALL OF FAME WAS CREATED IN 1995, AND IT'S REALLY DESIGNED FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO'VE PROVIDED EXTRAORDINARY PUBLIC SERVICE TO THE LEAGUE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS. AND SO THERE'S A COMMITTEE THAT'S MADE UP OF FORMER AND EXISTING CITY OFFICIALS THAT TAKE A LOOK AT THE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE NOMINATED AND MAKE THE DECISION ON WHETHER TO MAKE THIS AWARD.
MAYOR WALSH IS THE 62ND MEMBER OF THE LEAGUE'S HALL OF FAME.
SO IT WAS REALLY SORT OF THE SELECTION OF THE AWARD IS MADE ON THE BASIS OF THE SERVICE THAT YOU CAN RENDER TO A CITY GOVERNMENT, BUT THEN ALSO ADVOCATING FOR CITIES ON A STATEWIDE BASIS.
MAYOR WALSH IS A FORMER PRESIDENT FOR THE IOWA LEAGUE OF CITIES.
BACK IN 2016, AND HE'S BEEN A CONSTANT, VALUED MEMBER OF THE LEAGUE FOR ALL THOSE YEARS AND PROVIDING US ASSISTANCE, PARTICULARLY WHEN IT COMES TO ADVOCATING BEFORE THE LEGISLATURE JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT CITY ISSUES ARE KEPT IN FRONT OF THE LEGISLATURE SO THEY UNDERSTAND THESE ISSUES. AND SO WE JUST WANTED TO SHOW UP AND THANK MAYOR WALSH CONGRATULATE HIM FOR THIS HALL OF FAME INDUCTION AND DO IT BACK IN HIS HOME COMMUNITY. SO MAYOR WALSH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH [APPLAUSE].
ABOUT 940 CITIES IN THE STATE OF IOWA. IT REPRESENTS SMALL CITIES, LARGE CITIES.
IT'S REALLY A VOICE OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR ALL YOU DO.
THANK YOU [APPLAUSE]. ALL RIGHT.
[3) CONSENT AGENDA]
REVIEW AGENDA. ANY. QUESTIONS REGARDING THE CONSENT AGENDA? PUBLIC HEARINGS? ORDINANCE ON FIRST? HOW ABOUT THE RESOLUTIONS? AND ARE WE GOING TO DISCUSS. HOW DO YOU WANT TO HANDLE THIS? ALL RIGHT, SO IF THERE'S NO QUESTIONS ON THE AGENDA, WE'LL MOVE TO 1.C.AND I DON'T KNOW WHO WANTS TO TAKE A LEAD ON THIS.
DO YOU WANT TO ROGER. YEAH, I CAN TAKE THE LEAD.
IN MY TEN YEARS ON COUNCIL, I THINK THE HOMELESS POPULATION.
HAS GROWN. I THINK IT'S GROWN NATIONWIDE. IT'S NOT JUST OUR PROBLEM.
IT'S A PROBLEM ACROSS THE COUNTRY. I DON'T THINK ANY OF US HAVE A SOLUTION.
I DON'T THINK ANYBODY IN THE COUNTRY HAS A SOLUTION.
I DON'T THINK BEING HOMELESS IS, I DON'T THINK THAT MAKES YOU A CRIMINAL.
[00:05:05]
SOMETHING HAS TO CHANGE. SO I DON'T THINK THAT WHAT WE'RE DOING IS WORKING AND THAT'S WHY I BROUGHT THIS FORWARD.AND SO I'VE WORKED WITH TONY. I THINK HE'S HERE.
YES, SIR. YEAH, I'VE WORKED WITH TONY ON SOME OF THIS.
IT'S AN ORDINANCE. SO IT'S GOT TO GO TO THREE READINGS FOR SURE.
IT CAN GO TO FOUR. WE HAVE TO HAVE ONE ON THE CONSENT AGENDA, PUBLIC HEARING AND THE THIRD READING.
AND THEN IT CAN GO TO A FOURTH READING. SO AS I TOLD TONY, I THINK IT CAN AND WILL CHANGE HOW IT'S WRITTEN, YOU KNOW, I THINK WHEN I TALK WITH TONY, HE MET WITH WHAT WAS THE GROUP CALLED? TONY? THRIVING? THRESHOLD. THRESHOLD. THRESHOLD.
AND WE HAVE YEAH, WE HAVE 50% OF THE OF THE HOMELESS UNSHELTERED IN OUR COMMUNITY AT THE POINT IN TIME, LAST POINT IN TIME SURVEY. AND SO I THINK HAVING SOME RULES AND REGULATIONS AROUND WHAT WE'RE DOING TO HELP THESE PEOPLE IS, IS VERY IMPORTANT. AND SO THAT'S WHERE THIS, THIS KIND OF CAME FROM.
AND SO I DON'T THINK THAT THE ORDINANCE OUT WRITTEN IS GOING TO STAY THE SAME.
I THINK TONY'S GOT SOME QUESTIONS ON WHAT WE CAN AND CAN'T DO.
BUT I KNOW WHAT WE'RE DOING TODAY. I TRULY BELIEVE AND IT HAS TO CHANGE.
AND SO THAT'S WHY I PUT IT ON THE STUDY SESSION AGENDA.
I THINK ALL DECISIONS MADE IN THIS ROOM ARE FUNDED BY TAXPAYER CITIZENS.
ALL DECISIONS MADE ARE FUNDED BY TAXPAYERS, WHETHER THAT'S FEDERAL DOLLARS OR LOCAL DOLLARS.
IT'S ALL TAXPAYER MONEY. AND SO I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING WE HAVE TO BE COGNIZANT OF.
YOU KNOW, WE'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR EVERYBODY. AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO HAVE RULES AND STANDARDS AND REGULATIONS IN PLACE, JUST AS WE REQUIRE OF OTHER BUSINESSES.
I DON'T THINK, LIKE I SAID, WHAT'S SPECIFICALLY IN THERE, I DON'T I THINK IT'S GOING TO CHANGE.
I THINK TONY KNOWS IT'S GOING TO CHANGE. RIGHT.
I, OBVIOUSLY NONE OF US HAVE WRITTEN AN ORDINANCE, THE STAFF OR LEGAL RIGHTS, THE ORDINANCES, SO. IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE ORDINANCE, I THINK TONY CAN ADDRESS THEM.
I CAN TRY TO ADDRESS SOME OF THEM, BUT I THINK THAT'S THE DISCUSSION WE WANT TO HAVE TODAY.
I'D LIKE TO THANK YOU. ROGER. A FEW FEW WEEKS AGO OR A FEW COUNCIL MEETINGS AGO, I DID STATE THAT IF WE'RE GOING TO HAVE HOMELESS AS AN ISSUE IN THE COMMUNITY, COME WITH IDEAS, AND YOU CAME WITH AN ORDINANCE, WHICH IS AWESOME. DON'T LIE. NO, SERIOUSLY. YOU DID EXACTLY WHAT I ASKED.
THIS IS GOING TO CHANGE THE WAY IT'S WRITTEN NOW.
THE LICENSING OF THE HOMELESS SHELTERS AND SUPPORT SERVICES TO HOMELESS.
WELL, AND I, SORRY TO INTERRUPT, BUT TONY AND I TALKED ABOUT WE NEED TO CHANGE.
PROBABLY GO TO ZONING AND PLANNING. GO TO THE PLAN.
THERE'S A NUMBER OF THINGS THAT QUALIFY UNDER THE, HOW IT'S WRITTEN AND DEFINED.
SO I THINK WE HAVE TO DO THAT AS WELL. WELL, I DO SEE, THERE'S SOME THINGS IN HERE THAT I THINK WOULD BE CONSTRICTING TO THE SHELTERS SUCH AS METAL DETECTORS AND, AND SOME OF THE THINGS
[00:10:01]
AROUND THE WORDING WITHIN THE HOUSING OR THE GUEST ROOMS OF THE FACILITY THOSE WOULD HAVE TO BE LOOKED AT. AND BECAUSE THE WAY I READ IT, IT SOUNDED LIKE IT NEEDED PRIVACY WITHIN THESE AREAS, WHICH WOULD MEAN MORE WALLS, WHICH WOULD MEAN LESS SPACE FOR PEOPLE THAT ARE IN EMERGENCY SHELTER.THOSE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT ARE CONCERNING TO ME. ONE OF THE THINGS I REALLY WANT TO WATCH IS WE DO NOT WANT TO AND YOU STATED THIS YOURSELF, CRIMINALIZE HOMELESSNESS. THIS IS A HUMAN TRAGEDY THAT WE'RE FACING AS A NATION, NOT JUST HERE.
IT'S IT'S EVERYWHERE. AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT OVER REGULATING OUR FACILITIES TO WHERE IT MAKES IT DIFFICULT FOR THEM TO MANAGE.
I'VE HAD SOME CONVERSATIONS WITH BOTH POLICE AND FIRE CHIEFS.
I KNOW THEY'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THE FOLKS DOWN AT NEW VISIONS HERE A LOT.
SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THAT I'VE TALKED WITH AND WE'RE TALKING WITH BOTH OF THEM IS AND HONESTLY, WHEN BRANDY CAME A COUPLE FEW MONTHS AGO, WE DISCUSSED DIFFERENT SAFETY MECHANISMS AND MEASURES FOR NOT ONLY OUR STAFF AS THEY COME IN, BUT FOR HER STAFF AS THEY'RE THERE. SO PUTTING SOME OF THAT MAYBE DOWN IN CODE, I COULD SEE HOW IT WOULD BE BENEFICIAL.
AND THEN AT THE ON NOT TO LOOK AT IT AS A HINDRANCE TO THE FACILITY, BUT AS A POINT OR AN EXAMPLE FOR THEM TO SAY, LOOK, YES, WE'RE DOING THINGS, YOU KNOW, THE RIGHT WAY.
WE'RE KEEPING OUR PEOPLE SAFE. WE'RE KEEPING STAFF SAFE, CITY STAFF, WHEN THEY COME IN SAFE.
ONE OF THE THINGS WE TALKED ABOUT WAS THE CAMERAS. AND I KNOW THAT'S A PROCESS THAT HAS TO HAPPEN, BUT THOSE THINGS ARE HAPPENING. I THINK WE'RE MOVING IN THAT DIRECTION.
I GUESS AT THIS POINT, I SUPPOSE. AND I DON'T KNOW.
ABLE TO ATTEND TODAY. BUT I FEEL LIKE SOME OF THE FOLKS THAT ARE INVOLVED IN IT WOULD BE GOOD TO BRING IN TO THIS DISCUSSION, I GUESS. SO IF IT'S OKAY WITH YOU, I'D LIKE TO ASK YOU KNOW, FIRE CHIEF THAT IS HERE FOR SOME OF HIS INPUT, IF THAT WOULD WORK. CHIEF, IF YOU'RE AMENABLE TO THAT.
YEAH. YOU'RE TRYING TO TIGHTEN UP THE SHELTER, I'M ASSUMING.
I'M TRYING TO TIGHTEN UP RULES AND REGULATIONS AND ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THE COMMUNITY.
YEAH. AND I'D GLADLY SIT DOWN WITH TONY. I MEAN, THERE'S ACTUALLY SOME STUFF IN HERE THAT I JOTTED DOWN THAT MAYBE ISN'T RESTRICTIVE ENOUGH, WHICH IS PROBABLY NOT A POPULAR STATEMENT, BUT I WISH WE WE NEED TO SPEND SOME MORE TIME.
I HAD A LONG CONVERSATION WITH THE COUNTY ATTORNEY LAST WEEK.
THIS HAS GOBBLED UP A GREAT DEAL OF MY TIME OVER THE LAST COUPLE YEARS, WORKING WITH ALL THE PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM, TRYING TO GET TO THE HEART OF THE PROBLEM IN A SYSTEM THAT KIND OF JUST WALKED AWAY FROM IT.
AND THAT'S REALLY WHAT'S HAPPENED, AND IT'S GETTING PUSHED DOWN ON THE LOCAL LEVEL TO TRY TO FIX IT.
MATT, WILBUR AND I HAD A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM AND HOW THE SYSTEM WORKS, AND WHERE THE FRUSTRATIONS LIE, AND HOW WE ACTUALLY START TO COMBAT WHAT IS PROBABLY THE PRIMARY ISSUE OR ONE OF THE PRIMARY ISSUES OF HOMELESSNESS, WHICH IS ADDICTION AND MENTAL HEALTH.
WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH SOME OF OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT, AS THE NEW HOSPITAL COMES ONLINE IS THERE A AVAILABILITY ABILITY TO HAVE SOME LONG TERM BEDS. I'LL ASK YOU THIS BECAUSE I DON'T THINK YOU KNOW THE ANSWER.
HOW MANY LONG TERM BEDS TREATMENT BEDS ARE IN ALL OF WESTERN IOWA? NOT ENOUGH. THAT'S THE ANSWER. THE ANSWER IS ZERO.
[00:15:03]
PEOPLE. I HAD A CONVERSATION WITH LIEUTENANT ON THE PD AT LUNCHTIME.JUST KIND OF SHOOTING FROM THE HIP. AND, YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES WHEN LAW ENFORCEMENT GO OUT AND THEY HAVE CONTACT WITH THESE PEOPLE, THEY SAY, WELL, THEY JUST WANT TO BE HOMELESS.
TO BE HONEST WITH YOU. I HAVE A HARD TIME BELIEVING THAT ANY OF THESE PEOPLE, IF THEY HAD CLEAR MINDS, WOULD WANT TO BE IN THE SITUATION THEY ARE. I JUST THINK WE HAD A GOOD MEETING LAST WEEK WITH SOMEBODY ACTUALLY MADE IT OUT.
AND WHAT ACTUALLY TRIGGERED HIM MAKING IT OUT WAS SOMEWHAT EYE OPENING BECAUSE FROM THE MAJORITY OF THE PEOPLE I'VE TALKED TO THAT MADE IT OUT, IT TOOK SOME LEVEL OF CONFINEMENT AND TREATMENT.
THIS INDIVIDUAL TOOK A VIKING WOMAN IN CALL OF DUTY.
AND SO IT JUST WHAT, AND EVERYBODY IS DIFFERENT ALONG THE WAY, YOU KNOW LIKE AND IF WE DON'T START ATTACKING THE ACTUAL PROBLEM, I MEAN, THERE'S NOTHING THAT NEW VISIONS IS DOING OR ANY OTHER SHELTER IN TOWN THAT'S CAUSING THIS PROBLEM PER SE.
THEY ARE ACTUALLY TRYING TO HELP IT, BUT THEY'RE NOT THE TOOL IT TAKES.
THEY'RE JUST THERE FOR SHELTER. AND THAT TOOL IS REALLY LONG TERM TREATMENT.
SO THE QUESTION IS WHAT TAXPAYERS. IF THEY'RE RAN THROUGH THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM ON THE CRIMINAL SIDE IN THE DISTRICT COURTS, ONCE THAT GAVEL DROPS, IT GOES BACK TO THE STATE, WHICH IS PROBABLY WHERE IT SHOULD LAND.
THE PROBLEM IS JUDGES DON'T HAVE ANYWHERE TO PUT THESE PEOPLE.
SO IT GETS PUSHED OFF ON OUR LOCAL HOSPITALS AND OUR LOCAL SHELTERS.
AND IT'S REALLY IT'S GOING TO TAKE US SOME TIME TO BUILD THAT FRAMEWORK.
AND SO WE HAVE TO WE NEED TO FIND A WAY TO BUILD OUT THAT FRAMEWORK.
LIKE THAT YOU'RE TELLING US THAT THAT'S SOLVED THE PROBLEM.
WE KNOW I'M NOT. HOMELESSNESS IS PART OF THE PROBLEM.
BUT HAVING THE SHELTER, WHETHER THAT'S NEW VISIONS OR ANYBODY ELSE THAT DOESN'T HAVE RULES AND REGULATIONS AND CONTROL, THAT'S WHERE THE PROBLEM LIES. AND YOU'RE YOU KNOW, YOU TALK ABOUT CALLS TO SERVICE.
THERE'S TONS DOWN THERE. I THINK IT'S AN. IT'S NOT, IT'S NOT.
IT'S AN UNFAIR STATEMENT TO SAY THAT THERE'S NO RULES AND REGULATIONS DOWN THERE.
I AGREE. THERE IS RULES AND REGULATIONS. I WOULD TELL YOU, I DON'T THINK IT'S ENOUGH.
I GUESS, THAT'S YOU'RE RIGHT. AND THAT'S FAIR, RIGHT? BUT ALSO, THEY CAN'T CONTROL WHAT HAPPENS OUTSIDE OF THEIR WALLS, RIGHT.
SO THAT AREA GETS BLAMED. LACK OF BETTER. EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENS DOWN THERE.
SAME THING WITH THE BAR. IF YOU GET CALLED TO THE HUNDRED BLOCK AND IT'S IN FRONT OF THEIR BAR, THEY GET BLAMED. I AGREE. BUT THEY CAN'T REGULATE WHAT HAPPENS ON THE STREET. IT'S OUTSIDE OF THEIR PURVIEW. AND IF WE'RE GOING TO GO, AND I DO AGREE WITH STEVE.
THAT IS STEP ONE. SO I, I DO REALLY APPRECIATE THAT.
BUT SOME OF THE STUFF THAT I'M SEEING IN THIS PROPOSAL, IT'S GOING TO LIMIT AND HINDER AND POTENTIALLY, WHAT HAPPENS IF NEW VISION SAYS, YOU KNOW WHAT, THIS IS TOO MUCH.
WE'RE OUT. THEN WHERE DO THOSE 200 PEOPLE GO? I DON'T KNOW. WE'RE SO, I WOULD ECHO CHIEF JAMES'S STATEMENT OF, I THINK WE NEED TO TAKE A STEP BACK AND LOOK AT THIS A DIFFERENT WAY, INSTEAD OF JUST COMING IN AND PUTTING DOWN RULES AND REGULATIONS THAT MIGHT HAVE A VERY BIG NEGATIVE IMPACT AND MAKE THE SITUATION WORSE.
I THINK. IT'S A GREAT WAY TO START THE CONVERSATION.
I THINK THAT THIS NEEDS TO BE A METRO WIDE CONVERSATION.
IF WE'RE TALKING HOMELESSNESS, THIS IS MORE AROUND FACILITIES AND REGULATIONS AROUND THE FACILITIES.
THAT'S WHAT I READ IN HERE. VERY LITTLE IN HERE TRULY HELPS HOMELESSNESS.
IT'S NOT, IT'S NOT ABOUT. AND I WOULD ADD, VERY LITTLE IN HERE TO THIS POINT.
I'M GLAD. ROGER, I'M NOT AGAINST THIS ORDINANCE.
I DON'T WANT YOU TO. I THINK IT'S A GOOD, I MEAN WE CAN START.
I DO WANT TO REMIND YOU THAT. I MEAN, BRANDY DOESN'T REALLY GET ANY.
THE SHOULDERS DON'T GET MONEY FROM US DIRECTLY.
I MEAN, WE'RE NOT WE'RE NOT KICKING MONEY TO HER TO DO SOME OF THESE REQUIREMENTS.
THAT'S SOMETHING WE CAN TALK ABOUT MOVING FORWARD.
[00:20:03]
THIS IS SO COMPLICATED IT WOULD SCARE YOU, BECAUSE IT GOES BACK TO TRULY HOW OUR JUDICIAL SYSTEM WORKS.IF YOU LOOK AT LAW ENFORCEMENT'S VIEW ON IT, JUST BECAUSE WE'VE GOTTEN SO LENIENT ON CRIME THAT THE PEOPLE INSTEAD OF TAKING DRUG COURT, THEY'D RATHER GO TO TRIAL. AND WHAT HAPPENS IS THE JUDGES DON'T HAVE ANY CAPACITY TO PUT THEM ANYWHERE BECAUSE THERE'S NO BEDS, AND THEY DON'T REALLY WANT TO SEND THESE PEOPLE WHO ARE NONVIOLENT TO PRISON. SO THEY PLEA IT TO NOTHING.
AND THEN THE PEOPLE ARE BACK OUT ON THE STREET WITHOUT ANY HELP.
I MEAN, THIS IS A AT MINIMUM, A COUNTY PROBLEM IF AND IT'S DEFINITELY A METRO PROBLEM.
BUT IN OUR COC THE MONEY COMES TO OMAHA. YES.
I MEAN, WE'RE ONE OF THE COCS THAT ARE ACROSS STATE LINES.
AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT LAWS, CRIMINAL LAW IS COMPLETELY DIFFERENT IN NEBRASKA THAN IT IS IN IOWA.
I MEAN, TONY IS AN EXPERT ON IT. I MEAN, THE LAWS ARE JUST WRITTEN DIFFERENTLY.
AND SO AND FOR A JUDGE OVER HERE, TO ORDER SOMEBODY OVER THERE TO TREATMENT DOESN'T REALLY HAPPEN.
AND SO WE GOT TO KIND OF LOOK AT WHAT'S THE BASIC OF THE PROBLEM AND THEN PUT OUR INVESTMENT THERE.
I'LL GLADLY SIT DOWN AND WORK WITH YOU ON THIS. I THERE'S THINGS IN HERE I AGREE WITH.
THERE'S THINGS THAT WE'RE ALREADY WORKING ON I'M SURE BRANDY AND, BUT THERE IS SOME ADMINISTRATIVE SIDE OF THIS, IT APPEARS THAT COULD BE PRETTY TAXING ON SHELTERS.
I'M NOT SAYING WE CAN'T WORK THROUGH IT. I DON'T THINK THERE'S ENOUGH MEAT IN HERE, TO BE HONEST.
SO THE CONVERSATION, LIKE THERE'S NOTHING SAYING WHAT THE STANDARD IS. IT SAYS, WELL, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE SECURITY. THE, THE INTAKE HAS TO HAPPEN IN THE EYESIGHT OF SECURITY. WHAT IS SECURITY? WHO'S SECURITY? IT DOESN'T SAY ANYWHERE IN HERE YOU HAVE TO HAVE SECURITY, RIGHT.
AND THIS JUST TALKS ABOUT PLANS. THERE'S NO MEAT TO IT.
IT'S A PAPER TIGER AT THIS POINT. LIKE IT'S NOT.
LIKE, WHAT DOES THE COUNCIL WANT SECURITY TO BE LIKE? THIS IS JUST MY, THIS IS. I JUST DON'T KNOW THAT WE'RE THE EXPERTS ON EITHER, BUT I'M DEFINITELY NOT. NO, BUT I MEAN, YOU YOU SAID IT. THE SYSTEM DID WALK AWAY. BUT HERE'S WHERE WE'RE AT.
LOOK AT EVERYBODY IN THIS ROOM TODAY. THIS SHOULDN'T HAVE HAPPENED JUST TODAY.
IT FALLS ON US, THE CITY. IF THE CITY DOESN'T START TAKING A LEAD.
BUT THE CHIEFS, I'VE TALKED TO CHIEF JAMES. I'VE TALKED TO CHIEF DAVIS. THERE'S GREAT IDEAS OUT THERE. IT'S NOT, THERE'S GOOD THINGS IN THIS, LIKE I SAID. AND THERE ARE BAD THINGS JUST LIKE JUST LIKE CHIEF JAMES SAID, EXCUSE ME, BUT WE'VE GOT TO CHANGE. WE'VE GOT TO MAKE A CULTURE CHANGE.
IT'S NOT CHANGE. IT'S LITTLE THINGS THE WAY WE DO BUSINESS DOWN THERE.
CHIEF DAVIS AND I HAD THE EXACT SAME PLAN. WE GOT TOGETHER AND WE HASHED IT OUT, AND WE'RE LIKE, WE'RE ON THE SAME PAGE HERE. JUST THE WAY WE DO BUSINESS ON THE GROUNDS OF THE SHELTER.
JUST FOR APPEARANCES. MOVE THEM TO THE BACK, FENCED IN AREA, GET THE CARS OFF THAT.
JUST JUST START THERE. AND THEN I WENT TO THE DES MOINES SHELTER.
I WALKED IN THERE IN THE FIRST 35 SECONDS I WAS SOLD.
WE COULD DO THAT THERE. THERE'S MONEY THERE. LITTLE THINGS LIKE THAT.
IF WE CAN SHOW, IF YOU GUYS CAN SHOW THAT WE'RE, YOU'RE CHANGING THE CULTURE THERE.
YOU'RE. IT SHOWS OUR CITIZENS THERE'S AN INVESTMENT ON YOUR END.
SO WE CAN GO BACK AND TELL THE TAXPAYERS WE'RE STARTING TO HAVE ACCOUNTABILITY DOWN THERE.
YOU CHANGE THE WAY YOU DO BUSINESS. WE CHANGED THE WAY WE LOOK AT IT.
WE CAN GO SHIFT THAT MESSAGE. AND THAT MESSAGE HAS BEEN MISCONSTRUED FOR MONTHS.
ON MY END, WE HAVE. I'M FROM THE NONPROFIT WORLD.
WE HAVE GREAT NONPROFITS. WE HAVE GAPS. BUT SOMETIMES WHEN YOU LIVE IN THE NONPROFIT WORLD, YOU DON'T SEE THE GAPS ANYMORE. I'VE BEEN OUT OF THE NONPROFIT WORLD.
NOW I START TO SEE GAPS THAT I DIDN'T SEE BEFORE.
IT IS TO GET OUR PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICIALS TO NOT GO DOWN THERE.
I MEAN, LIKE I SAID, YOU'VE BEEN TO THAT DES MOINES SHELTER. I MEAN, IT'LL BLOW YOU AWAY IF YOU HAVEN'T BEEN. GO. IT'S JUST THEY'RE DIALED IN, THEY'RE DIALED IN. AND WHEN YOU WALK IN THERE, THERE WERE TWO PEOPLE SITTING ON THE CURB, AND EVERY CAR OUT FRONT WAS NOT A PATRON, A CLIENT'S CAR.
IT'S JUST A DIFFERENT LOOK. I DON'T KNOW IF THAT THE FIRE STATION BEING THERE CHANGES.
AND I KNOW THEY HAD A HOMELESS ENCAMPMENT WHEN THEY CHANGED POLICY DOWN THERE, AND THEN THEY HAD TO CHANGE AN ORDINANCE BECAUSE THEY HAD A PRIME TIME RAILROAD LOT RIGHT BEHIND THERE. BUT IT'S ABOUT THE CITIZENS, THE TAXPAYERS SEEING THAT NOT ONLY THE CITY WE'RE INVESTING IT, BUT YOU GUYS ARE INVESTING BACK IN THE TAXPAYERS, I THINK WHERE THAT'S WHERE THEY'RE FEELING LOST.
THEY DON'T FEEL IT. THE LOVE BACK COMING THEIR WAY.
THEY FEEL LIKE IT'S BEING TAKEN. SO THIS ORDINANCE IS GOING TO BE HASHED OUT FOR A LONG TIME.
[00:25:02]
I MEAN, BECAUSE THERE'S LIKE I SAID, THERE'S A LOT OF GOOD IN THERE. AND THERE'S SOME THINGS I READ I'M LIKE, OH, THAT'S THAT'S A LITTLE HARSH. AND THERE'S THINGS THAT WE CAN'T DO. BUT I MEAN, SADLY, CHIEF JAMES JUST SAID HE TAKES UP, NOT SADLY.WE APPRECIATE YOU TAKING UP AS MUCH AS YOUR TIME ON THIS.
BUT, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU GOT ONTO THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ALL THOSE YEARS AGO, YOU KNOW, I BET YOU WEREN'T SITTING HERE TODAY SAYING, HEY, I'M GOING TO SPEND XYZ AMOUNT OF TIME. BUT CHIEF DAVIS HAS GREAT IDEAS.
AND THAT FALLS ON. I'LL TAKE RESPONSIBILITY BEING ON COUNCIL FOR FOUR YEARS.
THIS IS WHERE IT STARTS US AS CITY OFFICIALS REPRESENTING TAXPAYER.
YOU GUYS WHO KNOW THE MEAT AND POTATOES, YOU DO THE REAL WORK.
BUT WE GOT TO BE SYMBIOTIC BECAUSE THE TAXPAYERS THAT I'M TALKING TO, THEY JUST DON'T FEEL IT.
AND THEY HAVE TO START FEELING IT SOMEHOW. SO IT'S GOING TO BE A GIVE AND TAKE.
SO THE FOUNDATION WE'RE JUST NOW LAYING THE GROUNDWORK FOR PROBABLY ABOUT 20 YEARS TOO LATE.
EVERYBODY CAN AGREE, BUT THE CITY HAS TO PLAY A LARGER ROLE.
AND I TALKED TO STEPHEN LENGTH ABOUT IT. I AGREE, WE'VE I'VE ALWAYS FELT THAT WE NEEDED TO HAVE A LARGER INPUT INTO THIS CONVERSATION. AND COMING FROM WHERE I COME FROM WITH HOMELESSNESS, I'M GOING TO TELL YOU WE CANNOT GIVE CONSEQUENCES TO GET PEOPLE OUT OF HOMELESSNESS OR MENTAL ILLNESS.
CONSEQUENCES AREN'T GOING TO WORK. THE WORLD HAS ITS OWN CONSEQUENCES.
MY DAUGHTER. I GAVE HER CONSEQUENCES ALL ALONG IN HER WHOLE ENTIRE LIFE.
AND YET SHE DIDN'T FOLLOW THEM. SHE WENT ON OUT INTO THE WORLDS CONSEQUENCES AND SUFFERED EVERY SINGLE SOLITARY ONE OF THE CONSEQUENCES YOU CAN HAVE HOMELESS EXCEPT FOR DYING. AND THE ONLY REASON SHE DIDN'T DIE IS BECAUSE THERE WAS ANGELS OUT THERE.
BETTER ANGELS THAT WERE THERE WHEN I COULDN'T BE.
AND THAT'S WHAT I'M FEARFUL OF, IS IF WE RESTRICT DOWN THIS TO POLICY AND AND ORDINANCES THAT WE'RE GOING TO LIMIT THE ABILITY TO TRULY HELP THESE INDIVIDUALS.
WE'VE CUT OUT ALL OF OUR MENTAL HEALTH HOSPITALS.
WE'VE CUT OUT ALL OF OUR COUNTY. HOMES WHERE MY DAUGHTER GOT HELP WAS IN JAIL AND PRIVATE INSTITUTIONS THAT I SPENT A FORTUNE ON. AND SHE STILL MENTALLY ILL.
AND SHE'S STILL HAVING STRUGGLES. AND THAT'S NOT GOING TO CHANGE.
AND IT'S MOST LIKELY GOING TO GET WORSE BECAUSE IT'S A STEADILY PROGRESSING ILLNESS.
SO WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IS A CONVERSATION FROM ALL OF US.
THIS NEEDS TO BE A LARGER CONVERSATION THAN JUST COUNCIL BLUFFS BECAUSE WE CANNOT AFFORD THIS.
IT'S GOING TO NEED ALL OF OUR COUNTIES DOUGLAS, PIKE COUNTY.
IT'S GOING TO TAKE METRO OMAHA, AND WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO HAVE SOME AREAS WHERE WE CAN BRING.
WE'RE DOING A GOOD JOB OF TRIAGING THESE INDIVIDUALS OUT IN THE FIELD.
WE JUST DON'T HAVE A PLACE TO TAKE THEM OTHER THAN THE EMERGENCY ROOM OR JAIL.
AND SO I BELIEVE IN A TRIAGE SYSTEM. THE NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES IS PUSHING TRIAGE SYSTEMS. THEY BELIEVE IN THEM. WILL IT WORK? I COULDN'T TELL YOU WHETHER IT WILL OR NOT, BUT I'VE BEEN TO A LOT OF HOMELESS SHELTERS IN MANY STATES.
AND YES, WE CAN DO SOME OF THESE THINGS THAT WILL HELP.
BUT WILL IT WORK? THESE PEOPLE WILL CONTINUE TO GO TO JAIL. THEY'LL CONTINUE TO HAVE BAD BEHAVIOR BECAUSE THAT'S THEIR MENTAL ILLNESS.
WHEN YOU SEE THEIR STUFF SPREAD OUT ALL OVER THE GROUND, THAT'S THEIR BRAIN.
I DON'T THINK YOU WERE LOOKING AT IT AS A CONSEQUENTIAL FACTOR.
I THINK IT'S MORE OF A STRUCTURE, LIKE A ROUTINE.
I MEAN, I TOLD YOU TODAY I WATCHED 2 OR 3 OF THOSE GUYS WALKING IN DES MOINES AND THEY'RE LIKE, FING NOT DOING THIS TODAY. I DON'T WANT TO GET FRISKED.
THEY WALKED OUT AND SHE SAID, THEY'LL BE BACK. MAYBE TOMORROW, MAYBE TODAY.
AND THEN THEY CAME IN AND HEY, JIM, THEY GOT FRISKED.
THEY WENT IN AND THEY WENT ABOUT THEIR DAY. BUT THERE WAS IT WAS STRUCTURED.
THEY KNEW WHAT THEY WERE GETTING WHEN THEY HIT THAT VESTIBULE BEFORE THEY GOT INTO THE SHELTER.
AND I WILL AGREE. AND I THINK STRUCTURE GOES A LONG WAY WITH ANYBODY IN LIFE, FROM KIDS TO ADULTS, LIKE THERE'S A ROUTINE IN A PATTERN. BECAUSE THEY ARE ROUTINE. THEY DO HAVE ROUTINES. THEY DO HAVE PATTERNS.
AND WHEN YOU THROW A MAJOR MONKEY WRENCH INTO THAT PATTERN, YOU GUYS SEE THE BEHAVIORS.
[00:30:04]
BUT I THINK THAT'S WHAT IT'S MORE ABOUT, NOT A CONSEQUENCE LIKE A STRUCTURE.AND THE LAST THING I WOULD SAY IS IT'S KIND OF IT MIGHT, IT'S, DON'T TAKE THIS INSENSITIVE, BUT EVERY TIME WE HAVE THESE CONVERSATIONS GUYS, IT SOUNDS LIKE WE ALL PASS THE BUCK TO MENTAL HEALTH AND ADDICTION.
WE KNOW THERE'S NO FUNDING, IT'S NOT COMING AROUND AND AND WE'RE NOT PASSING THE BUCK.
BUT I HEAR COMMUNITY MEMBERS SAY IT ALL THE TIME.
WELL, HOMELESSNESS IS BECAUSE MENTAL HEALTH AND ADDICTION, WE KNOW THAT.
BUT WE KNOW THERE'S NO MONEY. SO WHAT'S PLAN B? WE DON'T HAVE THE MONEY. THAT'S WHERE WE'RE AT.
THAT'S THE OTHER STEP. WE HAVE TO GET TO THIS BECAUSE WE KNOW IT'S NOT COMING DOWN ANYTIME SOON.
SO WE'VE GOT TO DEAL WITH DEALING WITH WHAT WE HAVE.
SO AGAIN, I HOPE THAT DIDN'T COME OUT AS INSENSITIVE.
IT'S JUST THERE'S NO MONEY THAT HOSPITALS FULL TIME SIX PROBABLY BY NOW.
YEAH. AS SOON AS EVERYBODY IN THE STATES LOOKING.
WHAT I'M FEARFUL OF IS IF WE AND I AGREE WITH YOU, THE STRUCTURE IS FANTASTIC FOR THESE INDIVIDUALS.
WHERE THEY GOT 100 POSITIVES TO ONE NEGATIVE EVERY DAY.
AND SO, BUT WE NEED TO TRULY SHIFT OUR VISION, I THINK, TO OUTCOME BASED, CARE FOR THESE INDIVIDUALS. AND I DON'T KNOW WHERE, I DON'T HAVE THE ANSWERS.
YOU DON'T, YOU KNOW, AND I'M GOING TO TELL YOU THIS FIRSTHAND, I LIVE IT.
I DON'T HAVE THE ANSWERS, BUT COLLECTIVELY, IF WE HAVE ENOUGH GOOD CONVERSATIONS AND TAKE THE BAD AND THE GOOD, WE WILL FIND AN ANSWER AND WE WILL FIND AND WE WILL REDUCE DOWN THIS POPULATION THAT'S STROLLING THROUGH OUR TOWN, AND IT WILL HAPPEN. YOU'RE RIGHT. AND CHRIS IS RIGHT TOO.
I'VE BEEN ON COUNCIL TEN YEARS. MATT'S BEEN UP HERE 30 YEARS.
THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM. I DON'T KNOW WHO YOU ARE, RIGHT.
AND THAT'S BAD ON ME. I SHOULD HAVE BEEN MORE INVOLVED IN EARLIER THAN THIS.
BUT WHEN CHRIS TALKS ABOUT STRUCTURE LIKE STEVE, I DON'T THINK CAN WE AGREE THAT PEOPLE THAT ARE INTOXICATED OR ON DRUGS ARE MORE LIKELY TO BE CAUSE OF DISTURBANCE OR HAVE MORE VIOLENT ACTIONS? YES. I CAN TELL YOU, WHEN I'M DRUNK I ABSOLUTELY WILL BE MORE DISTURBANCE.
YES. RIGHT. SO? SO I DON'T SEE HOW REQUIRING ALCOHOL FREE, DRUG FREE, OR A METAL DETECTOR TO GET INTO YOUR FACILITY AND NOT ALLOWING WEAPONS, WHETHER THAT'S A KNIFE OR A GUN OR WHATEVER THAT MAY BE.
I THINK YOU CAN OPEN CARRY IN IOWA, SO I DON'T THINK YOU CAN STOP THAT.
BUT I DON'T THINK THAT IS GOING TO HURT YOUR DAUGHTER OR ANYBODY ELSE WITH A MENTAL ILLNESS.
I THINK THAT WOULD HELP THEM, AND I THINK THEY WOULD FEEL MORE SAFE WHEN THEY GO THERE.
WHEN WE WERE OUT WITH HOP, I'VE BEEN OUT WITH HOP THREE TIMES. WHEN I WAS OUT WITH HOP THE FIRST TIME, A LOT OF PEOPLE SAID, IT'S SCARY. I DON'T WANT TO GO THERE. THERE'S BEDBUGS.
I DON'T WANT TO GO THERE. WHO'S GOING TO BE THERE? WHAT IF SO-AND-SO'S THERE? I'M SCARED TO GO THERE. THOSE ARE THINGS THAT, IF WE CAN SAY, LOOK, WELL NOW THERE'S, THEY CAN'T GO IN THERE IF THEY'RE DRUNK, THEY CAN'T GO IN THERE IF THEY'RE ON DRUGS AND THEY CAN'T GO IN IF THEY HAVE WEAPONS. I'LL TELL YOU THE OTHER SIDE OF THAT. I DON'T THINK THAT HURTS ANYBODY.
MY DAUGHTER CARRIED A CAT EVERYWHERE SHE WENT.
COULDN'T TAKE IT TO A SHELTER. SHE'D SLEEP WITH A MURDERER BEFORE SHE WOULD GIVE UP THAT CAT.
I TOOK HER TO THE AIRPORT, TAKING HER TO A FACILITY OUT OF STATE.
I TOOK THREE KNIVES OFF HER BEFORE WE LEFT HOME.
AND WHEN WE GOT TO THE AIRPORT, THEY TOOK TWO MORE OFF HER, I BELIEVE YOU.
SO SHE'S GOING TO CARRY THOSE THINGS THEN? THESE INDIVIDUALS WILL.
SO THESE SHELTERS WON'T LET YOU IN WITH A DOG OR A CAT, BUT YOU CAN COME IN DRUNK OR HIGH.
THAT'S PART OF WHAT I'M TRYING TO TELL YOU IS A PROBLEM I THINK. THE THING IS THAT WILL RESTRICT THEM GOING INTO A PLACE, IF THEY HAD, IF WE HAD.
DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? LIKE THE. I DON'T THINK BRANDY'S PEOPLE OR ANY SHELTER.
MOST OF THEM, THEY DON'T. THEY'RE NOT EQUIPPED TO DEAL WITH THE MENTAL HEALTH, RIGHT? THEY'RE NOT. SO THEY'RE NOT HELPING. THEY'RE NOT EQUIPPED WITH ADDICTION.
THEY'RE NOT ADDICTION COUNSELORS. IT'S NOT A THE SHELTERS AREN'T A DETOX OR REHAB FACILITY, WE CAN AGREE TO THAT. THAT'S WHY WE NEED TO GO TO THE NEXT STEP OF HAVING.
THAT'S WHAT I'M TELLING YOU. THEY'RE NOT. TODAY I WOULD SAY THEY ARE.
BRANDY TALKED ABOUT SOMEBODY DYING FROM AN O.D.
[00:35:03]
LAST TIME SHE WAS HERE. WELL, YOU'RE NOT EQUIPPED TO DEAL WITH THAT.IF THEY'RE IF THEY CAN'T DO DRUGS, IF THEY'RE ON DRUGS, THEY CAN'T GO TO YOUR FACILITY, THEN YOU WON'T HAVE TO DEAL WITH THAT. WELL, YOU'LL DEAL WITH IT ON THE STREET. RIGHT. BUT OUR OFFICERS AND OUR FIREFIGHTERS AREN'T EQUIPPED TO DEAL WITH IT EITHER.
OH, I WAS WELL EQUIPPED TO DEAL WITH OVERDOSE AND.
WELL. AND THOSE THINGS AS A FIREFIGHTER YES, BUT NOW I'M JUST SAYING MENTAL HEALTH, YES.
WE'RE. BECAUSE OF YOUR PERSONAL. MOST PEOPLE AREN'T SURE.
WE'RE TRAINED TO DE-ESCALATE THE BEST WE CAN.
A POSITIVE OUTCOME BASED SYSTEM WHERE. IF YOU'RE SOBER IF YOU'RE DRUG FREE.
I THINK IT'S THE NEXT STEP. WE NEED TO GO. SURE, I CAN AGREE TO THAT, BUT WE DON'T HAVE ONE TODAY, SO YOU'RE TALKING HYPOTHETICAL. WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT NOW TRYING TO SET FORTH A SET OF RULES OR ORDINANCES OR THINGS THAT WE REQUIRED TO MAINTAIN A SAFE SPACE. I THINK WE'RE ALL IN AGREEMENT THAT THAT NEXT STEPS ARE SOME OF THESE OTHER THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN DISCUSSED.
BUT IN OUR CAPACITY AT THIS POINT, I FEEL LIKE WHAT WE NEED TO BE DISCUSSING AND LOOKING AT IS WHAT THINGS CAN WE PUT TOGETHER THAT ARE GOING TO BE THERE TO ENSURE SAFE FACILITIES? I MEAN, I'LL, LIKE I SAID, BRANDY NOSE FROM THE DES MOINES SHELTER.
I THINK IF YOU STARTED TO DO THINGS LIKE THAT AND SHARE THAT MESSAGE, THEY COME IN WITH A KNIFE.
THEY TAKE IT, THEY GET THEIR KNIFE ON THE WAY BACK, THEY DO TAKE THE GUNS AND THEY CALL THE COPS.
I LOVE THAT THEY HAVE A ROOM WHERE YOU GET ONE BAG.
WHEN YOU GO IN, YOUR STUFF GOES IN THE BAG, IT GOES IN THE ROOM. YOU GET THAT WHEN YOU LEAVE, YOU GET BUZZED IN. SO THERE'S ACCOUNTABILITY FROM FRONT DOOR TO BATHROOM TO MEAL TO THE GARDEN.
THEY HAVE SOME OTHER UNIQUE THINGS GOING ON PROFIT.
I CAN'T REMEMBER WHAT SHE SAID, BUT I THINK THEY SELL OR THEY RAISE SHRIMPS AND FLOWER.
IT'S PRETTY CRAZY WHAT THEY DO, BUT THERE'S SO MANY THINGS THAT CAN BE DONE DOWN THERE WITHOUT US.
I KNOW THAT SHE TALKED ABOUT A HOMELAND SECURITY GRANT. IF THE CITY HAS TO HELP PARTICIPATE IN THAT, I'M ALL FOR THAT. THOSE THINGS CAN BE DONE. I LIKE THE FACT THAT THERE SHOULD BE NO WEAPONS IN THERE.
THEY ACTUALLY, FOR LACK OF A BETTER TERM, A DRUNK TANK, SHE SAID.
WHEN THEY COME IN AND THEY'RE REALLY SPUN UP, THEY TELL THEM TO TAKE A WALK AND THEY COME BACK.
THEY DO HAVE A LOW A ROOM FOR PEOPLE THAT ARE INTOXICATED.
I MEAN, THERE'S THINGS THAT CAN BE DONE WITHOUT THIS ORDINANCE.
AND IF WE START THERE, THEN YOU CAN CRAFT. I THINK YOU CAN CRAFT THE BETTER ORDINANCE.
BUT I THINK WE START THERE. YOU'VE BEEN UP THERE, BRANDY, MULTIPLE TIMES, SO YOU ALREADY KNOW, AND I KNOW YOU'RE WORKING ON IT, SHE TOLD ME. BUT THAT I THINK WE START THERE AND SAY WE'RE CHANGING THE WAY WE'RE DOING OUR BUSINESS.
I MEAN, EVERYBODY HERE BUYS IN, EVERYBODY HERE'S BOUGHT IN, BUT LITTLE THINGS LIKE THAT TO AVOID A METAL DETECTOR BECAUSE, I MEAN, THEY'RE INTIMIDATING WHEN YOU GO INTO A FOOTBALL GAME OR A SPORTING EVENT, YOU'RE JUST REGULAR OLD ME GOING, AND I GOT TO GO THROUGH A METAL DETECTOR. I'M LIKE, OH SHIT, WHAT'S ON ME? YOU KNOW, IT'S LIKE THE AIRPORT. YOU TRAVEL ALL THE TIME. BUT I'D ALSO LIKE TO, WHEN WE GO THROUGH THE ORDINANCE, RIGHT.
THINGS LIKE THE METAL DETECTOR. IF WE'RE GOING TO PUT THAT IN, THEN THE CITY NEEDS TO BE PART FUNDING, FULLY FUNDING. WE CAN'T REQUIRE THE DIFFERENT SHELTERS AND.
[INAUDIBLE] CONTRIBUTES $1 MILLION. RIGHT, EXACTLY.
WE REQUIRE PEOPLE TO PUT IN GREEN SPACE EVERY DAY.
RIGHT. AND WE DON'T PAY FOR IT IN OUR ZONING LAWS.
WE REQUIRE PEOPLE IF THEY BUY A BUILDING AND DO SOMETHING, WE REPORT, HEY, YOU GOT TO PUT IN 25 FOOT OF GREEN SPACE. YOU KNOW WHAT THAT COSTS? MONEY FOR BUSINESS OWNERS ALL THE TIME, AND THE CITY DOESN'T PROVIDE ANYTHING FOR THEM.
WE SAY THE GUY DOWN ON BROADWAY HAD TO PUT IN.
HE WAS SHORT 10% WINDOW, SO HE HAD TO BUILD AROUND HIS EXISTING BUILDING TO PUT WINDOWS IN.
I KNOW THAT'S ABSURD. BUT WE REQUIRE IT AND IT COSTS THEM ANOTHER 50 GRAND.
SHE'S HELPING A LOT OF PEOPLE, BUT WE WANT PEOPLE THAT TO BE, TO FEEL SAFE.
RIGHT. SO THIS IS THE SAME THING. REQUIRING A METAL DETECTOR IS A ONE TIME THING.
I DON'T THINK IT IS A ONE TIME THING. EVEN IF IT'S NOT, IT'S COST OF DOING BUSINESS IN MY OPINION.
WELL, YOU MENTIONED OPEN CARRY. THE OPEN CARRY LAW.
YOU CAN'T BE INTOXICATED AND HAVE A GUN. THAT'S AGREED.
IT CONSTANTLY REFERS TO LICENSEE. LICENSEE, LICENSEE.
STATE LEGISLATURE TOOK AWAY LOCAL GOVERNMENT'S AUTHORITY TO ISSUE BUSINESS LICENSES.
[00:40:02]
AND SO IT NEEDS WORK FROM THAT PERSPECTIVE. YEAH.I DON'T CARE WHAT WE CALL IT, BUT YEAH, WE CAN CALL IT WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL IT.
I THINK SOMETHING LIKE THIS. AND I'LL WORK WITH YOU, STEVE.
I'LL WORK WITH EVERYBODY. BUT SURE, THINGS CAN BE DONE.
PERFECT. WE AREN'T. WE AGREE. WE NEED TO MAKE IMPROVEMENT.
WE NEED TO MAKE CHANGE 100%. AND THAT'S WHAT THIS IS ABOUT.
YES. AND I APPRECIATE BRINGING THIS FORWARD BECAUSE WE NEED THIS CONVERSATION IN OUR COMMUNITY.
MENTAL HEALTH HOSPITAL IS NOT GOING TO BE A SOLUTION BECAUSE.
IT'S NOT BIG ENOUGH. THAT'S WHY TRUMP ADMINISTRATION.
THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION, CUT MEDICAID FUNDING, AND SO THERE'S NO FUNDING FOR IT.
AND WHEN YOU PULL SOMEONE OFF STREET LEVEL HOMELESSNESS AND PUT THEM INTO A FACILITY WHERE THEY ARE HAVING SUCCESS WITH PEOPLE, YOU'RE GOING TO DISRUPT THAT CARE. THEY'RE NOT READY FOR THAT YET.
THEY NEED TO BE BROUGHT INTO A SYSTEM WHERE THEY CAN START BUILDING TRUST AND GET READY TO GO ON TO THAT NEXT STEP OF A MENTAL HEALTH HOSPITAL WHERE THERE'S EXTENDED CARE. THERE'S NO WAY IN THE WORLD MY DAUGHTER, SHE WOULD HAVE BLOWN UP A PLACE LIKE THAT.
AT 48, I THINK IS WHAT I HEARD FROM MY WESTERN SHELTER INDIVIDUALS GO THROUGH THE WELDING PROGRAM AND GET JOBS. SO WE'RE NOT PERFECT, BUT WE'RE NOT ALL BAD EITHER, SO.
CORRECT. AND AND I THINK THIS IS AN ONGOING CONVERSATION.
AND I THINK IT'S GOOD THAT WE'RE HAVING A TOUGH CONVERSATION BECAUSE THERE'S NOTHING THAT'S EASY ABOUT BEING STREET LEVEL HOMELESSNESS AT ALL OR MENTAL HEALTH, AND SO I TRULY APPRECIATE. WE'RE DEALING WITH OMAHA, WE TALKED TO THE PEOPLE IN CHARGE OF HOMELESSNESS IN OMAHA.
I'M NOT SURE THEY'RE ANY FURTHER ALONG THAN WE ARE.
BUT I AGREE WITH STEVE. WE NEED TO WORK IN TANDEM SO THAT WE DON'T PUSH PEOPLE BACK AND FORTH.
HER ESTIMATE WAS THAT BOTH OMAHA AND COUNCIL BLUFFS HAVE AROUND 100 TO 130 UNSHELTERED INDIVIDUALS.
THEY'RE PRETTY TRANSIENT CROWD. I WORK FOR MATCH.
I WAS THEIR TREASURER FOR MANY YEARS. THE POINT IN TIME REALLY WASN'T AN EFFICIENT WAY TO DO IT.
I MEAN, WE'D GO OUT ON A COLD NIGHT AND GIVE UP AFTER TWO HOURS, AND IT'S A THREE-WEEK PROCESS.
SO SOMEBODY SAID, WHY DOES COUNCIL BLUFFS HAVE MORE THAN OMAHA? I SAID, BECAUSE I THINK WE'RE BETTER COUNTERS AND.
WELL, AND IS IT ALSO THAT WE'VE GOT MORE OPEN SPACE? I MEAN, IF YOU LOOK ON EITHER SIDE OF THE RIVER, IF YOU'RE SOMEONE TRANSVERSING ON FOOT TO GET SERVICES IN BOTH STATES.
YOU'RE NOT TRAVELING TO THE FAR WESTERN REACHES OF OMAHA.
WHEREAS YOU CROSS HERE, WE'VE GOT THE ENTIRE WEST SIDE OF THE LEVEE THAT MOST OF THE TIME IS, YOU KNOW, NO ONE'S AROUND. THERE'S DIFFERENT THE HILL OVER BY THE NEW POLICE STATION. I MEAN, WE DIDN'T FIND THAT ENCAMPMENT UNTIL THE SECRET SERVICE MADE US SWEEP IT BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THE VICE PRESIDENT WAS COMING TO THE BOWLING ALLEY AND HAD BEEN LIVING THERE. AND HE HAD, IF I RECALL, HE SAID, THAT'S MY RENTAL QUARTERS, BUT YOU CAN RENT THAT.
AND IT WAS IT WAS HIS, YOU KNOW, SECONDARY SPACE THAT PEOPLE WOULD KIND OF COME THROUGH.
YEAH. WE MET HIM THAT DAY. NO. HE'S RELOCATED.
HE SAID HE'S NEVER COMING BACK. HE'S IN A TENT.
ANOTHER SPOT. YEAH. THE THING IS, IS LIKE, WE HAVE THIS CONVERSATION.
AND I MEAN, SADLY, WE CAN'T INVEST ALL OF OUR TIME BECAUSE WE HAVE.
BUT THE CONVERSATION CAN'T STOP. I THINK THIS ORDINANCE SITS AND GETS WORKED ON BECAUSE YOU GUYS ARE THE PROVIDERS, YOU'RE THE EXPERTS, YOU HAVE THE FUNDING. WE DON'T HAVE THE FUNDING.
THAT'S HOW IT'S GOT. BUT THE CITIZENS HAVE TO KNOW THAT WE'RE UP HERE WORKING FOR THE TAXPAYERS, FOR THEM. AND YOU GUYS ARE WORKING FOR OBVIOUSLY, YOUR CLIENTELE.
BUT IF WE COULD SHOW WE'RE WORKING TOGETHER, THAT'S THE ONLY WAY WE'RE GOING TO SOLVE THIS RELATIONSHIP, BECAUSE, I MEAN, THE PUBLIC IS JUST OUT HERE SAYING NO ONE DOES ANYTHING.
EVERYONE UP HERE, NONE OF US DO ANYTHING. YOU'VE HAD FOUR YEARS TO DO STUFF.
YOU'VE DONE NOTHING. YOU CAN'T PUT ORDINANCES TOGETHER.
WELL, WE GOT AN ORDINANCE HERE, AND THAT'S A TOUGH ORDINANCE. THERE'S A COUPLE ORDINANCES THAT ARE BEING TALKED TO. BUT AGAIN, THE SYSTEM WE CAN'T WE CAN PUT A CAMPING ORDINANCE IN, BUT YOU CAN'T PROSECUTE THEIR IN AND OUT.
BUT WE WALK OUT HERE TODAY, THIS CONVERSATION CAN'T STOP THE COUNCIL.
I THINK THE MAYOR, EVERYBODY HAS TO BE INVOLVED IN SOME WAY OR ANOTHER.
I MEAN, THERE'S NO ONE LUNCHEONS JOE AND I SAT IN FOR TWO AND A HALF.
STEVE FOR YEARS. AND YOU KNOW WHAT? NOTHING HAPPENED IN THOSE.
AND I'M, NOW WAS IT CFOC, AM I SAYING THE ACRONYM RIGHT?
[00:45:03]
THERE'S SOMETHING HAPPENING IN THOSE. THE ONE WE WERE IN EVERY DAY WE WALKED OUT, WE'RE LIKE, WOW. THERE'S TWO HOURS OF ANECDOTAL STORIES ABOUT HE DID THIS, WE CAN'T GET HER LIFE BACK.SO THERE ARE THINGS HAPPENING. BUT I THINK THE CITIZENS NEED TO SEE ON THIS SIDE THAT WE'RE OUT THERE HELPING TO, BECAUSE I REALLY JUST THINK THEY WANT A VOICE IN THIS, TOO, I MEAN.
AND SADLY, WE CAN'T EDUCATE EVERYBODY. WE CAN'T.
BUT IF WE WALK OUT OF HERE AND STOP THE CONVERSATION FOR ANOTHER SIX MONTHS, WHERE ARE WE? IT HAS TO JUST KEEP CONTINUING, AND I'LL TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR MY FOUR YEARS UP HERE, PROBABLY.
YOU KNOW, I MEAN, I PUSHED THE WARMING SHELTER BECAUSE IT'S STILL A GREAT IDEA.
BUT THEN, YOU KNOW, MY WORK SCHEDULE HAS CHANGED.
BUT WHEN I HEAR GOOD THINGS ABOUT CFOC, THAT'S GREAT, THAT'S PROMISING.
SO HOW DO WE BUILD ON THAT? OBVIOUSLY WE WANT TO BUILD ON HOP.
I DO THINK WE'VE TALKED AND AND I KNOW WE DON'T WANT TO.
OH, I WANT TO SAY THIS. WE'VE TALKED A LOT ABOUT BRANDY AND BRANDY'S HERE.
SO I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE BRANDY THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME UP AND SPEAK TO US AND TALK ABOUT WHAT YOU ARE DOING, WHAT YOU'RE CURRENTLY WORKING ON. I THINK WE'VE ALLUDED TO THE FACT THAT SOME OF THIS STUFF IS IN PROGRESS OF WHAT YOU'RE ACTUALLY WORKING ON.
IT'S GOING TO BE TO OUR POINT, IT'S GOING TO BE A LONG CONVERSATION.
THIS ISN'T ALL BEING DONE TODAY, RIGHT. SO BEAR WITH US.
BUT I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE BRANDY THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME UP. WELL, AND THAT'S PART OF THE REASON WHY I WANT THIS ON THE AGENDA, BECAUSE WE HAVE THESE CONVERSATIONS. WE'VE HAD THEM BEFORE UP HERE IN MY TEN YEARS AND THEN NOTHING HAPPENS.
SO WE, THAT'S WHY I WANTED ON THE AGENDA. WE CAN CONTINUE TO CHANGE IT.
IT'S GOT TO, WE CAN GO THROUGH FOUR READINGS.
THAT TAKES US INTO JANUARY. SO IT CAN CONTINUE TO CHANGE.
I THINK IT'S GOOD TO TO LISTEN TO BRANDY, TOO, AND THEN TALK.
I HAVE A COUPLE QUESTIONS FOR TONY AS WELL. BEFORE WE MOVE TO PUT SOMETHING ON THE AGENDA.
YEP. NO, I APPRECIATE IT. AND WE KNEW COMING TODAY THAT WE WOULD NOT ALL BE CALLED ON.
BUT I JUST THINK THAT YOU KEEP SAYING BRANDY AND NEW VISIONS AND HOMELESSNESS, IS NOT BRANDY AND NEW VISION AND HOMELESSNESS. IT'S THIS WHOLE CROWD OF PEOPLE THAT MEET DAY IN AND DAY OUT TO HELP SOLVE THIS, BECAUSE WE AGREE ON A LOT MORE THAN WHAT WE DISAGREE ON WHAT YOU GUYS ARE TELLING.
TODAY I'M SHAKING MY HEAD. YES, I AGREE WITH THAT.
BUT I THINK ALL OF YOU GUYS SITTING UP THERE, IT'S ELECTION SEASON, THERE'S SO MUCH NEGATIVE, SO MANY THINGS THAT JUST. JUST SO YOU KNOW, I'M NOT UP FOR ELECTION.
I THINK WE COULD ALL SAY THAT THAT. I UNDERSTAND, YEAH.
AND IT'S A TWO EDGED SWORD FOR ME. I'M SUPER EXCITED WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IT.
BUT ON THE OTHER HAND, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT STUFF THAT WON'T BRING SOLUTIONS SOMETIMES, AND I DO NOT.
IT'S NO FAULT OF ANYBODY. YOU GUYS AREN'T THE EXPERTS IN THIS, BUT WE ALL ARE.
SO I WANTED YOU TO SEE THE FACES OF WHO WORKS ON THIS EVERY DAY.
I SAT IN IT IN 2022, BUT REALLY IN 2023, I WAS ABLE TO TAKE THE JAVELIN AND GO RUNNING WITH IT.
AND SO SOME THINGS THAT I'VE HEARD IS MISMANAGEMENT OF MONEY THAT WERE NOT COMPLIANT.
SO JUSTIN FROM BLAND, WHO'S A PARTNER, GAVE US THAT.
THE SECOND THING IS AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS YEAR, I AM WITH YOU GUYS.
I, ME AND MY STAFF WERE LIKE, WE CANNOT CONTINUE DOING THIS.
OUR BUILDING WAS BUILT FOR 48 MEN AND WE HAD ONE NIGHTLY MEAL AND 26 APARTMENTS.
I ACTUALLY, CHRIS WAS THE ONE THAT TOLD THE CHIEF TO GO THERE.
I SAID, BECAUSE MY, SOMEBODY I'M IN COALITION WITH, THEY DO IT REALLY GOOD.
I WOULD LOVE TO DO LIKE THAT. I TELL MY GUYS ALL THE TIME, IF YOU WOULDN'T DO IT IN FRONT OF ME AS A CEO OR CHIEF OF POLICE, DON'T DO IT ON MY CAMPUS, YOU'RE RUINING IT FOR EVERYBODY ELSE.
SO HE WENT DOWN THERE AND HE CAME BACK AND IT WAS A FUNDING ISSUE, SO I DID.
I CALLED THE CEO OF THERE, MELISSA. WE'RE GOOD FRIENDS.
[00:50:04]
WHICH WE APPRECIATE, AND WE'RE DOING WORK AND THEY ARE GIVING TOWARDS SOLUTIONS.BUT OUR BUDGET, WHEN YOU TAKE OUT FOOD DONATIONS AND IN-KIND, IS 1.3 MILLION AND WE HAVE ABOUT 15,000 PEOPLE WE SERVE THROUGH OUR PROGRAMS. WE'RE GETTING READY TO SERVE 1000 FAMILIES, 4500 PEOPLE FOR CHRISTMAS THROUGH OUR FOOD PROGRAMS. BUT WE JUST DO NOT HAVE THE FUNDING FOR THAT.
WE WERE POOR NONPROFIT. WHEN I TOOK OVER, WE HAD 14 DAYS OF OPERATING RESERVES, AND I COULDN'T RAISE MONEY BECAUSE I DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY IN RESERVES, BUT BECAUSE OF THE FOUNDATIONS AND STUFF LIKE THAT, AND THEY WANT US TO SUCCEED, WE'RE AT A BETTER PLACE.
SO YOU COULD SEE ON THE FIRST THING THIS WAS DONE.
THREE 1425 THIS WAS DONE IN MARCH THAT I WORKED WITH THE CHIEF OF POLICE.
I WORKED WITH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO COME AND SAY, WE NEED TO FIX OUR BUILDING NOW.
WE DO. AND SO WE HAVE ALL THOSE THINGS YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT BED BUG ROOMS. WE AGREE. PEOPLE THAT ARE ON STREET LEVEL WHEN THEY COME IN, THEY HAVE ITEMS I DO NOT WANT IN MY CAMPUS.
I DON'T WANT WEAPONS IN MY CAMPUS. I DON'T WANT ANYTHING IN MY CAMPUS LIKE THAT.
BUT THEY HAVE IT. SO WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A LOCKER ROOM THERE.
YOU CAN SEE WHEN THEY COME IN THERE WILL BE A WAITING ROOM.
AND THE MAJORITY OF MY PEOPLE I SERVE DON'T WANT IT EITHER.
THEY DON'T. THEY WANT SOMEWHERE SAFE TO GO. AND MY STAFF AND THE SAME THING WITH ME TOO.
AND VOLUNTEERS. SO THERE WILL BE A METAL DETECTOR.
ALL THEIR STUFF WILL GO INTO A BEDBUG ROOM. TALKING TO CHIEF JAMES, ANOTHER BIG ISSUE IS WHEN INDIVIDUALS GO TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM, THEY WANT TO TAKE ALL OF THEIR STUFF. SO WE NEED LOCKER SPACES.
SO THAT'S IN THERE. AND THEN ALSO, I CAN'T CONTROL THE THREE BLOCK SPACE THAT MY CAMPUS IS ON.
RIGHT NOW WE GET $15,000 FROM THE CITY. IF WE TOOK THAT AND NEVER TOUCHED THAT, IT WOULD TAKE ME 100 YEARS, 100 YEARS, YOU GUYS, TO BE ABLE TO DO THIS PROJECT BY THE INVESTMENTS WE GET INTO THE CITY.
AND SO IF YOU LOOK AT THE NEXT ONE IS CLARK INTERNATIONAL.
I WORKED WITH SIENA FRANCIS HOUSE, WHO HAS CLARK INTERNATIONAL SECURITY.
THEY CAME AND GAVE ME A BID FOR 24 HOURS A DAY SECURITY IT WOULD BE $579,000.
THAT WAS MORE THAN MY SHELTER BUDGET LAST YEAR.
AGAIN, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO GROW OUR BUDGET BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET ADDITIONAL FOUNDATIONS.
SO WE DO HAVE NIGHTTIME SECURITY. WE'VE ALWAYS HAD PAID STAFF THERE.
SO WE WERE ABLE TO GET A LARGE GRANT IN APRIL.
AND WE STARTED HIRING IN MAY, SO. BUT AGAIN, I DON'T HAVE ALMOST $600,000 TO PAY FOR SECURITY.
I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE THEM, BUT THAT IS A BIG COST.
THE SECOND AND THIRD THING THAT YOU'LL SEE IS PRIME FOR HOUSING.
WE AGREE I CANNOT BE PEOPLE'S RETIREMENT HOMES, I CANNOT, I AM SUPPOSED TO BE A SHELTER, BUT WHEN YOU HAVE A 1.7% RENTAL VACANCY RATE, THERE'S NOT A LOT OF MOVEMENT THERE. AND SO DURING THE DAY, I AM NOT KICKING ANYBODY OUT.
BUT WE ARE RESOURCE READY. WE WILL WORK WITH YOU.
YOU HAVE TO MEET WITH THE CASE MANAGER EVEN JUST TO TALK ABOUT HOUSING ONCE A WEEK.
YOU COULD STAY. YOU WOULD HAVE TO WORK WITH ALL CARE IS HERE BECAUSE WE WOULD.
IF THEY GO TO ALL CARE, THEY COULD SAY IF THEY GO TO ONE OF OUR CLASSES, IF THEY GO TO CHEMICAL DEPENDENCY, MY STAFF'S HERE, I'M GOING TO INTRODUCE YOU TO. SO YOU GUYS COULD HAVE THESE CONVERSATION AND YOU KNOW WHO'S IN THE ROOM. BUT WE WANT TO DO THAT. WE WANT TO HELP WITH THEM. WE JUST SENT SOMEBODY TREATMENT LAST WEEK. WE JUST HAD A CALL THAT ONE PERSON WE SENT TO TREATMENT JUST CELEBRATED 90 DAYS ON FRIDAY THAT DESTINY WENT TO.
SO WE ARE. ANOTHER THING YOU'LL SEE IS THE PRIME FOR HOUSING CLEAN START CREW.
WE WANT TO BE PART OF THE SOLUTION. WE LOVE THIS COMMUNITY.
AGAIN, YOU'VE HEARD ME I'VE BORN AND RAISED IN THIS COMMUNITY.
WE HAVE MEN THAT ARE SITTING IN OUR SHELTER WAITING FOR IDS, WAITING FOR HOUSING.
AND WE WANT TO ACTIVATE THEM. AND SO WE GAVE THIS INITIATIVE THAT WILL WORK WITH THE CITY, PARKS AND RECS. IF THERE'S A CAMPSITE THAT'S CLEANED OUT THAT NEEDS CLEANED. I COULD PAY THESE GUYS A STIPEND.
AND WE'LL GO OUT AND WE'LL CLEAN IT UP. IT'S A LOT, SAVE A LOT MORE MONEY FOR THE CITY THAN THAT.
AS FAR AS THE OUTSIDE THINGS, IF YOU TURN THE NEXT PAGE, WE ARE VICTIMS TOO.
THEY ARE FOR MEDICAL AND STUFF LIKE THAT. THEY ARE ALL FOR OUTSIDE.
AND SO I HAVE A NIGHTTIME INDIVIDUAL. HE IS A VETERAN.
AND FIRST WE GAVE HIM A TIME OUT. YOU'RE NOT EVEN COMING IN.
YOU CAN'T COME IN TO EAT ANYMORE. THEN HE GOT AGGRESSIVE WITH US.
WE PUT A PERMANENT BAN AND BAR ON HIM, AND THEN HE CONTINUED TO STAY.
WE'D CALL THE POLICE AND BY THE TIME THE POLICE CAME, HE WOULD TAKE OFF IN HIS CAR TO THE POINT WHERE OUR WINDOWS, HIS WINDOWS GOT KNOCKED OUT ON OUR CAMPUS THE NEXT DAY.
THANKFULLY, TO THE POLICE AND THE FIRE, THEY CAME AND TALKED ABOUT IT. THEY TALKED TO HIM.
WELL, HIS CAR ENDED UP GETTING TOWED LATER THAT NIGHT.
[00:55:03]
AND ANOTHER GUY THAT WAS BANNED AND BARRED FROM OUR FACILITY BECAUSE OF THREATENING AND VIOLENCE.HE ENDED UP FOLLOWING MY STAFF HOME AND BUSTING OUT HIS MOM'S WINDOWS TOO.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE NEXT PAGE, THAT IS A BRICK THAT WENT THROUGH MY SHELTER DIRECTOR'S WINDOW.
WE GOT THE VIDEO OF IT. IT WAS A GUY THAT HAD A HOSPITAL BRACELET ON.
WE DIDN'T EVEN KNOW WHO HE WAS, AND WE IDENTIFIED HIM BY A HOSPITAL BRACELET.
WE CALLED 911 TO SAY, THIS IS THE GUY THAT PERPETRATED ON US AND HE WAS GONE.
SO WE FEEL IT. I GET IT, YOU GUYS. YOU'RE HEARING IT, I'M HEARING IT.
AND WE ARE TRYING TO MAKE A GO OF IT. AND SO YOU COULD SEE TO ALL THE INDIVIDUALS WE'VE HELPED AND ACTUALLY OUR SHELTER NUMBERS TO YOUR POINT, CHRIS, HAVE WENT DOWN SINCE WE WERE LIKE, WE'RE GOING TO GO THROUGH YOUR STUFF.
WE JUST, WE DO BUG OUT EVERY SINGLE WEEK. WE JUST GOT NEW CLEAR CONTAINERS AND STUFF LIKE THAT.
EVERYTHING HAS TO GO INTO THE CONTAINER FOR US TO GO AND SEE WHAT'S IN THERE BEFORE.
IF THERE IS BUGS IN IT, THEN WE'RE GOING TO TREAT THAT.
SO WE'RE REVAMPING EVERYTHING BECAUSE WE AGREE ON A LOT MORE THAN WHAT WE DISAGREE ON.
AND YOU SEE BETWEEN BUS STOP BEER AND LIQUOR, ALARM SYSTEM, ADULT ENTERTAINMENT, MASSAGE THERAPIST, JUNK SHOP, SECOND HAND MOBILE FOOD, SOLICITORS, ALL OF THOSE ARE NO, NO, NO, NO, NO, NO.
WELL, THAT'S WHAT MY STAFF AND THE LEGAL WENT THROUGH.
YOU COULD SEE WE ALREADY HAVE ALL OF THOSE. WE PRODUCE ALL OF THOSE TO OUR FUNDERS.
WE HAVE TO SHOW ACCOUNTABILITY FOR FUNDING. WE HAVE TO SHOW POLICIES AND PROCEDURES.
THE ONLY ONE WE DO NOT HAVE THAT WOULD BE WILLING TO DO IS REPORTING INTRUDER OR TRESPASSING.
SO THAT WAS JUST INFORMATION THAT I GOT FROM LEGAL AND OUR CFO, THAT SHE WENT THROUGH THIS, AND IT CAN BE WRONG, BUT YOU COULD STILL SEE THAT THAT'S PRETTY PUNITIVE, EVEN IF WE'RE OFF A LITTLE BIT.
SO WE ARE SO GLAD YOU GUYS ARE TALKING AGAIN.
I KNOW YOU GUYS CARE ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY JUST LIKE EVERYBODY SITTING OUT HERE.
WE CARE DEEPLY, AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, THESE ARE HUMAN BEINGS.
AND HUMAN BEINGS DON'T GO AWAY. NOBODY'S ASKING OUR PERMISSION TO EXIST.
THEY'RE ONES THAT HAVE FALLEN OUT OF ALL SOCIETAL NORMS. AND BY THE TIME WE'RE AT A PLACE WHERE WE HAVE TO CALL THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, THE POLICE KNOW THEIR NAMES BECAUSE THEY DEALT WITH THEM IN THE FAMILIES, THEY DEALT WITH THEM IN HOSPITALS, THEY DEALT WITH THEM AT CAMPSITES. AND SO THEN WE TRIED TO TAKE A WARM HAND OFF AND THEN THEY'RE NOT.
SO AGAIN, I AGREE WE HAVE TO LOOK AT MENTAL HEALTH.
WE HAVE TO LOOK AT SUBSTANCE ABUSE, BUT WE HAVE TO LOOK AT HOUSING BECAUSE HOUSING IS THE SOLUTION.
HOUSING WILL ALLOW ME TO GET MORE MEN THROUGH MY SHELTER THAT'S EXPERIENCING THAT.
BUT WHEN IT'S CLOGGED AND THERE'S NOWHERE TO GO.
AND SO SORRY, I WAS GETTING I'M LIKE, YOU GUYS ARE TALKING TO ME. WE'RE WORKING ON THAT. WE ARE WORKING ON THAT BECAUSE AGAIN, WE WANT IT TO BE SAFE. WE WANT OUR VOLUNTEERS TO BE SAFE.
I HAVE NEVER BEEN ASSAULTED IN 22 YEARS, BUT THE MENTAL HEALTH THING HAS ME AND MY STAFF BEING LIKE, WE'RE BURNT OUT. WE DO NOT KNOW. SO WE WANT TO DO ALL THIS TO I HAVE FUNDERS HERE THAT ARE GOING TO HELP ME RAISE THE MONEY, BECAUSE I DON'T THINK THIS SHOULD BE A HARD SELL BECAUSE AGAIN, IT'S NOT ANYTHING FANCY.
OR FOR A MURAL, IT'S ABOUT GIVING PEOPLE DIGNITY AND EQUITY.
AND WE WANT THE SAME THINGS YOU DO TOO. WE DON'T WANT.
I HAD SOMEBODY THAT WAS EVICTED FROM ONE OF THE SENIOR HOUSING.
BUT I AGREE. BUT WE ALSO HAVE TO KNOW IT'S NOT GOING TO GO AWAY.
YOU GUYS WANT ME TO HAVE THE LOWEST BARRIERS I CAN AND STILL BE SAFE AND GET THEM INTO OUR FACILITY, BECAUSE IF NOT, THEY'RE ON THE STREETS, THEY'RE ON THE PARKS, THEY'RE PULLING DOOR HANDLES, THEY'RE DOING DESPERATE THINGS TO EAT, TO SURVIVE.
AND SO MY NEW OPERATIONS DIRECTOR, WILLIAM, HE'S GETTING HIS MENTAL HEALTH LICENSE.
WE HAVE STEPHANIE, WHO'S MY SITE DIRECTOR, SO IF YOU NEED ANYTHING, SHE WILL BE THERE FOR YOU.
THEN WE HAVE DESTINY, SHE'S OUR NEW CADC, SO CERTIFIED ALCOHOL AND DRUG COUNSELOR.
[01:00:04]
SHE HAS BEEN WORKING BECAUSE WHEN PEOPLE WANT TO CHANGE, WE WANT THEM RIGHT HERE BECAUSE IT TAKES WHAT, TWO WEEKS TO A MONTH TO GET EVALUATION, TO GET INTO TREATMENT.NOW WE COULD HAVE THEM DO THAT RIGHT THERE AND THEN.
YOU HAVE DASITI AND SHE IS OUR SHELTER DIRECTOR.
AND THEN WE HAVE ANN OUR CFO, WHO IS ALSO A CERTIFIED FRAUD EXAMINER, AND IS VERY GOOD AT HER JOB.
IF YOU DON'T TURN IN A RECEIPT FOR $0.38, SHE WILL TRACK YOU DOWN.
AND SO THAT'S WHY WE HAVE SUCH A HIGH THING. AND THEN YOU HAVE ALL OF MY OTHER FRIENDS HERE FROM MY BOARD MEMBERS THAT HAVE SAT HERE AND HAVE BEEN THROUGH IT TO IOWA WEST FOUNDATION, THAT HAS INVESTED A LOT OF MONEY DOING THE WARM HANDOFF INITIATIVE, BECAUSE WE'RE JUST BE BOPPING PEOPLE FROM PLACE TO PLACE, AND WE KNOW WE HAVE TO START SOMEWHERE FROM THERE TO CARING FROM OUR COMMUNITIES THAT ARE DRIVING THIS INITIATIVE OF NOT ONLY MEETING ONCE A MONTH, BUT WE HAVE A BEDBUG TASK FORCE, WE HAVE HRT, WE HAVE WARM HANDOFFS TO OUR HOSPITALS THAT IN THE SAME THING, THEY ARE HAVING TO REVAMP THEIR WHOLE SECURITY THINGS TOO.
I WAS JUST TALKING TO THEM. THEY'RE GOING AFTER FEDERAL LOANS TOO, BECAUSE WHO WE'RE DEALING WITH AND THE AMOUNT OF MENTAL HEALTH, BECAUSE THE LONGER YOU'RE HOMELESS, THE WORSE YOUR MENTAL HEALTH WILL GET. WE GOT OUR FRIENDS AT HEARTLAND FAMILY SERVICE UP THERE THAT WE WORK WITH THE PEARSON AND WE'RE SENDING WOMEN TO THERE ARE AMAZING. WE HAVE OUR FRIENDS FROM THRESHOLD THAT KNOW THAT WE HAVE TO WORK ACROSS THE RIVER TOGETHER.
WE HAVE JOEL FROM ALL CARE. WE HAVE DONNA FROM COMMUNITY FOUNDATION FOR WESTERN IOWA.
WE HAVE ALICIA, THAT FIRM TOGETHER THAT'S WORKING ON DATA AND ADVOCACY.
BECAUSE HOW DO WE GET MORE DOLLARS HERE? BECAUSE THAT'S SOMETHING WE'RE ALL WORKING ON.
COURTNEY FROM THE CITY. I MEAN, EVERYBODY. ASHLEY FROM MICAH HOUSE.
THE SAME THING TOO. THEY'RE GETTING VICTIMIZED BY WOMEN COMING IN.
THAT'S NOT THE RIGHT LEVEL OF CARE AND HAVING TO PUT STIPULATIONS INTO.
BUT IT'S NOT THE MAJORITY. PLEASE DO NOT COME 100 TIMES A DAY FOR 100 MEN.
OUR CALLS HAVE BEEN DOWN SIGNIFICANTLY SINCE WE IMPLEMENTED THIS.
SO AGAIN, I JUST WANTED YOU GUYS. I WAS ABOUT LIKE, IF WE'RE DOING IT, I PROMISE.
BUT AGAIN, ROGER, I AGREE. WE HAVE TO START TALKING.
WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS BECAUSE WE ALL CARE DEEPLY ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY.
BUT IT'S GOING TO TAKE ALL OF US WORKING TOGETHER.
I HAVE TEN PROGRAMS. I'M OVER. I'M BUILDING A NEW CAMPUS IN OMAHA.
I WOULD LOVE IT IF WE GET TO A PLACE WHERE THEY'RE NOT.
WE CAN FOCUS ON HOUSING. BUT I'M WITH YOU. IT'S NOT GOING AWAY.
ALL RIGHT. HOW DO YOU WANT TO PROCEED? I WOULD WELL, WE'RE NOT MAKING ANY MOTIONS, PER SE.
IT'S JUST A STUDY SESSION. BUT WE'RE WE'RE DONE.
I WOULD SAY WE WOULD TAKE CONCERTED EFFORT TO WORK WITH LEGAL TO CONTINUE AND SEE WHAT IS POSSIBLE AND WORK WITH THE SHAREHOLDERS AT HAND TO SEE WHAT WE CAN GET DONE AS A OVERALL PLAN GOING FORWARD FOR BOTH US AND THEM.
THE GROUP THAT YOU GUYS SAT ON ISN'T MEETING ANYMORE, RIGHT? NO. DO WE HAVE ANYBODY FROM THE COUNCIL THAT WAS.
UNDER THE PREVIOUS. IT WAS THE PREVIOUS CHIEF, POLICE CHIEF HAD DONE IT.
DESTROYED EVERYTHING. YEAH. AND THEN IT CHANGED TO COUNCIL.
I WASN'T ON COUNCIL. I WAS ON COUNCIL COUNCIL YET TIME.
WELL, I WASN'T AT FIRST, BUT THEN I WENT AS A BUSINESS OWNER FIRST AND THEN I WAS ON COUNCIL LATER, AND THEN IT KIND OF WENT TO HELL IN A HANDBASKET ONCE COVID DID EVERYTHING AND THEN HE LEFT.
AND SO THAT KIND OF ALL HAD DISSOLVED AND NEVER GOT PUT BACK.
AND THEN THE NEW CHIEF CAME IN AND HE'S DONE THINGS SLIGHTLY DIFFERENTLY.
BUT IT HASN'T RESTARTED THAT AT LEAST IT WAS A MONTHLY.
THERE'S. THEY'RE DOING SOMETHING DIFFERENT NOW.
THEY DO A LOT OF WORK THAT WE DON'T ALL SEE, I THINK, WHICH IS WHY WE'VE GOTTEN TO THIS POSITION HERE WHERE WE DO HAVE SOMEWHAT OF A PLAN. IT'S JUST A LOT OF THIS TAKES TAKES TIME.
BUT NO, THE THAT SPECIFIC GROUP NO LONGER. WOULD YOU BE INTERESTED, ROGER, BECAUSE I WOULD BE INTERESTED TO HELP FORM AND TO WORK THROUGH YOUR ORDINANCE FOR US TO JOIN THOSE MEETINGS.
YEAH. ARE YOU GUYS CAN. WHEN ARE THEY. A MEETING IS NOT GOING TO FIX THIS.
THIS. THE MEETINGS ABOUT THE HOMELESS PROBLEM? RIGHT. IT'S A BIGGER ISSUE THAT. WE PROBABLY NEED TO GET A STAFF.
[01:05:03]
WORK THROUGH THAT. THIS ORDINANCE ISN'T GOING TO SOLVE THE HOMELESS. I AGREE.BUT IF WE'RE GOING TO IF YOU'RE GOING TO MOVE FORWARD AND YOU WANT THIS TO CONTINUE TO BE ON THE AGENDA, WE NEED TO HAVE INPUT FROM OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS AS FAR AS, AND STAFF RIGHT.
LIKE, YOU NEED TO WORK IT TOGETHER IF YOU'RE GOING TO CONTINUE.
OR DO WE WANT TO FOCUS ON HOMELESSNESS AND THEN COME BACK TO THE ORDINANCE AT A DIFFERENT TIME.
I'D RATHER DO THIS FIRST. I GIVE IT TO THE PEOPLE WHO IT IMPACTS AND SEE WHAT INPUT THEY HAVE, AND THEN WORK THROUGH WITH CITY STAFF. MAYBE SOME PEOPLE.
WOULD LIKE TO BE ON THAT GROUP. THIS IS ACTUALLY HOW THIS SHOULD BE WRITTEN.
I'M NOT SURE. I'M NOT SURE THE WAY IT'S CURRENTLY WRITTEN.
MY BIG CONCERN YOU'RE GOING TO PUSH PEOPLE OUT ONTO BROADWAY RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT, THAT THAT ARE HIGH IN. I JUST DON'T THINK THAT'S AN ATTRACTIVE ALTERNATIVE.
I THINK WE HAVE TO DO EVERYTHING AT ONCE ROGER.
AND I DON'T MEAN THIS IN THE WRONG WAY, BUT. AND YOU'RE RETIRED.
BUT THE REST OF US HAVE JOBS EVERY DAY. I AGREE.
THESE PEOPLE ARE WORKING. WE HAVE THIS PROBLEM, RIGHT? LIKE THESE PEOPLE ARE COLLECTING. WE HAVE. TO DEAL WITH WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.
WE COULD DO A SUBSET OF SOME OF THE PEOPLE THAT ARE MEMBERS OF CARING FOR COMMUNITY, DO A COMMITTEE AND THEN REALLY DIVE INTO THIS AND SHOW KIND OF WHAT THE PROBLEMS ARE, AND THEN WORK WITH CITY STAFF AND BRING THAT GAVE YOU SOME AMENDMENTS OR SOME ADJUSTMENTS WITH TONY.
TONY'S AN EXPERT IN THIS TOO. SO I'VE WORKED WITH TONY.
WE COULD COME BACK WITH SOME THINGS THAT WE THINK MIGHT MAKE IT BETTER.
I THINK WE'VE GOT TEN WEEKS TO DO IT. YEAH. IT'S GOT FOUR READINGS.
IF WE KNOW THAT THE ORDINANCE I MEAN, WE RECEIVED INFORMATION FROM TONY, RIGHT.
THE WAY HOW IT'S WRITTEN, IT'S NOT LEGAL. WE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO FULLY ANALYZE EVERYTHING, BUT WE ESSENTIALLY BROUGHT. ROGER WANTED TO START THE CONVERSATION.
AND SO WE PUT TEXTS TOGETHER THAT WOULD ALLOW THIS CONVERSATION TO START AND, BUT THE INTENT HAS BEEN FROM ROGER'S WANTS TO HAVE WAS WILLING TO DO THIS TODAY TO GET SOME INPUT. AND THEN THE PLAN IS IN TWO WEEKS TO HAVE IT BACK ON AS A FIRST READING.
BUT THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO FULLY GO THROUGH EVERY POSITION THAT THAT'S IN THERE TO KNOW WHETHER OR NOT IT'S ENFORCEABLE, WHETHER OR NOT IT'S LEGAL. IT'S JUST WAS TEXT KIND OF PUT TO PAPER SO THAT WE COULD START THIS.
WHY WOULD, WHY WOULDN'T WE, AND I'M NOT SAYING STOP IT FOR MONTHS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, BUT WHY WOULDN'T WE GIVE THE COUNCIL, OUR COUNCIL TIME TO SAY, HERE'S A LEGAL VERSION THAT YOU CAN WORK OFF OF.
I THINK THAT'S WHAT THIS CONVERSATION WAS FOR. THAT'S WHY WE PUT IT ON THE STUDY SESSION. BUT YOU'RE SAYING IN TWO WEEKS YOU WANT IT AS A FIRST READING, AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO BRING SOMETHING THAT'S NOT LEGAL? IS THAT POSSIBLE IN THE NEXT TWO WEEK TIME FRAME? MAYBE. AND THEN WE CAN WE HAVE WE CAN KEEP THE PUBLIC HEARING OPEN IF WE HAVE TO.
IT CAN GO TO FOUR READINGS. THAT'S INTO JANUARY.
WE JUST KEEP KICKING THIS DOWN THE CURB. IF WE DON'T DO IT, WE DON'T DO IT. WHAT I'M SAYING IS.
TEN YEARS. DO YOU GUYS THINK IT'S SOMETHING YOU COULD HAVE PUT TOGETHER A LEGAL, LEGIBLE VERSION BY TWO WEEKS FROM NOW? WELL, THE ISSUE, OF COURSE, WOULD BE THAT WE DON'T HAVE THE FULL TWO WEEKS TO WORK ON IT.
YOU HAVE TO PUT IT ON THE AGENDA TEN DAYS IN ADVANCE.
OH, WHICH IS THIS COMING FRIDAY, AND THERE'S A LOT TO VET THAT WHOLE LIST OF, YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO VET THE FOURTH AMENDMENT ANALYSIS FOR SEVERAL PROVISIONS. WE NEED TO VET ADA ANALYSIS FOR SEVERAL PROVISIONS.
AND IT WOULD BE, I THINK IT WOULD PROBABLY BE TWO, TWO FULL WEEKS OF FULL TIME WORK BY AN ATTORNEY.
TWO WEEKS OF FULL TIME WORK, OF DOING NOTHING ELSE.
THERE'S A LOT OF OTHER THINGS ON THE TABLE. RIGHT? SO AND I'M NOT SAYING, ROGER, I'M NOT SAYING TO KICK IT DOWN THE ROAD, BUT WE WHEN DO YOU WANT TO PUT IT ON THE AGENDA? WHEN AS A I THINK THAT YOU NEED TO GIVE IF IT'S TWO FULL WEEKS OF DOING NOTHING ELSE, YOU HAVE TO GIVE THEM AT LEAST SIX WEEKS TO VET THROUGH BECAUSE THEY HAVE OTHER THINGS TO DO. WE HAVE A DRAFT AND BUT WE HAD A SUGGESTION COMING FROM CHIEF
[01:10:07]
JAMES TO PUT TOGETHER A GROUP TO GO OVER THIS DRAFT AND SOME OF THE THINGS THAT, AND THEN BRING THAT FORWARD AND WE'LL MOVE FROM THAT POINT GOING.ALSO, I WON'T SUPPORT PUTTING THIS UP IN THE NEXT TWO WEEKS.
I THINK WE NEED MORE TIME AND I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM.
I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THIS DRAFT BROUGHT FORWARD FROM THE EXPERTS.
I THINK YOU GOT TO VET THE LEGALITY OF THE ISSUE BEFORE YOU SAY.
WHATEVER WE DO, WE NEED TO START WITH THE LEGAL VERSION OF WHAT.
[INAUDIBLE] ROGER'S AT, AND I SEE WHY HE'S GOT THE URGENCY, BECAUSE THREE AND A HALF YEARS AGO, THIS WAS BROUGHT UP. AND FOR THREE AND A HALF YEARS NOW IT'S BACK ON THE TABLE.
THAT'S WHAT HE DOESN'T WANT TO SEE. ANOTHER THREE AND A HALF YEARS. AND I GET IT, BUT IF WE CAN.
FASHION THREE AND A HALF YEARS AGO AND IT WASN'T DOESN'T HAVE THE CREDIBILITY. YEAH IT DOES.
IT DID NOT COME UP. NO, IT DIDN'T COME. THESE PEOPLE WEREN'T HERE.
THESE GUYS WEREN'T HERE. IT DIDN'T COME UP IN AN ORDINANCE. HOLD ON.
BUT IF WE GIVE THEM SIX WEEKS OR EIGHT WEEKS AND WE SET A DEADLINE FOR OR END OF THE YEAR FOR THE PEOPLE TO COME BACK, WE CAN SET THE DEADLINE TODAY. BUT TWO WEEKS IS NOT GIVING ANYBODY ENOUGH TIME TWO YEARS AGO OR WHATEVER.
YOU DIDN'T REFERENCE A DRY SHELTER THAT HAD NOBODY ELSE.
BUT WE DIDN'T HAVE WE DIDN'T HAVE IT IN THAT FORM, THOUGH.
IT WAS A CONVERSATION. THAT'S WHAT I WAS SAYING.
AND THEN THREE AND A HALF YEARS LATER, WE'RE SITTING HERE. BECAUSE WE DIDN'T HAVE IT IN THAT FORM AND IT WAS A CONVERSATION. WELL, WE JUST DON'T HAVE ANOTHER THREE AND A HALF YEARS. I'M A SHORT TIMER, SO WHAT DO I KNOW? BUT WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH. THREE AND A HALF YEARS, AND THREE AND A HALF YEARS. I'M JUST ONE PERSON. YOU GUYS CAN PICK A TIME. I WOULD LIKE TO DO IT. I THINK JAMES HAS A GOOD SUGGESTION.
WE KNOW WE CAN'T GIVE HIM TWO WEEKS, BUT WE'VE GOT TO START IT.
IT'S GOT TO START. I AGREE. CAN. COULD YOU GIVE US AN UPDATE AT THE NEXT MEETING OF WHERE YOU'RE AT IN THE PROCESS? AND THEN AT THAT POINT SAY, OKAY, WE'VE GOTTEN THROUGH SOME OF THESE THINGS.
WE'RE PROBABLY LOOKING AT ANOTHER, YOU SEE WHAT I'M SAYING? MAYBE TWO WEEKS FROM NOW OR EVEN IN THE FOUR, YOU KNOW, TWO MEETINGS FROM NOW, GIVE US AN UPDATE AND SAY, HEY, I THINK WE'RE GETTING CLOSE TO READY. QUESTION, QUESTION FOR YOU TO CLARIFY, IS THAT THE LEGAL STANDPOINT OR IS THAT THE LARGER GROUP TO BRING BACK INFORMATION? BECAUSE I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THE CITY HAS. HAVE PEOPLE BRING BACK INFORMATION ON SOMETHING THAT'S ILLEGAL, YOU GOT TO, YOU GOT TO SAY. WE GOT TO FIGURE OUT WHAT'S LEGAL FIRST.
BUT THEN ARE WE PULLING TONY OFF OF EVERY DUTY FOR HIM TO WORK ON FOR TWO WEEKS FULL WITHOUT DOING ANYTHING ELSE? THAT'S NOT, THAT'S NOT I'M NOT ASKING TO HAVE IT BACK.
BUT I'M SAYING CAN YOU, AT OUR NEXT MEETING, COULD YOU, COULD WE SET ASIDE SOME TIME? YOU SAY, HEY, I'VE GONE THROUGH SOME OF THIS.
I FOUND A FEW THINGS. I'M. I HAVE MORE TO DO YET, BUT I'M JUST SAYING, JUST GIVE IT.
AND I'M NOT ASKING FOR A COMPLETED VERSION, AN UPDATE OF WHERE YOU'RE AT IN THE PROCESS. SO AT THAT TIME WE CAN SAY, HEY, I THINK THE NEXT MEETING WOULD BE A GOOD TIME TO DO THIS.
YOU SEE WHAT I'M SAYING? YEAH. AND THEN WE TAKE IT TO THE COMMUNITY.
AT THAT POINT WE CAN SIMULTANEOUSLY. THAT'S FINE.
I THINK WE CAN KIND OF BOTH WORK PULLING THE SAME DIRECTION, I THINK.
I HATE TO SEE, THOUGH PEOPLE DO A LOT OF WORK ON SOMETHING AND THEN HAVE LEGAL SAY, YOU CAN'T DO THAT ANYHOW, YOU KNOW. THERE'S SOME PORTIONS OF THAT, THE WAY IT'S WRITTEN THAT COULD GO IN OTHER PLACES AND ORDINANCES TO DO THE SAME IMPACT.
ALL THE OTHER STUFF THAT'S ON YOUR PLATE, RIGHT.
SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S A BALANCE THERE, CONTINUING TO MOVE FORWARD, GIVING AN UPDATE.
BUT THAT SHOULDN'T BE, IN MY OPINION, YOUR FULL FOCUS OVER THE NEXT 2 TO 4 WEEKS.
I MEAN, I THINK FOR THE PURPOSE OF TODAY IT'S APPARENT, YOU KNOW, THAT LEGAL SHOULD PROBABLY TAKE MEETINGS WITH BRANDY AND WITH CHIEF JAMES AND CHIEF DAVIS. YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN TAKING NOTES ON THE DISCUSSION HERE TODAY SO I CAN SENSE SOME OF THE AREAS WHERE YOU GUYS ARE IN AGREEMENT AND SOME OF THE AREAS WHERE YOU'RE MAYBE NOT IN AGREEMENT. AND I THINK IN TALKING THROUGH WITH ALL OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS, IT'LL HELP PRIORITIZE SOME OF THE BIGGER ISSUES THAT MAYBE EITHER NEED IMMEDIATE ATTENTION OR MAYBE CAN HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE DELAYED LEGAL ANALYSIS IN LOOKING THROUGH TO SEE WHICH OF THIS REALLY MATTERS FOR THE PURPOSES OF MOVING THIS FORWARD.
AND SO YOU KNOW, I KNOW ROGER DOESN'T EXPECT ME TO HAVE EVERY SINGLE ANSWER ON DAY ONE.
[01:15:06]
IS PRODUCTIVE. AND I THINK EVERYONE HERE TODAY HAS HAD PRODUCTIVE INPUT.AND SO WE'LL JUST FIND A GOOD MEDIUM IN TERMS OF MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE MOVING FORWARD, BUT WE'RE DOING SO IN A MEASURED MANNER AND THAT WE'RE GETTING THE INPUT THAT WE NEED ALONG THE WAY. OKAY. COULD YOU THINK FEEL COMFORTABLE IF I SAID, GIVE ME AN UPDATE IN TWO MEETINGS? WOULD THAT BE A DECENT ENOUGH? I MEAN, I THINK I MEAN, UPDATING THE COUNCIL ISN'T THE PROBLEM.
ISN'T. IT'S HOW SUBSTANTIVE IS THE UPDATE GOING TO BE.
NO, I KNOW, BUT I'M SAYING WHAT THAT DOES IS IT FORCES US TO KEEP IN THE CONVERSATION REALISTICALLY.
LIKE, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? SO IT DOESN'T IT DOESN'T LET IT SLIP BACK.
YOU'RE COMING ON THIS DAY SO THAT I'VE ALREADY GOT IT. OTHERWISE IT GETS OUT OF SIGHT.
OUT OF MIND. RIGHT, AND I THINK TO THAT END, AND IN PRIOR CONVERSATIONS WITH ROGER, THERE'S NO REASON I CAN'T GIVE YOU AN UPDATE AT EVERY MEETING. RIGHT. SURE. CORRECT. IT DOESN'T NECESSARILY NEED TO BE IN DEPTH OR OR.
YEAH. VERY THOROUGH. BUT TO LET YOU GUYS KNOW EXACTLY WHAT'S HAPPENED, WHERE WE'RE AT AND WHAT THE.
JUST FORCING IT TO KEEP FRONT OF MIND FOR ALL OF US, I GUESS, IS WHAT I'M ASKING.
OKAY. EVERYONE. IS THAT COOL? YEAH. OKAY.
ANYTHING ELSE? ALL RIGHT. SEE YOU THEN. THANK YOU.
ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT AGENDA.
SO MOVED. SECOND. IS THERE A DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
AYE. OPPOSED SAME SIGN. TONIGHT. WE HAVE TWO PUBLIC HEARINGS.
[4.A) Resolution 25-263 Resolution approving the plans, specifications, form of contract and cost estimate for the SWILE Backup Generator Addition. Project # BM-26-07 ]
IF YOU'D LIKE TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL, PLEASE STEP FORWARD. THE MICROPHONE. GIVE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD. NOW IT'S TIME AND PLACE FOR A PUBLIC HEARING IN REGARDS TO RESOLUTION 25-263. THIS RESOLUTION APPROVES THE PLANS, SPECIFICATIONS AND FORM OF CONTRACT AND COST ESTIMATE FOR THE SWILE BACKUP GENERATOR ADDITION. IS PROOF OF PUBLICATION ON FILE? YES IT IS.ANY WRITTEN PROTESTS RECEIVED? NONE RECEIVED.
ANYONE WISHING TO ADDRESS COUNCIL IN REGARDS TO THIS.
IS THERE A MOTION FROM THE COUNCIL? MOTION TO APPROVE.
SECOND. IS THERE A DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
AYE. OPPOSED SAME SIGN. NOW IS TIME AND PLACE FOR PUBLIC HEARING.
[4.B) Resolution 25-264 Resolution approving the Amended and Restated Consolidated Urban Revitalization Plan Amendment 3. URV-25-006]
REGARDS. RESOLUTION 25-264. A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE AMENDED RESTATED CONSOLIDATED URBAN REVITALIZATION PLAN AMENDMENT 3.IS PROOF PUBLICATION ON FILE? YES, IT IS. ANY WRITTEN PROTEST? NONE RECEIVED. ANYONE WISHING TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL IN REGARDS TO THIS MATTER.
IS THERE A MOTION FROM THE COUNCIL? MOTION TO APPROVE.
SECOND. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
[5.A) Ordinance 6658 Ordinance approving the Amended and Restated Consolidated Urban Revitalization Plan Amendment 3. URV-25-006]
AMENDMENT 3. MOTION TO APPROVE. SECOND. IS THERE A DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. AYE.[6.A) Resolution 25-265 Resolution to create a new "Assistant Attorney I" position within the Legal Department ]
MOTION TO APPROVE. SECOND. SECOND. IS THERE A DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. AYE.OPPOSED SAME SIGN. APPLICATIONS FOR PERMITS AND CANCELLATIONS.
[7.A) Liquor License1. BBQ Brothers, 321 Comanche St. (New) 2. Dusted Charm, 120 West Broadway (New)3. Hard Luck Saloon, 626 16th Ave.4. Iowa Western Community College, 2700 College Rd.5. Oskies For Sports, 1851 Madison Ave. ]
SEVEN. A LIQUOR LICENSES 1-5. MOTION TO APPROVE 7.A 1-5.SECOND. IS THERE A DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
AYE. OPPOSED SAME SIGN. ANY OTHER BUSINESS FROM THE COUNCIL?
[8) OTHER BUSINESS]
JUST A REMINDER WITH HALLOWEEN NEXT FRIDAY, IF YOU'RE DRIVING AROUND, STAY OFF YOUR PHONES.I KNOW THIS PAST WEEK, THERE WAS AN ACCIDENT INVOLVING A TRUCK AND A MOTORCYCLE, AND IT WASN'T.
IT'S NOT GOOD. IT'S A SENIOR IN HIGH SCHOOL. SO JUST IN GENERAL STAFF, YOUR PHONES WILL BE DILIGENT WHEN YOU'RE DRIVING BECAUSE NO ONE LIKES TO SEE ANYTHING LIKE THAT. ANY CITIZENS REQUESTING TO BE HEARD? DID I DO THAT TWICE? NOPE. YOU HAVEN'T DONE THAT YET. ALL RIGHT. ANYONE ELSE FROM THE COUNCIL?
[01:20:01]
IF NOT, WE'RE ADJOURNED.* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.