July 24, 2019 AGENDA

Our main presentation and discussion will be regarding the proposed Homeless Services Campus with City of Fort Collins' Deputy City Manager, Jeff Mihelich.

See meeting notes below by clicking "Read More"

Fundraising:

• Chipping Fore Charities – Ron and Bryan
• Monday, August 26th,  starts at 7:00
• Ptarmigan Country Club
• Looking for sponsors, players, etc.

Updates:

• City: Councilwoman Susan Gutowsky / Councilman Ross Cunniff
  • Moratorium on new mobile homes in Fort Collins – one year
  • Possibility of minimum wage increasing in Fort Collins
  • Legislative review will convene, looking at immigration issues
  • Climate issues: Per Ross, any resolution will be nothing more than the current direction/objectives that the City has in place
• County: Commissioner John Kefalas
  
  • Passed two resolutions that passed the Jail Expansion Project ($75 Million project)
    
  • Approved Larimer County Comprehensive Plan for the County (replaces the 1997 Master Plan)
    
  • Proposed ballot measure this fall to increase the County’s tax by .5%.  
    
  • 65% will go to transportation needs
    
  • Will raise about $32 Million per year
    

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• State: State Senators Joann Ginal & Rob Woodward
  • Joann is focusing on health care and small business assistance
  • Legislature isn’t in session right now.  Planning is taking place.

• Police:  Matt Johnson
  • Busy.  Lots of bike patrol going on now (3 days/week).  Traveler population increases in the summer (typically May/June).  This year has started later.  Dealing with lots of behaviors near New Belgium/Mawson Lumber 

• Federal:  Dan Betts
  • Bureau of Land Management moving its headquarters to Grand Junction

Presentations:

• City of Fort Collins - Proposed Homeless Services Campus - Jeff Mihelich, Deputy City Manager (Clay Frickey from the URA also in attendance)
• City looked at different cities throughout the US that have had some success with the homeless population:
  • San Antonio TX
  • St. Paul MN
  • Nashville TN
• All three of those communities have created a campus-type setting to draw all of the services into one location
• 24 hour services
• Focusing on breaking the cycle of poverty
• Possibly partnering with Larimer County on the mental health issues
• Job counseling
• Drug counseling
• Mission
• Possible affordable housing
• For the past year, the City has been looking for properties in our community for this type of campus.
• Looked at sites in both North and South Fort Collins
• Decided on the property in North Fort Collins
• Per Jeff, not even close to “opening doors, constructing buildings.”  Currently in the concept stage.
• Community and County wide issue (Ross)
• Can’t fix the problem, just help the problem
• Jeff stated that location and zoning are important.  Comments from attendees were:
• Zoning can be changed
• Buildings can be built up vs. out
• Transients won’t stay on campus when they are dealing with substance abuse
• Most don’t want a different lifestyle.  Most have chosen this lifestyle.
• We don’t want to be a magnet for transients in the County 
• Perception is that Bohemian and the City are pushing the homeless issues to North Fort Collins.
• Why would Bohemian already purchase the property if this campus isn’t already way down the road in the planning process?  Did she purchase the property as an investment?
• City is looking at a residency requirement for people to take advantage of the services in this type of campus.
• Jeff suggested a small panel of homeless service providers be convened for questions.
• Holly from Homeward 2020 was in attendance