Jenny Lorton 1:35 Shoot. Hello, I'm the first one I am shocked. Robb Huff 2:09 Yeah you You are the first one, there was somebody else here, very briefly and then they left so Unknown Speaker 2:16 I think I scared him away. Jenny Lorton 2:19 Yeah, Well, you know, Fridays. Robb Huff 2:23 Yeah, exactly. Jenny Lorton 2:32 I see you have also broken up the hoodies it's that time of year Robb Huff 2:36 it is. And my office is in the basement of my house which is not super warm so it'll be, It'll be warmer next week. Jenny Lorton 2:47 I understand that. Robb Huff 4:36 Good morning early risers we'll be getting started here shortly. James Pogue 7:28 Hey Dan. Good morning. Sorry I barely got here in time it was like a mad dash to get my computer up and go. And Robb Huff 7:37 that's okay it's Friday. James Pogue 7:39 Geez, I was like just running behind not really paying attention to the time a little dilly dallying and, and now I'm here. So I know that you know the agenda we have the breakout sessions kind of First we have topics or questions for those I didn't have notes on that. Robb Huff 7:55 So what we're gonna do. And I don't know if Garrett I sent you a chat message I don't know if you are going to be hanging around, and would like to be involved in kind of introducing that document you're created. Gerrit Nyland 8:10 Yes, I'll be hanging around, hopefully for this whole discussion. So, yeah, to do an intro. Robb Huff 8:16 That'd be great. Um, yeah. So, essentially, I think what we want to do James is just have Jared introduce the, the proposal he put together, and then we'll break into small groups and just have general discussion about it, if the question is, you know, a response to the proposal itself, and what works, what doesn't work in any other ideas. James Pogue 8:42 Well, then I'll put myself on mute and let you guys kick off the meeting when you're ready when we have about our, our capacity or whatever and I'll I can facilitate one of the groups by that. I'll just put myself on mute and sit in the background until we get back to the other agenda stuff. Robb Huff 8:58 If you want to do the welcome message though that's fine. The up to you. James Pogue 9:07 Yeah, I'm good. Robb Huff 9:09 Okay. All right, so as soon as we get ice. Once again, everybody's getting to see how the sausage is made this morning but we soon as I get a few more people here. I see people filtering in. Then, then we can get started, just so everyone is aware I did create the agenda in a way that it would be flexible so that if Al Ratcliffe 9:36 if and when. Robb Huff 9:39 Pastor Christopher shows up to talk about the common ministerial alliance that we can kind of shift to that. So just know that we may shift things a little bit but I don't see him here at the beginning of the meeting so I'm assuming we will start with the, I am here. Oh, hi. Pastor Christopher 10:02 I would say everybody's doing good. Al Ratcliffe 10:07 Thank you. Robb Huff 10:11 So pastor Christopher what what would work best for you. Would it work best to have you. Talk to the group here at the beginning of the meeting or would you prefer to go after we have our first. Our small group breakouts about the coalition sustainability. Pastor Christopher 10:26 I could wait, in, you know, and, you know, I think that probably would be better, and I could count on this and then and see, you know, you know where the minds are at. And then I can hopefully do better in sharing my two cents. Robb Huff 10:43 Perfect. Okay, Perfect. Appreciate you being here. Thank you. So let's see we're about three after the hour. We still only have 24 folks up here on the call so let's, let's wait a couple more minutes and then we'll get started. Good morning everybody. All right, here comes everybody Great, so let's go ahead and get started. Welcome everyone to this morning's meeting of the dollar Pierce County coalition to end homelessness. Hopefully everyone received an agenda. We have a very packed agenda again today. We're going to do something a little bit different to kind of open up our meeting this week last week we postponed doing a small breakout groups for a discussion about the sustainability of the coalition. So, this week we didn't want to miss that again. So we want to do that first thing. So to kick us off this morning. I want to invite Garrett to join us and kind of share his thoughts behind a document that he created about formalizing the coalition and homelessness. The document was emailed out to everyone by Maureen over a week ago. And here Garrett's shirt, sharing the document. So take it away Derek. Gerrit Nyland 12:55 Great, thanks so much fun to be here again guys. So as I think about how to help our coalition be more effective and serving our community. One problem. One challenge kept getting. Let's see a whole bunch of challenges kept getting wrapped together, and I kept wondering if there was a way to build a structure in our community, that can meet a lot of these challenges, and I am not in love with this, I like it. But I would love for all of our brains to come up with whether this is a good idea or it needs to be structured in a different way. I'm going to try to do this in five minutes so I don't spend too much time. I've put up on the screen, my proposed organizational structure, and this organizational structure has a number of objectives, one objective is to provide the administrative support so that this meeting can keep going in an effective and efficient way. And as Rob and all the rest of the crew is is sort of working all of the tasks, it's a lot to keep this meeting going every week. And so if you had administrative support to do it like a lot of organizations they do this, that would be great so none of the goals of this proposal, have to do with changing how this meeting works. They have to do with how do we support this group, but also how do we support some of the things that I don't think are happening adequately in Pierce County. So, another challenge we've had a lot is, how do we as community members advocate for policy changes and laws and funding and ordinances, to support, right, our folks living homeless. And that's something we've always struggled with how do we have our coalition which is a super big tent. We want everybody to be here. No matter your political persuasion or your perspective of zoning laws in Washington or Pierce County, or Tacoma. And so, so trying to make this group not get stuck in advocacy but to be the collaborative body. So, another goal was to create a way for people to advocate that doesn't interfere with the work we do in this Friday provider meeting. A third goal that I had was to figure out how we can involve people experiencing homelessness, or recently experiencing homelessness and a much more active way in how we design our homeless programs, and I know that our homeless programs do work hard to collect client voice like that's a big part of how clients, determine their solution to homelessness. But we, we often struggle, kind of on a system perspective to get that voice in front of policymakers and other ways and what a lot of communities do is something called a speaker's bureau right but somewhat formal structure compensated for the people doing it. Basically, a pool of resources we can draw on when we need to bring some personal stories, or to get some closer perspective. And another group that's really important that's not well supported and so another goal is to figure out a way to support some other community groups that are doing vital work, and one of those is the Tacoma tenant Organizing Committee, they had some funding some time ago, right just after the whole Tiki hut fiasco. And, and that group was really effective when it had administrative support when it lost that administrative support, it's not been able to be as effective. And so, another goal of my proposed structure is to provide the infrastructure for them to do their work so not to take over their work in any way but but to make their work possible by taking the administrative tasks and putting them in a professional environment so they can get busy with their advocacy. And the fifth goal is around how we as a community fill the void that is left by there being no group coordinating all of Pierce County's homeless activities. And there are a lot of groups that sort of think that they do that, but I don't think that they fully do. So that would be the continuum of care and the county and the city, they all have some role in coordinating our homeless response but they don't own the homeless space. They don't take accountability for having adequate resources for our community and so another objective is to kind of create a structure that could become that whether it does or not, I don't know. So I created this inverted. I'm like totally waving my hands around you probably can't even see me. I created this inverted organizational structure and the reason isn't because it makes the world dramatically different but the point is that I am proposing paid staff to support the important work which isn't the executive director is not at the top, they're not the important thing. The important thing is the work of the provider meeting, it's the work of a proposed advocacy committee, it's the work in the speaker's bureau, it's the work of Tennant organized. And it's the work of implementing at a minimum like a supporting the, the subcommittee's on the continuum of care with staffing to help them complete their tasks, right, or even helping support the continuum of care right a lot of communities a continuum of care is not part of one of the government organizations, it's a separate group, right, so that's something we could think about right again. I don't have to do it that way it's not like a deal breaker it's not even that important but it's maybe an opportunity for us to do better, to support the work of all those groups, I'm recommending three different positions get funded and in order to house that funding I'm recommending that we create a new entity in order to do that, I would be fine if some other entity wanted to pick that work up right and bringing those staff positions in, but I'm kind of thinking like 100 hundred and 50 to $200,000 a year organization with three big jobs. One of them is an executive director, and they keep everything going they maintain relationships with all the other big bodies with the governments with the continuum of care with the funders in the community with other nonprofits, another brand so that's that's a role right full time or not I don't really know another role is a policy analyst right somebody that well does what marine does right that helps the coalition, understand best practices and understand opportunities for funding and understand the way the world is shifting so that and understand something you know complicated like zoning laws and how we might push for zoning law changes to eliminate homelessness right that that's one of our tools right but somebody needs to understand the details and that would be an analyst, and the third rule that we need, maybe the most important is an administrative coordinator, and that's somebody that post meeting minutes that make sure that speakers know how to come to the meeting and do those tasks like all of the administrative things that are necessary in order for all of these different groups to be able to focus on how do we make change instead of how do I make sure that everybody knows that the zoom meeting starts at 9am and how to login, right. So, administrative person that makes all of that happen. So that's my cell mice and the big question I have is, is it worth it in our community to spend, big money, not crazy money but real money on work, that doesn't serve people experiencing homelessness. That's right. In other words like this is an infrastructure thing so that we can do a better job as a community, is it worth it. And that's a really interesting question like is it worth it. I don't think we can divert money from the county in the city to do this kind of work I think this would have to be some private money right that believes that by, by supporting these groups we can serve our constituents better serve our community members better than if we didn't and that's, that's the discussion, right. So, creating an advocacy group right keeping this provider group supported supporting the speaker's bureau Tacoma tenants, maybe the continuum of care I don't really know that's a whole different world. But certainly, supporting some of their subcommittees, right, helping those subcommittees be successful. And is that worth the cost. That's the question. Back to you, Rob. Robb Huff 21:34 All right, thanks for setting that up here. So, what we wanted to do this morning is to consider those questions that Gareth just posed in small group. So it looks like we have roughly 40 people in the room right now. What I'm going to do is split us up into. Let's say eight different groups and we can spend 10 minutes in our groups, everyone will be randomly assigned 10 minutes in our groups to kind of hear everyone's voice about around the idea, both of what Garrett proposed, and in general about sustainability of the efforts of the coalition. One person in each group. What are my ask would be is that you take some notes, and we will report out after we do our 10 minutes of discussion. So, without any further delay, let me see if I've got the ability to set up breakout rooms here. And everyone in the room you will see a countdown. When we get to the end of our 10 minute period. So with that, I'm going to hit the button and away we go at the top. Maureen Howard 23:06 Now moving. Ah. Robb Huff 23:35 All right, I think we're all broken, broken up into our rooms now are getting close. So real quickly to get started if everyone could unmute themselves and. Unknown Speaker 26:59 Wondering how come Unknown Speaker 27:07 I can't hear anything. Jeff Rogers 27:15 We're, we're all here, Unknown Speaker 27:17 I got it, Jeff Rogers 27:18 committee has broken out into small groups. The five of us that are in this room, I don't know for a group. Unknown Speaker 27:28 I don't know what the conversation is Jeff Rogers 27:29 I came into the meeting late, I just hopped on as well this is my new major I got it, I got a message this said they were waiting to assign me, so I assumed we were all waiting to be assigned a room we haven't been assigned a room. Manu Rodriguez 27:42 Yeah, I think that might be the case I have the same message. Robb Huff 27:46 Please wait. Yeah. So hang tight. James Pogue 27:51 Yeah, I agree. Robb Huff 27:59 Alex CE Can James Pogue 28:03 you hear us. Unknown Speaker 28:04 Yes, I can now. Okay. Al Ratcliffe 28:08 I got invited. Robb Huff 40:15 All right, so it'll be just a moment here as we wait for everybody to come back from their breakout rooms. So those of us that are back was that a useful process to damper that conversation. Unknown Speaker 40:46 Yes, very much. Robb Huff 40:47 Right. Yes. Good. All right, so welcome back everyone I think almost all of us are back in the room now. So why don't we break right into report outs and when we had eight rooms. Hopefully everyone has a few comments from each room. Let's try to be able to wrap up this part of the session and about 10 to 15 additional minutes. So with that in mind, why don't we start with room one What were your, what were the high points or main points of your conversation. Theresa Power-Drutis 41:40 I don't remember what room I am Garrett, do you remember what room. Dana Peterson 41:46 Mike yoders room was Unknown Speaker 41:55 Mr Yoder needs to unmute himself. Mike Yoder 41:59 Thank you. that's a good reminder for those of us who run zoom meetings, when we go into breakout rooms, tell everybody to take note of their room number anyway I'm pretty sure I'm room one so super quickly. We had Dana from CCS has been involved with this Coalition for 14 years and she basically really believes that you know it's kind of undergone an evolution it's been very helpful it's in its recent expansion, you know, of what it's been doing and the frequency of its meeting she thinks she sees it gaining in power. She wonders where the funding will come from Steven from pioneer Human Services has been involved about a year he, he really likes this loose association that this has provided and isn't so sure you know what would be gained by having more of a structure. We had an interesting input from Rebecca who joined us from Lehigh up in Seattle I think she's gonna be presenting about the tiny house village later so she was just in our room and she's the very first time meeting with our coalition but she's actually very familiar with the Seattle Homeless Coalition, and she says they have a formalized structure a staff of five people with an executive director and admin and advocacy coordinator, we have a member coordinator and they are a force to be reckoned with up in Seattle. They have become a very respected entity by both the City Council and the county council up there and so I think it gave us a little vision of what we might be able to achieve by formalizing, what we do down here. Question brought up by several people. Jeff Rogers and Dana also about just how the CMC integration would work what that relationship would be like. We everybody I think recognizes that figuring that out is going to be an essential question to to answer. And Sarah who joined us just at the end there from Lena just wonders if the members who've been so involved us as, you know, just voluntary members in our loose form forum here, if, if we'll lose some of the energy that we have of collaboration working together once we have paid staff members will we just kind of defer to them to do the work. And then I shared my experiences with two Coalition's I'm involved with now the Human Services coalition, which used to be a force to be reckoned with in Pierce County, you know 20 years ago and has really lost most of its power and is trying to find it again but with, with no formal staff is a ragtag band of, you know, voluntary members and it's very hard for it to find a voice and defined power, as opposed to the Affordable Housing Consortium, which I'm on the board, and it has a new executive director in the last two years in New Energy it has some resources, it has a paid full time, executive director and involved board and I think they're on the upswing and their power and their influence, because of that investment in their formal structure as a coalition. So as I was saying I think you kind of get what you invest in. So that was the comments we had. Robb Huff 45:09 Great. Thank you, Michael. I was taking notes for groups to all report out quickly on that. Very, there were many similar themes from what Michael reported in group one. The general consensus seemed to be that a formalized more formalized group would be good for the organization for the coalition and sustainability of their concern about funding and where would funding come from, in order to have any paid staff that seemed to be pretty common with the folks who are in our, in our room. And also just a general concern about the sustainability of the coalition as it exists now, with some discussion that of a reminder, how this coalition expanded and became a more kind of essential weekly gathering. After the city and posted created the emergency around shelter and homelessness. In general, there was support for the idea of having a Bible one c three. And, and filing that paperwork. And then, Dan runback was sharing how important the coalition has been over the years for public health, and the ability to coordinate and do outreach around public health issues impact as population. So, in general, that's where we were at with group two group three. You can report out in that group. Unknown Speaker 46:50 Is that us. Robb Huff 46:54 Shaking heads So, Theresa Power-Drutis 46:58 Megan were we in group three. Unknown Speaker 47:01 I yeah we were. Theresa Power-Drutis 47:03 Yeah, okay, I kind of thought. So, I'm in group three, we had a number of ideas. I'm going to give Oscar's first because he's only been with this Coalition for six months since he started working at Nativity house and he has a lot of wisdom though, it's about whatever we do, make sure that we don't set ourselves up for burnout. And that is kind of what I think this framework was created for was to avoid the burnout or the dissipation of the energy. And so our group had two people who have been strongly opposed to any sort of five one c three in the past, and both of us have moved over I'm gonna let al talk about what he has to say but I want to say that. Okay also Megan talked about the importance of getting funding elsewhere not in the city and county that that was something she liked about what Garrett was presenting that it be not that the group never be obligated to the city or county in what our recommendations are or any government entity. I had a problem with the top bar of the organizational structure. What I proposed is that instead of organizations which makes it look as if we have some control over those organizations, no matter which direction you put the cart chart that they be issues that we say we're going to support these community issues and then give a list of the organizations we already know are working on those issues. Instead of putting the organization's themselves there because visually, it has that people have a tendency to see it as a top down no matter which way you put the chart. And then taken away out. Al Ratcliffe 48:52 Oh I have mixed feelings about the whole thing, basically see the value in evolving toward some kind of a formal organization. Most of my mixed feelings are very practical and like the funding has already been mentioned by several, the negotiation of what we're going to do compared to what the kid is the county and the city are going to do, will have to be done very carefully and probably very politically. Because I suspect we're going to get a fair amount of opposition from at least one of those government entities. I, I forget some of the stuff I said in the group already because I'm getting older. I hope that we're able to find some ways to be supportive of organizations, without controlling them, or appearing to control them. And I, I think ultimately the county and the city will have to formally delegate some kind of recognition to the group to take this on. And that may have to be done at council levels in both, both county and city. Robb Huff 50:05 Thank you, owl. So group for you have somebody to report out or do you remember who was injured bar. Jenny Lorton 50:13 Hi, Jenny, I'm gonna report out for group four. And so we discussed a number of things that's already been reported out. funding and where that's going to come from one the some of the positives organization. Some of the discussion points. Coordination for tenants, the speaker's bureau we thought that was a great idea. One of the things we discussed as a possible challenge is, this is a. Everyone can come everyone can have a voice everyone can speak, kind of a platform right now and moving to a more kind of organized structure may take away from that. It may be seen as more of a organized structure and it may lose kind of the Come one, come all kind of feel. So how would we work to ensure that everyone still can participate have their voice be heard, kind of thing. So we talked about that. We also talked about funding as in making sure that that would be sustainable. So looking for funding, you know, in the start their startup funding, and you can get a lot of momentum for funding when you're wanting to start something in the beginning, but making sure that the funding is sustainable. So that, that's another thing we discussed that hasn't already been discussed. Robb Huff 51:54 Perfect. Thank you very much. So as we move through group six any new thoughts to add, for your from your group. Unknown Speaker 52:03 What about group five. Unknown Speaker 52:04 Yes. Good. All right. Robb Huff 52:08 Yep, good or five, Nate Cooper 52:10 or is this Nate from Tacoma rescue mission will be representing replies, in our discussion over this topic. I think we we pretty much went over the same thing. Most of the groups went over, because we're of like mindedness so I think the only real concerns that I haven't heard yet was, you know, is this, are these positions going to be full time or are they going to be someone who's already in the coalition and trying to take on this role, these roles as well, because I think if we're going to do this we're gonna need someone who can focus on this and to make sure that it's done right, and then someone who already knows what we're trying to accomplish so someone who's already involved, would be amazing. Just so that we're not having someone trying to play catch up or trying to figure out how we work as a coalition. And then also using this to kind of streamline what we're doing so, having an order of operations of how we collaborate with each other in the coalition, so that we're not stepping on each other's toes or trying to accomplish the same thing someone else is and take that energy and focus it on something that's not being focused on or put into energy is being put into. So it's, it's definitely a good idea just how it's executed is going to determine how effective and how time how that time is going to be used to help those that we're trying to help, and not be another hoop to jump through to get things accomplished. Robb Huff 54:09 Right. Thanks a ologies for skipping over through five I won't miss the next group, group six. Unknown Speaker 54:18 Okay, in groups, Unknown Speaker 54:21 created the idea of having a stainable structure, but we feel like the structure should reflect the population we serve and be flexible and adaptable to change, and in fluid as we talked about continuing to work with that chain foundation to come Pierce County Chamber of Commerce, as a source of income, and then Tara talked about fee for service and Tara's going to explain exactly how that would work if we were to use something like that, but you're. Tara 54:53 Hi, everybody, Tara from CCS and so we were just talking about like a fee for service and, you know, being able to Bill, maybe, you know, Medicare or Medicaid like how we do you know for FCS or something like that I'm talking and. Sorry. Um, so yeah we were just talking about fee for service and how like if we're able to use that then we can just kind of keep rolling the money and then just having that that would be sustainable, and everything else that she said, Robb Huff 55:23 Great you could use. Thanks Tara and and birna. Um, so, group seven additional thoughts. James Pogue 55:32 That was our group we had a pretty small but mighty group including person for the very first meeting so but similar to Mike yoders group that that was a representative from Lehigh who is talking about the Seattle coalition and some of the benefits of that including building out some advocacy around new projects when you have to deal with like neighborhood councils and you could have some like officially aligned advocacy and you could have already neighborhood experts as well as experts around service community that could talk officially on behalf of the coalition which is something we haven't had before. As an advantage, also looking to like bet new partners or whatever, can we would as a 501 c three we'd end up with a list of committed partners or signed on partner agencies or however we would do it there'd be somebody dedicated not just to arranging the coalition presentations, but also like spending time with the organization to some degree understanding their values and if they align with the coalition and the vision, mission, which kind of comes to my first negative I think most people who worked with me long enough knows that I'm probably the loudest. Let's not touch the secret sauce. I'm a proponent of doing anything with the coalition except for leaving it alone. Although I'm thinking I'm slowly adjusting on that but a part of the value has been that we, we are structures only one only one value, like to end homelessness and in any way, that means, which allows for people on both sides of the political spectrum to walk in and be curious about either what's happening or what's, what they can up their vision, align with so we've had people on both sides of the spectrum come in, we've had religious organizations and we had like the satanic something present, I can't remember their name but we've had both sides and if if we start to pick a lane and we pick a person and we pick an organization. Regardless, that person's values will start to bleed in to the decision making of the coalition, and that'll start to to change the model from everyone's Welcome to participate. Everyone's Welcome to participate as long as they fall on this structure of beliefs and and values which may not be the worst thing. But, but it could happen. There's a possibility to come up with more unified orchestration that resources as well as unified recommendations. When we get requests from politicians or different nonprofits or whatever about what's a good use of these resources, we'd have that answer. And again, the one hiccup could be bias that we start to pick our favorite organizations or pick our favorite solutions that we would be a little less. Big 10, open minded. But that's just my own fear maybe it won't come to fruition. That's it. Anything else group seven if there's anything I missed Unknown Speaker 58:26 you explained it very well. Thanks. Carolyn Reed 58:30 Yeah, I would just add that we would like the group to have part of their mission that they work themselves out of a job like we actually end homelessness and not get into the structure. Robb Huff 58:46 Fantastic. Um, so group, eight. Sean Dennerlein 58:52 Oh, I was in another small group with Marina and Judy, and I think Richard joined us there at the end, we commented on how you know like as far as an org chart goes this is a really nice way to do the org chart where the executive, and the leadership is beholden to the masses almost in that the group has priority say over their, their business and everything so that that was really nice and I think the intentionality in that was well thought out on our end and I think I really appreciate that, um, we also talked about that, you know the the funding sources, it's nice to have an organization that's not necessarily government funded, that the, to have outside funding and collection of different funding sources may make them a little bit more nimble and, and able to adapt rather than having those political priorities pushed down from above. So the response type can adapt as, as we see fit. We also discussed how having a structure of this sort may allow it to be more poignant and focused, with the communication and having one person to advocate and to come to the different stakeholders and stuff, as the representative of the group may help the voices of the group be heard better rather than hearing a, a, you know, choir of voices we have one one singular voice that's running the ideas up and kind of with Jay James's comments there about, you know, ensuring that the deposition isn't biased and isn't beholden to their favorite organizations and such. It's kind of nice to know that this position is separate from these organizations so that you know right now with with how we have it structured and that they, we all belong to different groups and different entities and different organizations. There is some comfort and knowing that this person represents the would would be beholden to the homeless population and the bet and those of our community rather than this is their side job, you know they work for, for the county or they work for any of our organizations and nonprofits and then this is their, their part time position that this person doesn't it, they purely speak for this group and if they aren't meeting the needs of this group. They can be held accountable for that because of the way the org chart is structured. So, our group kind of like that too. And I think pretty much everything else has been already covered, you know, let my group, my group can speak up I'm sure if I've missed anything so thanks so much. Robb Huff 1:01:49 So thank you for that. So I think what we want, I want to say we push we. I appreciate all of the feedback from everyone and the thoughts of everyone on this process and proposal. I think our hope this morning was to get everyone's thoughts and to let this idea now sit and ruminate a little bit over it. Before we make any kind of formal proposal to move anything forward. And I do looking at the time see that of course we've spent more time on this important conversation than we had allocated in the agenda which is is fine. So I do want to be mindful of that time and move on to our next agenda item soon but Gareth Do you have any closing thoughts you want to share. Gerrit Nyland 1:02:44 I appreciate everybody's thoughts, a lot of them are thoughts I've been having, and so I feel like I can take all this feedback and put a version two out. And just to reiterate the you know the the goal is, is this structure is a servant of this group at this meeting, and these other groups, and I heard that loud and clear I think and that's what I want as well I'm, I think I'll just wrap up in two minutes here. I think to how the Commission's work at the City of Tacoma that I've been involved with. I'm on the Transportation Commission I've been on another one and the Commission's appointed by the City Council, and they have city staff that support their work and the city staff are subservient to the work that the Commission does when the commission decides to write a letter. Planning Commission is a great example Planning Commission says they want a letter written, they tell staff how to write the letter, the letter gets written by staff, it gets brought to the commission, and then the commission signs off on it and it goes out as the Commission, the, the staff support the work and they inform the work but they are, they are subservient right they, they are there to make sure that what the commission decides needs to be done, gets done and the commission remains independent and that's that's the philosophy I want you know behind, that's what I'm hearing from you all is that that that autonomy is incredibly important to all of you and I, I was trying to create a structure that kept that in mind and I heard a whole bunch of ways that I can write that out clear so thank you all for that energy I'm feeling like I need to come up with kind of a second version, and, and get any final feedback and then figure out how to make this happen. James Pogue 1:04:33 Awesome. Robb Huff 1:04:36 So thank you again to everybody for participating and that really important conversation and thanks Garrett for putting up the initial draft so that we could have that conversation. I think we'll do a quick shift of the agenda, we had two discussion items queued up next, but I want to be respectful of the time of pastor, Christopher pastor Christopher Would you like to take the floor and talk about what the Tacoma ministerial Alliance is doing and how the how we can work with the American industrial Alliance as a coalition to support that work. Pastor Christopher 1:05:15 Okay. Thank you. So, the communist Alliance is working on homelessness from, from several different fronts. One intervention and prevention. Number two, and also we tried to look at how do we how do we how do we how do we manage those that that that that don't want to be in a structured place, but they don't want an apartment, they don't want to stay in a home. And so, so the survey, because of the survey that kind of that caught my attention, because it identified that, that there is a population among the persons that are homeless, that don't want that want to be homeless they want to live homeless and so, so, so that said to me, how do we how do we manage that group and and manage them in a way where they still feel valued and based, they are treated with dignity, like, and then yet held accountable for for their actions. So, so, so, so, and when I saw the survey, I was I was just really impressed with the survey, because it show action in the game but enough information that any one of the groups that are on this that's in his coalition could begin implementing, And so, I emailed back to Al and I said hey you know let's let's all get together and and look at this document produced by MD MDC and and look at some of the recommendation from MDC based on the survey of approximately 91 homeless persons, and let's confront the city, you know let's confront the county, you know, on, on helping us to to service this, these different populations within homelessness. So, you know, we continue to hear very rich, like, you know, the eradication of homelessness, ending homelessness, you know, but then when you look at the survey, you know, you know, it kind of forces me to reevaluate that because you know there are persons that that they just, they want to be homeless, you know, so it seemed like that might be an insurmountable goal to eradicate homelessness but but but then you know what do we do with that percentage of population of homeless person so so so that's that's that's that's where I'm at, you know, I. Some of you might have met shoved up. He was a homeless person in the city to call for years. Some of the leaders of the Tacoma Pierce County black collective, they, they went to the city on his behalf and and they was they was able to get him in an apartment. And so, so one day I was in the post office. Chicken my peel box and, and I hear this voice say, hey, Reverend Christopher How are you doing, very eloquent very articulate and I looked over there and it was shoved up, and, and, and, and he said to me that uh that that you know some of the young leaders in the African American community, got him an apartment, but he said that, that the Lord told him that he had to stay out on the streets with his people. So, so, so some of them that are out there now have the same conviction that whether we agree with it or not they have the same conviction Oh shut up is that, that this is what this is, this is where they need to be. And then so so if that's the case, then we need to figure out how do we serve that population. And I think that, that, that some of the recommendation from CDC is, you know, it's a start. Robb Huff 1:10:14 Great. I'll add anything to the conversation. Al Ratcliffe 1:10:25 Christopher we started got a telephone call from my son and I had brain cancer so I didn't hear about the first half of what you said pastored by they did. I think they're important opportunities for this coalition and the ministerial Alliance to collaborate on advocating some of these things in, and drawing some other organizations into an advocacy group to push for the recommendations that were contained in that survey report. Robb Huff 1:10:59 Thank you. Well, I'm galaxy 810, he I'm sorry I can't remember your name, if you could, you have your hand raised. So I don't know if you had something to add. Unknown Speaker 1:11:17 Rob that was Patricia. Okay. Patricia Washington 1:11:20 Hi, my name is Patricia Washington. And I just listening to Reverend Christopher, I, he was speaking about how he did surveys and how people were saying that I've been working with the homeless community. Hmm, probably for about maybe, maybe 10 or 15, years, I've been actively in the field looking for when they have the park going on. I was there working with Larry Norman and I, too, took a survey to see who, if they could go to treatment would they go to treatment to get help for their substance abuse. I just I've made my own little ministry tour of assessing people and trying to get them help helping them with boot camps sign up for sources everything. There are. What I found at this time when I did my survey was there weren't a lot of people that said they want to be homeless they said if they could be housed, they would be housed. They said that they would go to treatment if they could go to treatment. I can tell you, just from being appear and knowing what's going on in the streets on the ground level. Is that a lot of people don't have the skills to maneuver the process. So what needs to be created and this is just a little nugget what needs to be created is fast track housing, people don't have the skills to navigate through the internet to find a place to do the credit screening and those small things are what takes the motivation, out of leaving from another situation. I just want to put a heads up for that that's just from experience I've met a lot of people that have gotten the head program, but their hand program is just sitting and they're homeless because they don't know how to find a place they don't know how to get on the internet, they don't know how to find resources to help pay for that screening process and most of the time the different barriers that they have their behavior health, substance abuse, those things, they don't know where to start. So I think that's a good, that's a good nugget for the program. I don't know where that fits in where everyone else is, but we I just joined today and Miss, Miss Flanagan asked me to join, so I can give the voice as appears from the ground level. Robb Huff 1:13:28 Thank you. Can Jenny Lorton 1:13:29 I can I just speak for one second on that Rob, that's what that's what my program does at inside passages. We help individuals and households to navigate the system, because we completely understand that the system is so complex, particularly when an in a homeless individual or households so focuses, where are you going to lay your head down at night and where is your next meal gonna come from that is all consuming, right. So that is what our program does, we help individuals to navigate the system. That is all we do. So, for all of you here. If you didn't know about us, or you have questions, I'll drop my contact information in the chat, and you can contact me and I can explain more about our program who we are, what we do our eligibility all of that but that is what we do. Robb Huff 1:14:23 Thank you, Jenny, and I know Nathan had something he wanted to add he could put in chat but I asked him to do so verbally. Nate Cooper 1:14:29 Sure. You know, it just sort of, like, it's been no secret. I mean, it shouldn't be any secret to folks that have read the literature on homeless services rendered across the country that like homeless people generally prefer self managed living right so when the MDC survey came out and said that the majority of them would prefer to be in self managed encampments like that makes perfect sense right like I mean just just apply it to your own life right like if, if you were suddenly thrust into homelessness and were given the option to go stay at a shelter in which kind of, you know, not, not for no reason but your essential dignity was going to be mitigated right like your ability to be a fully functioning independent adult is going to be mitigated by the fact that there are rules in place like you can only have certain types of belongings you can only be with certain types of people like you can't have the kind of fulfilled regular relationships in that setting right like, given the option between camping outside and being my own person and having my own sort of American concept of independence valued, or going to a program somewhere where I stopped being able to make my own decisions like I'm never going to want that. Right. There was a great study done in the 60s that I refer to where they they surveyed a bunch of homeless folks at a couple of cities might try and find it, and they they had them rank the types of housing that they would prefer and manage shelters are managed and candidates were always much much higher than a type of shelter bed or anything like that. That was really my only thing and we also like we had comp go out and we do this a similar thing where we try to navigate the system. Obviously our clientele is chronically homeless so we're dealing with people that have substantial co occurring mental health and it's a lot harder to get them through the system which seems to work better for folks that are sort of managed a little bit more in a setting so yeah i mean that stuff exists. That was all. Robb Huff 1:16:14 Thank you, Nathan. Um, so I know Maureen had her hand raised. First, Maureen Howard 1:16:19 so I want to thank, Pastor Christopher for, you know, coming in for bringing this forward and obviously MDC and Colin for doing that survey. I think that what I think it helps us do a couple of things I think it helps us take it gives us an opportunity to take seriously what people who are unsheltered are saying. And we've not heard those voices that clearly for a long time. And then I think it in that opportunity. I don't think the question is, you know, should should people be sheltered or not sheltered I think it's. How do we have, as this community. Enough safe places, places that people themselves, define as safe. So their essential dignity as human beings is recognized and respected. And what somebody might define as safe today might be a self managed encampment and might be because they don't believe they have any other options. I've heard that from people who are experiencing homelessness. That before I'll tell you that. I don't have any choices I'll tell you this street is my choice for a man in this community who had once been on the staff at peel U. and whom I was privileged to know fairly well. So, I just think that that the conversations on the table in a way it hasn't been. And it's on the table with people who haven't been part of it I either to come a ministerial alliance with us they've clearly been part of it themselves but but now it's a different conversation a different opportunity like Alan was saying and, and I'm grateful I mean we've got the safe parking part where, you know, trying to look at some other options and so I think the question is, How do we want to take this forward. Robb Huff 1:18:38 Thank you, Maureen, um, Megan I know you had a comment before you need to leave the team. Megan Capes 1:18:44 Yeah, I gotta teach them like 10. So, I know I have a couple of comments, um, I'm glad this report came to light, like it was. And I also think it gives us room to push and start analyzing and cabin policies, because one of the major issues that happened on Monday is not having clarification of. When sweeps can happen and what the procedure is there were, so with what happened with the encampment down at five near 509 in the port. So, I'm displacement, especially right now as it gets to winter and cold and rain means sweeps, like, especially when we don't have shelter means that I was like potential deaths, because if you think about having to move all your belongings, that means all the stuff essentially when you move, potentially gets flat, and there's no place where folks can like hang up their belongings to dry out. Um, it also causes like panic and stress on a population that already is experiencing that and like as Nate was saying, the, the like having autonomy to pick and choose and, and with living outside allows some folks to have that freedom. I'm also thinking about one I like how can we support these folks this coming winter because we're not we're not going to have enough shelter to support folks just gotta be blunt, but we also don't want any more desks, this winter. I think that we really need to push more on, I think this is a window I don't think I think he still needs more work to push things. Robb Huff 1:20:51 But I got a roll. Thanks Megan by Teresa you also have your hand up. Theresa Power-Drutis 1:20:58 I will be quick. I just want to first say to pastor Christopher, that it is wonderful to have you here and we really welcome your energy in some kind of Alliance. Anyone who's working in this work in the way that your group is. It's a great connection so happy to have you here. and also wanted to say to Patricia that welcome and to anyone else who here is here for the first time we don't always do a good job of welcoming first timers but you are very welcome we're delighted to have you here and hope to get to know you. I just want to also people are when they first come are not necessarily aware of who's in the room. And who's doing the similar work. So, if you if you or your organization in some part of that work is about helping people navigate into mental health care or housing or anything else maybe you have a warm line where people can call in maybe you do referrals whatever you do. If you or your organization is doing that as part of your work where you raise your hand. Robb Huff 1:22:04 I think it's safe to say percentage of us. Theresa Power-Drutis 1:22:08 Yeah, so I just want to be clear, because sometimes people join the group and they don't think anyone else is at the wheel with them so just know that we are with you we are all working on that, and most of us are working on it one way or another. So, welcome to the wheel. Robb Huff 1:22:25 Thank you, Teresa I see Colin raising his hand as well. Colin DeForest 1:22:31 Yes, I just wanted to also just say thank you to Pastor. Pastor Christopher for his comments his interest in being on here I think that I'm excited that everybody is getting to see this report, and and really pulling the information out of it that is, I think it's, I think a lot of us know it, I think a lot of us, you know it's it's not everyone, but this, you know, this is telling us a really key story and I think what I hope that we do more. I really appreciate that there's conversation going on. But what I will tell you from being involved with this for too many years is there's been conversations going on before when I was the Homeless Services Manager for the city we had lots of similar conversations and I think actions are what we really need. And so it's great to have faith based organizations involved. The Safe parking network, stuff like managed outdoor camping goes hand in hand with safe parking networks, you can actually tie them together super easily. You know when we're talking about managed sites we could be talking about managed sites of 2030, ideally less than 40 but whatever you know it can be whatever it is, and I just hope you know that when everyone's saying like winter's coming. These people are out there and they're going to be out there, it doesn't matter. I've seen firsthand we've all seen it there could be 20 beds open at a shelter and those beds may sit empty because we cannot. If we haven't learned yet that we can't force people into a box, then, then, shame on us because it is what it is and if we don't hear their voice, and try to help figure out hey this is where they're at right now. I think we would all agree none of us want people living in tents, in an outdoor setting, whether it's managed or unmanaged but that's where people are right now. So what we can do as it was mentioned early earlier. To me this is all about community safe right this is about creating a safe community and us understanding that everyone here is a part of the community. Everyone out in those tents is a part of the community so we need to create a safe community for all safe community for those living Outdoors is a safer community for us right because they're not put into situations that where they're in a survival mode or they're in some crazy vulnerable situation so I'm excited about the conversations please know I'm willing to be involved in any of them. And, you know, I'm really optimistic moving forward that we can get the ball rolling on this. And what I'll tell you about the Manage sites, when I set one up for 160 individuals in Olympia, we set that site up in less than a month and it was rolling so these things can be set up really really quick I've done it in Tacoma, I've done it in Olympia I've helped do it in other cities. I'm on health in California design it. So these things can happen really quickly and we need it really quickly because like outside, it's really bad. So just think Thank you, you know, and I'm excited you know for this this is this group is just a powerhouse so I'm excited to see what we can do, and the voice is really powerful. James Pogue 1:25:27 Hey, guys, jump in real quick. I totally agree with everyone and I think that is like we this is what we need to do and I'm excited to have this conversation but just one point of clarity, just to respond to column a little bit. There isn't 20 empty shelter beds there's 1000 beds and they're always full and if we doubled the shelter beds, they would be full. So, we need this on top of the shelter beds, like, I just want to make sure those that are new, don't think there's a bunch of people with a bunch of empty beds waiting to start refusing to go because all the shelters right now to take on double the clients. We don't have double the beds. So, just one point of clarity, especially for the newbies, Robb Huff 1:26:04 and especially don't have double the space due to COVID. So, um, so pastor Christopher, actually, if we have some additional thoughts you want to add and how can the coalition work with you to most effectively moving forward. Pastor Christopher 1:26:20 Oh, so let me say that the communist allies, want to work with a coalition and and and as we do that, then you know we'll figure out, you know, you know what, what type of help than we think that coalition command to us. I want to respond. A little bit on James last few statements and and and you know and I hear this all the time that that the that the beds are full. And so, earlier this year when we had that cold front, it was freezing. You know, and, you know, COVID had had hit. And so our Multi Purpose building was just sitting out empty and and and having a brother that that froze to death because he was homeless. You know, I felt compelled to to get the trustees to allow me to open that building up for persons that, to be able to come inside. To so that they have a warm place we have prepared to feed them three times a day. We prepared we had a big screen with when they go watch movies, you know, you know, they've been free to just come there as long as they didn't, you know, start fights and all that, you know, we, it was gonna be real soft hands on. And so, the, the Tacoma police department. Emergency team went out and and tried to get persons to come in, out of that cold. I mean, you know, real real cold weather and and and even though we had the capacity for about 35 or 40 people, only two people wanted to come out of that coal so they, there was there was there was reasons like well I don't want to leave my stuff out here, you know, so, you know, what's valuable to a person is valuable to a person so you have to kind of respect that. And then some they're saying, No, I'm good where I'm at, you know, and so but, but, but James we we couldn't we we kept the building open for seven days, round the clock. The city manager went out and even bought hot chocolate and stuff and kind of hung around talk to the couple guys we thought we're gonna just just have a packed house, but we were really shocked that um, that there was so many that was still out there that just didn't want to come in, which, which gives Verity to this, this survey worse a 72% want to stay outside. And so we just have to, and I think that's a, that's, I think the start is okay. There was a young lady lady on earlier that talk that says she's on the ground running. That that okay let's identify all the persons that want to be indoors and seem like that would be persons that we could service and get them fast track them, you know, out of homelessness, but but we certainly need to figure out how do we how do we love this, this 72% and and and and how do we service them, and they know that, you know, with service and the amount of care and not not judging them not looking down on them, you know, and we treat them as person so, so, so, so they're, they, they, they're here. Jesus made a statement, the pool, you would have with you always. And I think that that's where we're at with with with with the homeless population you know eradication of homelessness sounds good. But in reality, especially based on this very recent survey. You know, that's that's not a reality. And so, so, so, so the common sphere lions want to fit in where it can and and and and, you know, There's so many great groups. There's already a part of this coalition that that we just want to fit in and try to help where we could help. And so that's so that's what we had so we didn't, I didn't. The only, only, only pre conceived notions that I had coming into this morning meeting is just to support the recommendations of the CDC, and, and, and confronting the City Council and the county council I think that if this coalition shows up. you know there's power and numbers, at least, you know, we, I think that we could get some movement and and and and as Alan I think that was Alan facilitating the meeting and talking about the structure, you know, we probably could get that from the city, or in the county, you know, if we all showed up, you know, saying, enough is enough, you know we got enough information, we're ready to move. You guys need to move with us and and and and we go out and do what we need to do to help those persons that want to want to don't want to be homeless and then service those that do. Robb Huff 1:31:58 Thank you, Pastor Christopher. Um, so, with that, I want to be mindful, once again of our schedule for today's meeting. We do hope that you come back and participate and that we can work together with the pastor Christopher, with the ministerial Alliance and it'd be great to have a representative from the ministerial Alliance on our on our Friday calls. And, and again, reach out and let us know how we can support your work to Pastor Christopher 1:32:32 you, Alan early on, sorry, Rob. We'll do that. We will problem. Robb Huff 1:32:37 Great. So I'm going to call a quick audible we have two discussion items are relatively short Maureen, can we ship those two after the government updates. Certainly. Okay. Because I want I know folks from the city and county and health department. Some of you are here on the call I wanted to make sure I created space for that so let's start with Pierce County of fix. Jeff Rogers 1:33:04 Good morning, Jeff Rogers here. We would like to share that our rental assistance program is moving at a fast paced, We have served 1054 households that rental assistance amount is just under $2.3 million that has been spent. As you may be aware we close our rental assistance portal. Earlier on this month to do some ketchup. Because of the volume of applications we received and to be able to fine tune the portal so that moving forward we're better equipped to address the need. We've brought on several more providers. And so our goal is to open the portal back up. October one, which is next Thursday. And also what I'll share is that there's some conversation going on at the county to potentially add $5 million of county cares funds to our pot. Currently we're right around 1.5 million. So that will put another. I'm sorry, 15 million not 1.5 sorry too many numbers in my head. 15 million. So that will bring our pot to about 20 million there is also a conversation just so you're aware at the state level of the state potentially giving some additional funds so we're moving right along. Our goal is to spend these funds by December, because that's the deadline for these funds to be funds to be spent currently. That's the update we have today, on average per household is just over 20 $100 of assistance on average per household that is being provided. There's been some conversation I'll say this as well about three months may not be enough, we're hearing from a lot of people they're behind more than three months so there is conversation going on about the potential of doing more than three months, we've asked the state that question they haven't really responded, for their piece of these funds but um, that is a conversation is taking place to help people more, because we're seeing a larger need for people even more than three months of assistance. So that's our update today. Robb Huff 1:35:19 Thank you, Jeff. Um, so Do we have anybody on the line from the city of Tacoma offering updates. Matthew Jorgensen 1:35:28 Hey everyone its Matthew Jorgensen with the state's comment I don't have any updates right now but my manager Erica squarish should be on the call a bit later. I believe she may have some updates. So, that she'll be able to hear. Thanks. Thanks, Matthew, Robb Huff 1:35:43 Manu any updates from the health department. Manu Rodriguez 1:35:48 Yes sir I just have a quick little report out. So adult flu clinic planning is still in motion. And I'm still working on collecting information and working with the shelter providers who responded to the survey that I created an hour, requesting an adult immunization clinic at their facilities, and after this call, be meeting with the branch. The immunizations branch we have set up in under ICS structure to discuss lessons learned from we just started had our first flu. Our immunization clinic, drive, thru clinic at school so obviously different settings than the shelters, but we're just trying to gather as much. Kind of lessons learned to maximize reach kind of talk through logistical challenges and just really try to enhance the process overall, so that when we do the clinic, set the shelters and other facilities in the community will be, you know, as sailing as possible. I don't know if Ivan's on the call but shout out to Ivan, who helped me to, you know, procure some more masks for these adult clinics at the shelters, my goal and vision is to, you know, have some sort of care package for folks with hand sanitizer some sanitation stuff and masks for folks to distribute at these shelters, but also I know I keep saying community spaces, the goal right now is still kind of is to kind of expand from just shelters to also do food banks, community centers where you know unsheltered folks can can go to or if you know it doesn't work out with shelters just for logistical reasons that folks can still send guests to these community centers or food banks. Finally I'm just working on collecting some questions from the coalition from community members on to create more guidance around flu. So thank you to those who've submitted some questions, I'll kind of engaged in the chatbox until I have to hop off of that planning meeting but yeah I'm just trying to get, you know, some sort of one pager, just make sure that communications, kind of published or developed by the health department is responsive to the unique needs of the shelter providers and the shelters. So, as we head into flu season. Other than that, yeah I think so everyone who again has been so awesome and cooperative with the, with the planning for immunizations. Robb Huff 1:38:18 Thanks Manu. So do we have anybody from Pierce County Emergency Management that has anything to share this morning. Okay. So with that in mind, um, why don't we shift to the safe parking update I don't know if Colin, or can have anything to share with me. Colin DeForest 1:38:44 Hello. Yes, I'm here I can give a brief update really quickly on the safe parking stuff before I, the last thing I just want to say real quick I just want to get this out after hearing James and pastor Christopher, I think James's point of our shelters are always a max capacity I'm doing work at Bethlehem, it's pretty rare even here at this shelter that we have any capacity, but I think that's what's really concerning is that even when our shelters are at capacity there's, there's still if 72% want to stay outside, there's still people that want to be inside that can't get inside. Right, so I think it's not one or the other and I think that's what's so important about all of these things, whether it's safe camp safe parking as we're talking about now, or out managed outdoor settings or creative ways to try to temporarily increase our indoor shelter it's not one or the other and I think sometimes, especially with funding competition, the way it is. That's the challenges it's everything we actually need all of these interventions, and we actually need to figure out how to scale them and be flexible with that so that's I just want to make that point. Anyways, safe parking wise, things are going good. We have about four sites that we're kind of moving along with that are very interested. A couple in East Pierce County we got one in Pugh all up. We got some conversations going on in Tacoma, I'm waiting to hear back I have one more call to make today I will be honest, I'm. I'm hoping that we hear some more from some of the Tacoma churches or some Tacoma partners because I really want to get a site and Nicole off the ground. I really want to get some other sites off the ground. Also, we do, I should say the group. So, more to come. We have a meeting this coming Monday. Things are going well, I'm going to follow up my hope is to follow up with the county with john Barbie my partner from the county that I'm working with and then also Erica is what up from the city, with some specific questions around the ordinance, and just trying to see if there's any flexibility if it's on faith based property example would be in the Pierce County ordinance it says that a site cannot be within one square mile of a school. And when you start looking at a map. There's a lot of schools, right. So that gets challenging and one of the populations that we really want to serve and there's really been a lot of interest in serving and need is McKinney Vento students living out of their vehicles right to ideally stabilize them really quickly and as quick as possible get them into the house but I guess it seems kind of silly if we have a site that's nearest school, and we're serving school aged children, but we're still not able to do that so that's that's a bigger conversation than I have moving forward but I would just say once again as I did last week. If you know of any churches. If you know of any potential partners that want to hear more, just hear more about it. We have some great FAQs we have some great documentation I'm more than willing to share. I'm super willing to talk to whoever I know that other people on our team are also. And just, I think once once there's clarity on the massive amount of wraparound that's going to be involved with this program from the community from the coalition. I think that that's going to ease a lot of people's concerns but yeah, that's kind of where we're at. Unfortunately we don't have anything like all right we're opening up a site here yet. But what I'd say is we're getting close. And we're gonna continue to work on it and as I said, hopefully, reach out to me if you have any questions, I'll put my number in the, in the chat. So, yeah, Janet I don't know if you or Teresa or Maureen or anyone else I don't know if you have anything else. Janet Runbeck 1:42:34 Uh, nope. Yeah, you nailed it. You nailed it. Robb Huff 1:42:40 Alright. Thanks Dan and Colin. So, let's shift back to our earlier items we had on the agenda and I'll hand things off to Maureen first to talk about the proposal that we support the Chamber of Commerce request and I'll share a document on screen about that as Maureen speaks, and then we'll move on to the discussion about the new Thames site that's been proposed at Sixth Avenue in orchard so Maureen. Maureen Howard 1:43:12 Okay, do you want to hold the screen share just one sec. And I'll cue you in I, I want to just run through just name five things under advocacy and I'll follow them up online but just so you know. One is on the greater Tacoma Community Foundation request that Jan and I have been invited to meet with representative of the foundation Monday afternoon. The second is that I have asked the city and county and the tribe, for their encampment policy, especially if they have a COVID related, which we're calling no sweeps. It's clear after the last weekend that we need a way to be better organized better responsive. The we being everybody. The third is some sort of follow up with the Clean Air shelters. And I think those fit into the this all fits into our winter plan request. The fourth is sort of next week. Probably not next week but over the next couple of weeks figuring out what you folks want to do about taking the unsheltered recommendations forward. The fifth is that the center's for now these are folks who are not yet sheltered folks who are at risk, who are holding I'm sorry folks who are not yet homeless people who are housed. But at risk, who fall under the CDC federal eviction moratorium that eviction moratorium requires that they complete a declaration. And that so that's a huge issue, our state eviction moratorium ends, October, 15, I will today forward to you and an action item from the low income housing Alliance, asking the governor to extend that until March. The question is not how are people going to make up the rent. The question on the table is, how do we keep them where they are housed while we figure out how to make up the rent. And then the last thing is actually piece of good news and that the Department of Treasury. Some of you may already know this changed its accounting guidance, so that these relief funds that are underlying the bulk of our rental assistance. No. Now, the expenses have to be incurred by the end of the year. Prior to this, they had to be that money had to loop around and actually all be reimbursed at every single level. So again this buys time, and our ability to get this money out in rental assistance and in doing so, to keep people housed. So, okay, so now back to the items that are on the agenda. The first one is that we would like a formal vote from the coalition today about supporting the cities, joining with the Tacoma Pierce County Chamber of Commerce and supporting the city's change to the residential infill pilot program. And now you're going to say, how is this going to keep somebody's house. This is part of what makes it so difficult to have enough housing, so that there are actually places for the people that you're trying to get housed to move into is that we've got to have more housing, at every single level. And so, we have a partnership with the chamber around this and I'm going to ask Garrett and an owl to pick up the conversation. Robb Huff 1:46:58 Garrett still with us but Maureen Howard 1:47:00 in the meeting then owl. Al Ratcliffe 1:47:05 Remember, just visit dive into note to Colin. The Chamber of Commerce as we've reported several times, is establishing a committee on housing and homelessness. And as the ads that we provided some support to the effort to adopt this residential infill pilot program that the city planning department is proposing. It looks to us as a good thing to support, anything that will increase the availability of housing, any of the above the median, and lower income price levels is a good thing that we need a lot more of in the city. So the request is and I don't know how we're going to do this today that we take some that we endorsed that the proposed the pilot proposal for the residential infill pilot. I don't know how you want to proceed with that. Robb Huff 1:48:18 So I've actually set up a poll that we can do that to get people's input but I thought that before we move to a vote it does it. If folks have particular questions. I do want to stop the share screen. As soon as we're ready to do so so please let me know I see Jan's asking for a definition of residential infill. Maureen Howard 1:48:47 It's basically a zoning change jam. And in order to make a better use of the available land lands one thing we can't create more of, and increases density, and this is an increase has been a very gentle process there were three projects on the initial pilot there will be 15 on the revision, or the extension and the changes that is coming before the, the public first and then to the city. And so it's just, we're inching our way to using our land, as well as we can. Al Ratcliffe 1:49:33 Remember that the city had a pilot project of an accessory dwelling units in the north in silico. And that was sort of a residential infill thing. I don't know how, but the basic idea is that is to make better use of existing land on lots that may be sort of quote oversized and could could have more housing built on them and to change zoning to begin to allow things like multifamily small multifamily projects and multifamily projects throughout the city, not just the low income areas but throughout the city. Maureen Howard 1:50:19 And some of you may not be aware the city has adopted the affordable housing action strategy with very specific goals about increasing the amount of housing, making sure housing is available at every income level all across the city and to use a race and equity lens on that and this proposal is consistent with that affordable housing action strategy. I know it's crazy, we're talking about people living in tents for most of the meeting and now we're talking about can we as the coalition formally support this small change in our zoning to try and increase the amount of housing. And I just think it's, we have to do this. Al Ratcliffe 1:51:07 So, this is essentially the first effort of changing zoning laws to comply with the affordable housing action strategy. And I think it's a good thing. Obviously it's not going to address the things we've been talking about too much this morning in a very effective way but there is a need for more housing that that people can afford and can avoid ending up losing their housing and. So I would encourage us to support this it seems like a sensible positive thing to do. Robb Huff 1:51:47 Teresa you have your hand raised. Theresa Power-Drutis 1:51:50 Because this is a small change I think it's important to support change this in the right direction but I'm always seeking. There's no reason that the city cannot the city planners cannot make a policy that gives preferential treatment to low income housing, and I'm sick of the, the, you know, the people who promote the infill are the reason is getting promoted promoted by people who have wealth is because the people who are going to make money off it, are going to people who develop and rent those places to higher income people so I just want to say as a coalition we should put some suggestion in there that, as these rules get slackin. That priority be given, maybe for several years to people who are committed to offering their new infill spaces at a low income rate. Robb Huff 1:52:44 Thank you, Teresa. So any other comments before we move to a poll to see what the whether the coalition has a body supports this. Alright, so I'm not seeing any so let's move to our first poll of the afternoon, and I will watch this and give it a few seconds for people to respond. All right, and I see about half of us have participated if we can get a few more. Make sure we understand where the coalition leans in this and then we can move on to our next item. Thanks a lot, everybody. All right, I'm going to go ahead and end the fall just, I think everyone will be able to see the results, but where are we landed is 96% of those who voted 24 people out of the 40 and the 41 in the room said they're in favor of this there was one vote against it. So thank you, I think that provides some good direction any follow on marine. Maureen Howard 1:54:13 The other thing I just wanted to bring up and we can pick this up later is that it. The chamber has a committee, a, they've set up a housing and workforce committee. In the past, Teresa has led a committee for this coalition on alternative housing. One of the things that Al and Garrett and I have been serving sort of as the informal Housing Committee for the purpose of the relationship with the chamber. My suggestion is we need a real housing committee that will take on all the whole range of housing issues. How we do that, I'm not sure. And we don't have time today, but if you want to indicate in the chat, or if you want to email me that you're interested in this, so we can put that on our plate as well. So that's. Thank you. Okay, I know there's a fair amount of. Oh, Robb Huff 1:55:11 before we move into the next item I see that Erica's has. Okay. And I think that might be a good opportunity for her to offer city updates before we move on to that next item. So Erica Do you have anything to share with us from the city of Tacoma. Erica Azcueta 1:55:27 I do, and I'm sorry for my tardiness I'm going to be late for a while because my son has remote learning from about nine to 1030 every day so I'm one of the parents that's that's trying to manage that. And he's four so it's it's not something I can step away from, but, um, thank you for giving me time I did want to make an announcement. So after we set up the air quality Relief Center I was working with our energy management on the possibility of setting up a co ad, and they said they were working on putting together a meeting so I wanted to reach out and see if any of the prospective providers that participate in this group and be willing to join the CCO ad so we can kind of join our efforts and continued emergency response planning, and if you are interested in your, your agency would like to be a part of it. Please just send me an email so I can get a full list and get that to her. And then we did get a flyer for the meet for the town hall for the micro shelter shy off of six an orchard so I'm going to be sending that out to the coalition list so everyone has that I have for October 7 in the evening. And I'm reading the chat right now and so that's why I'm kind of stuttering a little bit a co ed is community is organizing. It's to address disaster. So usually it's a group of nonprofits faith based organizations, other agencies that kind of meet together and see what capacity they have and they formulate a full like strategic plan on how they're going to work together when some kind of emergency hits. And what resources they can provide and kind of have a streamlined system around that. Thank you. I'll get that sent out right now. I just had it up but I'll try to put it in the chat so you guys can have a copy of that invite for the town hall right now. Maureen Howard 1:57:27 One important follow up, Erica Is this the city's Emergency Management Office. Tara 1:57:33 That's correct. Thank you. Come on. Erica Azcueta 1:57:38 Yep. Good, thank you. Maureen Howard 1:57:39 No thank you. This folks this is important. All right, so take Erica up on this those of you who are working in the city. This is the first time I've heard this opportunity this invitation offered. Robb Huff 1:57:57 And I know, Josh castle posted in the chat about the virtual community meeting coming up on regarding the six an orchard proposed shelter site for tiny for the tiny house village which is actually a great segue to Marines next topic. Maureen Howard 1:58:19 And it's the tiny house belay done six and orchard. And I, thanks to the Lehigh people who have been with us today and I think have a commitment to continuing. So, if you listened to the city's first virtual community forum Tuesday after it was at six o'clock after the council meeting, or if you read through the public comments that were submitted in writing, you know that there is a fair amount of pushback from residents in the sixth and orchard area, about this proposed Thames. Another tiny house village that would be operated by Lehigh. And so, Michael I sent out Michael mirrors letter to the community to the council and the community in which he gives Tacoma housing authorities experience with using their land. And also he adds in a neighbor's comments from the 16th and McKinley I in an error said that Michael had stated tha support. He does not state that explicitly in this letter he merely says, here's our experience. The Affordable Housing Consortium did take this up and will speak in support of the project during the public hearing. And what I asked Lehi to do was basically introduce themselves everybody may not know the folks who are working in town to answer any questions you might have. And I really would like the coalition to come out in support of this village. Again, I know it's not a perfect solution, but it's one solution on the table that is fairly far along that's 40 more beds for 40 more people. And so, Anyway, so let's turn it over to Lehigh. And I'll just let you folks go forward. Josh Brown 2:00:24 How's everybody doing today. My name is john Brown. I work with Lehigh we also have a Rebecca sings that works with Lehigh and also Josh castle. So we appreciate the time for letting you guys, let us speak. So we're going we're trying to do a, we will be doing a partnership with the City of Tacoma, and also the first Christian Church on six an orchard. We're planning to have 40 houses, and we also plan on doing a lot of community engagement with that. And we'll have the two case managers there and it will be operating the same way that our Tim's one has off of six to three on the east side of Tacoma. And I will pass it over to Josh capsule to talk a little bit about the engagement that we plan on doing with the City of Tacoma, John Castle 2:01:13 thank you john that's a good opening, about the village. The proposed site. Yeah, I just want to thank everyone for giving us the chance to to speak today I know we have just a brief amount of time. And we are forming a community advisory committee that we have for the other all the other village sites that Lehigh operates in three counties now. And these are neighborhood stakeholders, these are close by neighbors. Businesses providers, community leaders in the neighborhood that all have a stake in the village, both in the success of the residents within the village. And in it being a benefit to the community, um, you know right outside the village. So, um, if people are interested, are close to the six an orchard site or our, you know, are a provider in the area, or know people that are close to the site or provider in the area or business or whatnot, or a faith leader, please let us know and we because we are sending out that application to people with a lot it's a PDF. You know electronic fill out application we're not doing any physical forms these days. Um, and in addition to that, if I'm for those who are interested in attending the community meeting please do we have that coming up that's going to be a virtual zoom meeting as well on October 7 at 6pm. So, Erica mentioned that the notice will be going out on that. I know that they've, they've, they used date, the city, typically, with Lehigh would knock on doors and we're we're not we're not doing that to be respectful of social distancing. So there's a postcard that went out that everyone should have received, that's in a pretty pretty wide area around the proposed site. I see a couple of questions on the site is proposed to be to be open we're forecasting it for early to mid December, and work will start on it. The, the city of Tacoma is going to start work on it in. Sometime in I believe in October, and then Lehi is going to start some work on it. In November, and anybody who's interested in. In, you know in volunteering for it. donating anything to the effort of supporting this somehow please let us know. I'm the community engagement director with Lehigh. So, you can reach out to me anytime and I will put my contact information in the chat so you guys have that. I'll put my cell phone and an email in there. And yeah, I try to think of is anything else that you guys have any questions. Robb Huff 2:04:10 And then, Al Ratcliffe 2:04:12 yeah, I'll go ahead, not a question. I contacted Michael and asked if he'd sent that letter to the church and he had not because he didn't have a contact information so I sent it to the church. And I live. North just north of the Wilson High School track so I'm not the immediate neighbor going in, but if I can do anything useful I'll turn to help. Robb Huff 2:04:35 Thank you. That's great. Colin. Colin DeForest 2:04:40 Hey how's it going, Josh. Um, let's see, see you guys here for sure, especially john glad John's still a part of this. I was just curious for this site. The second site. Are you guys going to serve just individuals, couples, or expanding to families and then how many tiny houses are you going to have. Unknown Speaker 2:05:01 So, so that is, um has not been totally determined yet but i but yeah we're in discussions around that, it's definitely going to be individuals and couples and people with pets. So in all of our villages we provide that that service because as you guys know, you know, a lot of the shelters out there, they, they don't allow that they don't allow couples and pets and things like that. So kind of eliminates those those barriers. I'm sorry con what's your second question is still the morning for me and I'm still having my coffee. Colin DeForest 2:05:35 Um, I just asked if you knew how many tiny houses, you guys are gonna have, there was a set amount yet, or, Unknown Speaker 2:05:41 so they're looking Unknown Speaker 2:05:42 up sorry Josh they're looking between 40 and 44 is what we're aiming for. Unknown Speaker 2:05:50 Yeah, just to, um, and just to kind of like give you guys a quick highlight on how the program works. So the tiny house village program is not a it's not a permanent solution. It's that's not what the program is intended to be. It's intended to help people out and help them move on to a better situation. So the idea is to help people who just need that extra special stepping stone to get from homelessness to housing. So basically when people come into the village they sign a code of conduct. They agree to to certain you know standards of behavior, and to work with the case manager to get into housing, you know, employment, like to access employment access health care. In some cases, many people, they're already employed and actually the tiny house village is what keeps them employed, because they're able to get some stability, and then accessing you know Health Care and Education if they want to seek an education. And, you know, all sorts of other services, treatment, things like that. So, the idea is to help people get it get that have that you know that stepping stone from homelessness to housing. We've had a very successful rate of exits into permanent housing from all the village sites. There, there are a lot of times are far more successful than then than basic shelter and more and more successful than enhanced shelter. And many of our village sites. So, we had and we have. So this would be, this would be the 12th. I'm sorry the 13th site. And yeah, we have one that we operate right now at 16th and McKinley that used to be at eighth and MLK. And that was about 2022 23 houses and then the new site has 50 houses serving about 60 to 65 people. And then we have this the CAC we've met a couple times for the new site already and already they've moved several people into permanent housing, from that site. So we have really, really amazing case managers that that work hard and are navigating the huge affordable housing crisis of just not enough affordable housing and helping people on that path to, you know, to getting everything that they need to move into housing, and then helping them with that. So that's that's what the program is about, it's it's meant to be a benefit to the community. It's meant to be something that serves. Those who are locally homeless that are already in the community that are you know that are already you know they're not coming to the community they're already there. Um, and, is to help people get, you know, get on to a good path and out of, you know, unhealthy behaviors and those kinds of things. So, Robb Huff 2:08:33 thank you, Josh. So, marine I propose we move to a quick boat since we're at the end of our time for today's meeting, any issue with doing so. Maureen Howard 2:08:44 Now, that'd be great. Thank you. Robb Huff 2:08:46 Okay. So, I will launch this poll, just so everyone knows we have 37 folks left in the meeting today please if you have a moment, let us know if you believe the coalition should support, establishing this proposed shelter at Sixth Avenue orchard. All right, so we've had 25 people I'm going to go ahead and close the poll in the interest of our time. And you'll see the results we had 26 yeses and noes, so. Maureen Howard 2:09:29 Hey. All right. Thanks everybody. Robb Huff 2:09:32 We'd like that. Maureen Howard 2:09:34 Thank you. Thanks, the Lehigh folks for coming. We look for you every week hopefully one of you. I know it's a huge commitment. The last thing I want to say is I just went through about eight advocacy items in the last 15 minutes that I've been leading. Think about that. When you think about the sustainability of the coalition. And those are only local things. I mean we barely talked about anything at the state level or at the federal level, nothing at the federal level really except that counting change. So just think about that. And as always, thank you for letting me do this for you. Robb Huff 2:10:17 Thank you. So thank you everyone for your time and energy this morning. This wraps up our regular part of the meeting. Just as we've been doing for the last month or so, we will have a small group of us hang out to plan for next week's meeting. So feel free to to hang on the line if you'd like to do that. And, or be part of that process, and have a great Friday, everybody. Unknown Speaker 2:10:49 Thank you. Unknown Speaker 2:10:52 So Robert we're gonna take a little break before we come back. Robb Huff 2:10:55 I sure hope so. Unknown Speaker 2:10:56 Yeah. All right, Robb Huff 2:10:59 like a five minute break. Maureen Howard 2:11:00 James has to get his lunch. Robb Huff 2:11:05 Dance had to go so we have any assignments, we can really load him up since he's not here. All right, I'm gonna take a quick bathroom break and be right back. Maureen Howard 2:12:38 Hey Teresa. Are you on Unknown Speaker 2:13:16 rosemary. Maureen Howard 2:13:19 Did you hear the NPR report this morning. The court has extended the census deadline. Unknown Speaker 2:13:27 Well I knew that was in the works but that's good to know Maureen Howard 2:13:30 that that Unknown Speaker 2:13:32 census person here. She didn't you know that that court decision had been made, but it hadn't been promoted I guess Maureen Howard 2:13:41 this morning it was good. But the expectation is that it extends the census back to its original end of October deadline. But the expectation is that the Trump administration will challenge it. Unknown Speaker 2:13:57 Well, you know, that's challenging can just keep going Canada. Unknown Speaker 2:14:03 Challenge everything else about the world. Maureen Howard 2:14:06 I didn't think to ask Jeff and I don't know if Valerie was on or not, how the count went in Pierce County. This week, because they were doing the unsheltered count this week. Unknown Speaker 2:14:20 Yeah, I don't know. Maureen Howard 2:14:23 Tuesday Night Wednesday I think. Unknown Speaker 2:14:29 So did the county workers do the count. Maureen Howard 2:14:32 Census. I don't know Valerie was the coordination point for it, or census. So I don't know. I figured she'd have the answer. And the other thing i don't know i didn't i don't i don't see Laurie on. Unknown Speaker 2:14:56 Oh, Laurie had Laurie is not here today she was, she was going out of town so. Ah, she's, she's certainly available through email, various ways but she was not she wasn't on today. Maureen Howard 2:15:08 Yeah, only that I don't know when that new eviction defense program is starting. The one that the state Supreme Court is sponsoring. Unknown Speaker 2:15:22 Oh, Jennifer might. She's not here today either I don't think. Maureen Howard 2:15:25 Yeah, she's in court today. Robb Huff 2:15:52 So I think that's been about five minutes but we can give a couple more for folks to get back in here. And Maureen Howard 2:16:06 I thought it went pretty well. Yeah. Robb Huff 2:16:10 Yeah, I did do it. We had to juggle things a little bit but it was pretty, pretty good flow so Unknown Speaker 2:16:20 thanks for doing being flexible there Robin, it's not always easy to know what, what to move and what to ask and all that so we shouldn't have too much time to spend for next week because it's a got 90 minutes of it kind of promised already. Robb Huff 2:16:37 Yeah, that's what I was thinking. Unknown Speaker 2:16:39 So, Robb Huff 2:16:41 what do we need to do to make sure that everything is set up and the support is in place for that Unknown Speaker 2:16:49 candle I wanted to report on what who's responded to our invitation and we had decided that, because we weren't doing any kind of debate that we would just accept whoever agreed to come as participating with us in the conversation. And so far we've heard back from seven out of the 10 with five people have committed to coming. And just so you know because it's kind of good to know. We have for the fourth district, Ryan nello has confirmed. But Javier has not responded at all yet. For the third district. Amy Kruger is has a scheduling conflict so she won't come and haven't heard from from Joe Zeit Zig Ziglar, so we won't have anyone from the third that's up your Eatonville for the six the Lakewood area, we have both. We have responses from Jason with a yes and Janie or Janney I don't really know how her name is pronounced I should learn it before the PP but she is a middle school science teacher and may have to be doing a zoom lesson during our period so she was going to try to get somebody to do that but she's not wasn't sure she could pull it off but she's interested in homelessness, it's one of her campaign issues. And then in the, in the second both Sarah Rambo and hand seiger have agreed to come so we have a commitment from that, that district. And for the executive Larry has agreed to be with us I was not surprised at that since he's certainly been part of the group, but I haven't heard anything back from Bruce, so. For my part, I don't know the people who haven't responded. And so my question was going to be to this group if there's anybody who knows, or has any connection with heavier Unknown Speaker 2:18:47 Figueroa or with, Unknown Speaker 2:18:52 With the executive, Bruce Dan Meyer, to encourage them to participate. That would be great. Otherwise we'd have five people and we should plan our groups around five groups and maybe have a little conversation now about how to encourage people to what they should be talking about or bring up what sorts of things. Also, Lori sent out and I don't know if it got approved I don't know if you should see it or not, but she put together a little voter pamphlet pre voter pamphlet thing with the information from people's websites, not meaning that all those people had agreed to come but having having for people being able to see what people said they were standing for. So that's an initial thing there are no can take any ideas or or questions you have about the process. Maureen Howard 2:19:48 So is there an I have something from Laurie had it has the links to each Kevin Unknown Speaker 2:19:58 that okay. Okay, Maureen Howard 2:20:01 my screen. Oh, that their pictures I thought it was great. Yeah, absolutely. So thinker. I. Yeah, it was. Yeah, it's easy to use, easy to read, easy to use, not 80 pages Unknown Speaker 2:20:16 on a big file so it took, it had to get approved because it was taking up a lot of space I guess Maureen Howard 2:20:21 right yeah no, then they're done that week but Unknown Speaker 2:20:26 for the, for the framework was to have about 20 minutes in breakouts where people could raise their issues as we did last year in person, where people did not make, they didn't make speeches to us, they came to listen. And so we need to set that up initially, they've been told that in the letter of invitation that this framework will be using. And so we asked them to that after the breakout to come back and that they would each have six minutes to do to reflect on what they heard what the government should do to facilitate and address the issues, and what they support in terms of addressing the issues. So rather than their full campaign. This is what I'm all about it was to try to get their reflections on our concerns, and I can certainly in the confirmation, sending them the link I can reiterate things, if there's something more specific you want them to think about as they come prepared, Maureen Howard 2:21:23 specify county government, because these are all county candidates, and we don't want them ditching to the feds or something, or the state, Unknown Speaker 2:21:33 what I Maureen Howard 2:21:35 can do, but more specific. And then the, the other key to making these work in the past has to have seems to me has been to have really good facilitators in each of these rooms. Unknown Speaker 2:21:47 I was assuming, our group would probably provide those folks. Maureen Howard 2:21:51 Well, it, and that's fine, but I think, do a quick cheat sheet for people. Instructions it. I just think it's always good to have reminders, do we take the time at the beginning. What are we going to have in the small groups, 10 minutes 20 minutes. 20 minutes, 20 minutes. So, 40 people, five candidates eight people in a group, do we take. Do we have, do we take time for people to introduce themselves or limit them to their name and their affiliation. And then spend the time on the, you know what, what issues do you want to bring up or, you know, like frame that literally frame the question because in the moment it's sometimes difficult for the facilitator if you've got a really strong person talking or you've got subordinates and the boss in the same room, somebody might not feel like they can speak and sometimes there's been a leader who wants to speak more than once and, you know, right to. So just think. Sorry, Unknown Speaker 2:23:10 just getting other feedback for people on your. Theresa Power-Drutis 2:23:14 I think name and organization, and maybe even maybe give them a sentence in front of that that says, we want to use this time to really talk about issues so we're asking people just give your name and organization. Maureen Howard 2:23:28 That's literally write it into the guide for the facilitators. Unknown Speaker 2:23:32 Yeah, I'll do that. I assumed I would need to do that. Robb Huff 2:23:36 Yeah, so well and I assume we're gonna have the same question, the facilitators asking the same questions in every session. So having that books. Unknown Speaker 2:23:48 You know, actually, it wasn't so much about having the same question it was about having the concerns of the people in that group drive the conversation so directions to that's really the point is that they can they might have heard in one group someone who's an outreach worker who gives a really strong position about their concerns in another group would not have heard that so they can hear it in the reflections of that candidate when they say what they heard. So we get a broad, the broadest possible listing of concerns that the candidates then can hear each other, reflecting back to Maureen Howard 2:24:24 the other thing in the guide is to remind the candidates that they're not answering the concerns that the only thing that they can say is, they can ask a clarification, but not when they get to answer. And then the other thing I think in, in the people you know in the room, raising concerns. Sometimes people have enough experience that they also have a solution like at the county level, which I think is fine for them to put forward. It's just that, a lot of times people don't really know what the power of the county is to do something. So, so they can't be expected to offer the county's, you know, response. Theresa Power-Drutis 2:25:25 Speaking of the raising concerns are. Is there a plan to basically for the facilitator to say, we're going to focus on concerns that relate to poverty and homelessness, Unknown Speaker 2:25:36 or is it Theresa Power-Drutis 2:25:39 just homelessness only. Maureen Howard 2:25:40 I think homelessness. I think we really want to laser focus. Theresa Power-Drutis 2:25:46 Okay, so maybe that's important to say Unknown Speaker 2:25:49 yeah I what's what we did ask them to think about in the invitation letter. Certainly, homelessness and poverty are so related that there'll be conversations about that but the issue is the policy around homelessness and ways to address that in our county is what we're wanting them to be educated about, and have some more to work with when they are challenged about it in the future. Theresa Power-Drutis 2:26:16 Right, I was talking about when we invite the people who are in the small groups to voice their concerns. Are we going to put in front of that something like. We know you have a lot of concerns about a lot of things but this discussion is about Al Ratcliffe 2:26:29 homelessness. So Theresa Power-Drutis 2:26:31 yeah, I would focus concerns on this. Unknown Speaker 2:26:34 That's good. And in terms of facilitating it. I'm happy to. You have to manage that if that's what y'all want but I all I really agreed to invite everybody so whatever you think I can, I can set it up I can point out for the small groups because there may be new people there I can make Teresa's point about how to bring what to bring to the conversation. And I will create a thing for facilitators. A little draft of what we want to come out of this, and then I'll draft a letter, a follow up letter to the people who will are willing to come out reiterating what we want them to do and what we hope to gain out of it. Yeah, how they should. Robb Huff 2:27:22 I think that's a great. Theresa Power-Drutis 2:27:25 Yeah. Do you need any help, because, did we just layer Unknown Speaker 2:27:28 stuff on you know what I really what I would need really is to know if you're all willing there's, I don't know how many people are here participating not too many but we will need some more people to facilitate. So, I know James can be assigned to something so. And then, I'm not exactly sure I can reach out certainly to other people but if the three of you are willing to do it and, and I am I don't know if Rob if you need to be in charge of making sure people get in the right groups, it might be less possible for you. Yeah. Robb Huff 2:28:07 Yeah. To be good, it will all depend on if we have additional candidates say that they can come so we move from five groups to six. Then we'll need to figure out a note another person but Unknown Speaker 2:28:22 while we have people coming it would still be eight groups of five or if we have five people, we'd have eight people in a group. And that's kind of a lot but it's, it shouldn't be any more than that. Robb Huff 2:28:34 But wouldn't we want a candidate in each of the groups. Maureen Howard 2:28:37 Yeah, Rob saying if we get more candidates, Unknown Speaker 2:28:40 we get more candidates we could have fewer people in each group we Theresa Power-Drutis 2:28:44 might get more facilitators. Unknown Speaker 2:28:45 Yeah, but we already need eight facilitators what I'm saying, Oh no, five, you're right. Robb Huff 2:28:50 Yeah, we get five. Maureen Howard 2:28:53 Well, I'm happy to do one, I love it. Right. Unknown Speaker 2:28:58 So Marnie and Teresa you will do on two. Theresa Power-Drutis 2:29:01 Yeah. And I'm wondering about the other people on this call who are still here. If any of those folks are really comfortable facilitating and listening Unknown Speaker 2:29:14 on the backup list. Unknown Speaker 2:29:17 Or if you're just listening in that's fine too. Theresa Power-Drutis 2:29:27 So, we can also, you know, there are some people who are who are typically. Speak out, that's not necessarily the best sign because you want somebody who's going to be able to listen it elicit information for other people. So, we can think Unknown Speaker 2:29:43 I'm happy to reach out and get some more folks so that's fine, I can do that it's not a big deal. Just want to be sure people here, said what they would like to see happen. And we have set it up for 90 minutes, so terms of planning for the rest of the meeting, I will need to follow up with you, Rob about the logistics of making sure we get the candidate and the facilitator in the right room. It doesn't match but it has to be one of each. So, Robb Huff 2:30:08 yeah, so what the way that it works. It will be just kind of it'll take a little bit of patience on the part of all of our participants. Since we don't know who will show up in the meeting, other than the facilitator and the candidate. The easiest thing will be for me to assign those individuals to the rooms, there'll be some probably shuffling around that'll happen a little bit so that we can get settled with a facilitator and candidate in each room so I think probably what we would want to do is, I can set up the rooms randomly like I did today, but then move people manually, to each of the five rooms to make sure we have a facilitator and a candidate. Unknown Speaker 2:30:58 Okay, that sounds good, Maureen Howard 2:31:00 and remind them in person we spent a fair amount of time getting into the rooms, right. So, it's just a different getting in. Robb Huff 2:31:08 Yeah, I think that's a great reminder because I think we get it. At least I know I get sensitive to the amount of shuffling around time during meetings, and it feels like it should be a whole lot more efficient, but you're right when we're in person it's not all that efficient either. Unknown Speaker 2:31:26 No, and I think this is great I know that Laurie will be willing to be a facilitator to, and I think Nate will because he said he'd offered to do whatever. So, I feel like we're, we've got that pretty covered. So unless there's something else that you're concerned about Unknown Speaker 2:31:44 where if you can email me something if you think of something but Robb Huff 2:31:48 just yeah. Otherwise the rest of the meeting would just be our standing items, so. So I think we got through it in the candidate forum. And then once that wraps up after the 90 minutes to do our standing items. Unknown Speaker 2:32:03 I was thinking based on what Theresa said earlier today and Patricia I see you're still here with us thanks for hanging in for this part is when we sort of plan the next week. And so I think it would be a nice thing to have a standing thing at the beginning that really welcomes new people, even though we aren't going through introductions, and then sets up a little bit about how to work with the technology so we could even say at that time in the breakout rooms, it will take a little time to get there, that sort of thing. Unknown Speaker 2:32:33 Yeah, that's a Unknown Speaker 2:32:34 great idea, getting. Maureen Howard 2:32:36 Oh and have people change their names, really Robb Huff 2:32:41 well and remind folks to turn their. The turn their cameras on if they're speaking, and they can have their cameras on the whole time it's a richer meeting. Again, Unknown Speaker 2:32:57 people who are coming through the phone or some other way, are more limited oftentimes but I think that's great to acknowledge that people are are in those different technologies so don't all have the same capacity. Right. Robb Huff 2:33:15 No. Yeah, I think that's a good standing item to the agenda. Theresa Power-Drutis 2:33:21 Well done, rosemary. Unknown Speaker 2:33:24 Yeah Theresa Power-Drutis 2:33:25 but, phone calls or emails, or whatever. Unknown Speaker 2:33:30 Yes, a lot of thanks to Cynthia because she put together a lot of stuff for me it was relatively easy. Yeah, no, I did get three people to sign up after I had to send out a reminder and they were all like, Oh my god, these emails get lost and. So, anyway, that was good. So I think we're ready. That's great. Unknown Speaker 2:33:55 Call me gentle now you can let your phone Gagnon. Unknown Speaker 2:33:59 Oh, hi, Judy, Unknown Speaker 2:34:03 everyone. Theresa Power-Drutis 2:34:07 So do you know for stanmer. Unknown Speaker 2:34:11 No, I don't. Theresa Power-Drutis 2:34:13 But, and so RoseMarie asked that question if we had any kind of actions with him. And, you know, I think some of us have testified in front of the county council and that's kind of the only time we've ever seen him or gone to is, What is the state of the county Unknown Speaker 2:34:32 right in the county. Yeah. Yeah. Unknown Speaker 2:34:36 So I know those people are you know awfully busy and all that but anyway we have, we have five out of 10 and seven responses not too bad. Robb Huff 2:34:46 Yeah, that's good. Alright, so anything else we need to cover in this planning meeting for the good order before we go about the rest of our Fridays. Theresa Power-Drutis 2:35:00 I think we can talk about the next one. The following one on the land trust at the next meeting. Maureen Howard 2:35:07 Yeah. Can you just one question on that Teresa is it only for Tara that's going to present, or are there other land trusts that we'll be presenting Theresa Power-Drutis 2:35:16 for Tara has already confirmed and the Tacoma Urban Land Trust has confirmed they'll have two people coming I've told them their time to present a smaller mainly we, we are leaving it for proterra but I thought it's a good time for them to come up, and I'm, I've got a thing out two hugs, to see if they will come and do a similar thing to what the Tacoma Urban Land Trust is because both of those groups have talked about doing housing Land Trust, they haven't done them yet but they're both considering it so I thought, good for them to bring it here and talk with us about what their possibilities are right. Do you know if someone else I should be in touch with Maureen Howard 2:35:55 not locally but you know like homestead is a decent sized one in Seattle and Orcas Island and would be and their number of land trusts that are housing I was trying. Theresa Power-Drutis 2:36:09 So, I was trying to focus on the Pierce County, but if you know of anybody who's doing an extremely low income Land Trust. That would be also. I hadn't thought about that but, Maureen Howard 2:36:26 you know, it might just actually be a good thing just to focus on Pierce County and then pick it up. Have some conversations and pick it up but there are a number of of them out there, and there's a national organization as well behind them. Theresa Power-Drutis 2:36:40 Yeah, and there's some really interesting things going on throughout the country so if there is, you know, after this one, if there's an interest in doing something else we could talk about that. Yeah. Maureen Howard 2:36:52 We could also put those links in the, you know, on the back of the agenda. Yeah, sure some of those folks who want to follow that up on their own. I mean that's a thing to do. So, we Robb Huff 2:37:09 can also ask the folks at the local level if they're aware of best practices models. Elsewhere, and use that as a building. James Pogue 2:37:18 Yeah, learning point. Yeah. Yeah. Maureen Howard 2:37:23 All right. I mean, on Whidbey Island Habitat for Humanity gave all of their land to the land trust. Theresa Power-Drutis 2:37:31 Oh, I didn't know that. Maureen Howard 2:37:33 Yeah, years ago. Yeah, our housing authorities that have land trusts there. Yeah. Robb Huff 2:37:44 All right everybody so thanks for hanging in there and stay dry on a safe weekend and back at week. Sounds good. Transcribed by https://otter.ai