HomeMy WebLinkAbout032426 Shelter CoalitionShelter Coalition Meeting
March 24th, 2026
Present: Greg Brotherton - facilitator, Julia Cochrane - scribe, Debbi Tesch - PHA, James Holthaus - Bayside, Trevor Breland - Bayside, Apple Martine - Health Dept., Derek Firenze -
OWL 360, Keppie Kepplinger - Emergency Management, Lara Gassland-Tatro - Health Dept., Jordan - guest, Peggy Webster - Olycap, Matt Ready, Renata Funfrada - City, Thomas Olson – Police
Chief.
Bayside teaming up with DBH - to create a Therapeutic Center. The county is getting a lot of push back with giving the land for this.
Matt Ready - Permitted encampment - Peggy, Viola and Matt working on developing his land, and working on a lease agreement. There is a civil engineer working on the site plan. Olycap
is interested in managing the facility. Matt goes to the current encampment every few days, a big tree fell within feet of a few tents. Garbage Pickup every few weeks thanks to Olycap.
Could they get a porta potty there? Apple, Greg, Matt - People have been in the basic area 2 ½ years. Health Dept. has some funds but not sure if it fits under their umbrella. There
is environmental waste for public use near the trail. There is a history of problems with public porta potties but also it was dealt with by the Health Dept - Harm Reduction team to
ameliorate the problems. Not sure about funding. Renata thinks city should be involved and will look for funding.
Question about a fire at an encampment that Apple heard about it. Chief Olson does not know. James Holthaus - heard there were 2 very large bonfires. Mill Road and the Power Lines right
of way. It's all Mill land. Maybe the Porta pottie can be on the trail head at Mill Road across from CB.
Peggy - CB3 Shelter - commerce has reduced plans and specs and came back with questions. They are moving ahead. Complete contracts with Modular Builder. City asking for water pipe to
site to be 2” bigger than planned. The plan and specs have to go to L&I which can take a long time. L&I has to sign off on modulars. Then the county will sign off. Looking at October
for Modular to be delivered.
Shelter - Trevor - still full, to the max. If the weather is ugly they stay open for overflow a couple of days. Shelter is going strong.
Apple - Opioid RFP - 10 applications - all interviewed. Today subcommittee meeting to finish scoring and then on the 31st @ 2:30 - special meeting of BHAC - Behavioral Health Advisory
Committee. Health Dept Conference Room and on line. Jeffco County Calendar - to find the link.
Chief Olson - Greg Brotherton: General Policy re encampments what would be a path to make the policy that people can’t camp in the same place for 2 nights in a row. How do we engage
with the city? Olson looked at the calls - in the last 4 ½ months they have made about 30 contacts with people sleeping. Police are engaging with the public spaces - near businesses,
parks etc. Not searching the woods. 63 calls includes about 3 sleeping in their cars. They enforce a 24 hour parking limit.
Renata - City getting ready to issue RFP for Evan’s Vista. LIHI is interested in coming here and helping with Urban Rest Stop.
Julia - Welcoming Center seeing a lot of people, and hoping to offer something after April 15th.
Next Meeting - Greg looking for a teams meeting with a longer time period but until we here differently - here is the info.
Shelter Coalition April 7th at 11:15 - hybrid at Recovery Cafe
https://teams.live.com/meet/9370097787307?p=nBrSKUvxy7NA82W6Qq (https://teams.live.com/meet/9370097787307?p=nBrSKUvxy7NA82W6Qq)
Julia Cochrane, just julia
LBTQ+ - reclaim your alphabet!
willowtree@olypen.com
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