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Home My WebLink AboutMLA22-00035 PC COMMENTS OUTSIDE OF COMMENT PERIODJoel Peterson From: Kathy Morgan <KMorgan@olycap.org> Sent: Wednesday, May 18, 2022 3:26 PM To: Cherish Cronmiller; Brent Butler; Joel Peterson Subject: Re: Update ALERT: BE CAUTIOUS This email originated outside the organization. Do not open attachments or click on links if you are not expecting them. Brent, The shelter is year-round. That came into effect back in 2016. The then sitting Commissioners ask for this to be open year-round because of all the homeless camps that were starting around town. The current management at the American Legion would like for us to move to a different location. They have signed a one-year lease extension with us knowing we are trying to build a shelter at Caswell-Browm location. That said the shelter houses different population than that of Caswell- Brown. The shelter houses mostly elderly that have limited income, failing health and nowhere else to go. Caswell -Brown houses younger crowd that are mostly Mentally III with some substance use disorder and have no -where else to go. I hope this information helps? Kathy My work day may look different than your work day. Please do not feel obligated to respond out of your normal working hours. 7,athy Worgan Pronouns: She/Her Director of Housing and Community Development Olympic Community Action Programs 823 Commerce Loop Rd. Port Townsend, WA. 98368 360-385-2571 FAX 360-385-5185 kmorgan@olycap.or� Washington Low Income Housing Alliance, Board member "Courage is being scared to death.... and saddling up anyway" - John Wayne The information in this transmittal is confidential and may contain information protected by law. The substance of this transmittal is intended to be reviewed only by the individual or organization named above. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any review, dissemination, or copying of this transmittal and its attachments is prohibited. If you have received this transmittal in error, please immediately notify the sender at the number listed above and arrange for the return or destruction of these documents. Important Warning: This message is intended for the use of the person or entity to which it is addressed and may contain information that is privileged and confidential, the disclosure of which is governed by applicable law From: Cherish Cronmiller <ccronmiller@olycap.org> Sent: Wednesday, May 18, 2022 3:15:06 PM To: Brent Butler <BButler@co.jefferson.wa.us>; Joel Peterson <JPete rson@co.jefferson.wa.us> Cc: Kathy Morgan <KMorgan@olycap.org> Subject: Re: Update I am out of the office, will get back to you on meeting times. The legion shelter we have for at least another year, that said, we are full, we only take vaccinated people, no couples, no pets, no where to store personal effects, cats, RVs, etc Get Outlook for iOS From: Brent Butler <BButler@coJefferson.wa.us> Sent: Wednesday, May 18, 2022 2:06:47 PM To: Joel Peterson <JPeterson @co.jefferson.wa.us>; Cherish Cronmiller <ccronmiller@olycap.org> Subject: RE: Update Greetings Cherish, It would be great if we could connect before the May 23rd workshop, as there are some questions that have been raised which should be discussed with you in advance. One of these questions relates to the status of the shelter at the American Legion. Several others may be raised by the Planning Commissioners as part of their deliberations this evening. Regarding the shelter: Is the operation slated to continue during the winter months into the foreseeable future? Perhaps we can connect on Friday at 10:15am? There's also a possibility that I'll be free at 4pm tomorrow. Please let me know if any of these times are available on your calendar. Warm regards, -Brent Brent Butler DCD Director 36o-379-4493 From: Joel Peterson Sent: Wednesday, May 18, 2022 9:24 AM To: Cherish Cronmiller <ccronmiller@olycap.org> Cc: Brent Butler <BButler@co.jefferson.wa.us> Subject: RE: Update Cherish, The Planning Commission will develop recommendations to send to the Board of County Commissioners tonight. The meeting will open with a general public comment period, but the ordinance public comment period is closed. Any comments received tonight will be forwarded to the BoCC. I'm setting up an afternoon briefing session with the BoCC for May 23rd to review the ordinance and Planning Commission process. We're scheduling a hearing at the BoCC for June 13tn Joel Joel M. Peterson, AICP (he/him/his) Associate Planner Jefferson County Department of Community Development 621 Sheridan Street Port Townsend, WA 98368 (360) 379-4457 EFFECTIVE THURSDAY 7/1/2021 DCD WILL BE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. M-Th 9:00-12:00 1:00-4:30 DCD will maintain limited customer interaction and recommends scheduling an appointment to meet with staff. DCD will no longer be accepting building applications by drop off or mail, you must schedule an appointment with front staff to submit. A mask and social distancing is required. Please visit our website https:lZwww.co.jefferson.wa.usji!uq Lu see how we can best serve you during this time. • Email: dcd@co.jefferson.wa.us • Phone:360-379-4450 • Mail: 621 Sheridan St.; Port Townsend, WA 98368 All e-mail sent to this address has been received by the Jefferson County e-mail system and is therefore subject to the Public Records Act, a state law found at RCW 42.56. Under the Public Records law the County must release this e-mail and its contents to any person who asks to obtain a copy (or for inspection) of this e-mail unless it is also exempt from production to the requester according to state law, including RCW 42.56 and other state laws. From: Cherish Cronmiller <ccronm!Ile r of ca p.or > Sent: Tuesday, May 17, 2022 2:48 PM To: Joel Peterson <JPeterson @coAefferson.wa.us> Subject: Update ALERT: BE CAUTIOUS This email originated outside the organization. Do not open attachments or click on links if you are not expecting them. Can I get an update on the ordinance? Will that be discussed tomorrow night? Or has it already gone to BoCC for approval? Thanks, I want to head off any public comments or discussion. Cherish L. Cronmiller, Esq. Executive Director, OlyCAP (Olympic Community Action Programs) Serving Clallam and Jefferson Counties, WA cherish@olycap.or Office: 360.385.2571 x.6308 www.olycap.org *she/her/hers Joel Peterson C-Y"u X4,Cf From: Caroline K. Wildflower <ckwildfiower@gmail.com> Sent: Thursday, May 19,,3022 9:08 AM To: Planning Commission Desk; Joel Peterson Subject: Fwd: Temporary Housing Facilities Ordinance Attachments: Temporary Housing Facilities Ordinance.pdf ALERT: BE CAUTIOUS This email originated outside the organization. Do not open attachments or click on links if you are not expecting them. I am forwarding this commment letter that I had sent to an incorrect email address for the commisssioners. Thanks for your attention. -Caroline K. Wildflower -------- Forwarded Message-------- Subject:Temporary Housing Facilities Ordinance Date:Mon, 16 May 2022 10:01:21-0700 From:Caroline K. Wildflower<ckwildflower@gmaii.com� To:pcommissiondesk�7a iefferson.co.wa, jeffbocc@co.iefferson.wa.us my letter is copied below and also attached as a pdf--Caroline Wildflower May 16, 2022 Dear Planning Commission, I am writing support of the Temporary Housing Facilities Ordinance. I have lived in Jefferson County since 2003.Over that time period, I have watched housing become increasingly unaffordable and hard to find. Personally, I created an ADU apartment in my house and rent it to my tenant on a Section 8 certificate. People laugh at me for keeping the rent low enough that he can use that housing subsidy. I helped build one of the tiny houses now being used in Port Townsend. I was so glad to be able to make that contribution toward building some pathways toward housing for the homeless people in our midst. I want these changes to the zoning rules to make it easier and more cost effective to permit tiny shelter villages. Between 1989 and 1998, 1 worked as a Housing Advocate in Seattle and in Snohomish County, creating housing and assisting homeless clients to access this housing. I attest that temporary, safe, supported and professionally managed housing works well to provide homes for homeless people and assist them toward permanent housing. This ordinance will go a long way toward stemming our housing crisis in Jefferson County. Although temporary shelter is not the whole answer to our county's housing woes, it is an essential part of the solution People experiencing homelessness need a safe, supportive environment to regain their sense of well being in order to focus on obtaining permanent housing. This ordinance creates the structure for this to happen. I urge the Planning Commission to recommend to the Commissioners that they adopt the permanent ordinance in its entirety as presented by the Department of Community Development. Sincerely, Caroline K. Wildflower, MSW May 16, 2022 Dear Planning Commission, I am writing support of the Temporary Housing Facilities Ordinance. I have lived in Jefferson County since 2003. Over that time period, I have watched housing become increasingly unaffordable and hard to find. Personally, I created an ADU apartment in my house and rent it to my tenant on a Section 8 certificate. People laugh at me for keeping the rent low enough that he can use that housing subsidy. helped build one of the tiny houses now being used in Port Townsend. I was so glad to be able to make that contribution toward building some pathways toward housing for the homeless people in our midst. I want these changes to the zoning rules to make it easier and more cost effective to permit tiny shelter villages. Between 1989 and 1998, I worked as a Housing Advocate in Seattle and in Snohomish County, creating housing and assisting homeless clients to access this housing. I attest that temporary, safe, supported and professionally managed housing works well to provide homes for homeless people and assist them toward permanent housing. This ordinance will go a long way toward stemming our housing crisis in Jefferson County. Although temporary shelter is not the whole answer to our county's housing woes, it is an essential part of the solution. People experiencing homelessness need a safe, supportive environment to regain their sense of well being in order to focus on obtaining permanent housing. This ordinance creates the structure for this to happen. I urge the Planning Commission to recommend to the Commissioners that they adopt the permanent ordinance in its entirety as presented by the Department of Community Development. Sincerely, Caroline K. Wildflower, MSW Joel Peterson From: DCD Front Staff Sent: Tuesday, May 17, 2022 8:18 AM To: Joel Peterson Subject: FW: DCD HOMELESS ORDINANCE Attachments: The Robert Martin V.docx Public Comment Jodi Adams she/her/hers Permit & Admin Manager Jefferson County Department of Community Development Phone 360-379-4494 From: Tiffany Hudepohl <tiffany.hudepohl0@gmail.com> Sent: Friday, May 13, 2022 10:51 AM To: Planning Commission Desk <PCommissionDesk@co.jefferson.wa.us> Cc: DCD Front Staff <dcd@co.jefferson.wa.us>; JeffBoCC@jefferson.wa.us; Kate Dean <KDean@co.jefferson.wa.us> Subject: DCD HOMELESS ORDINANCE ALERT: BE CAUTIOUS This email originated outside the organization. Do not open attachments or click on links if you are not expecting them. The Robert Martin V. City of Boise, No. 15-35845 (9th Cir. 2019), court case that Cherish Chronmiller, director of Olycap, and others like to use to bully commissioners, boards and community members is not about being required to provide housing for every homeless person in Jefferson county. This case is about police enforcement and legal citation. The court case sided with a homeless man, Martin, in saying that sleep is a biological need for any human and one cannot give a citation to someone sleeping in public places if no other alternative is available. "According to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruling on the case..., cities can't arrest or punish people for sleeping on public property unless they provide adequate and relatively accessible indoor accommodations." If a bed is available for said homeless and they refuse to leave then a citation is legal. This court case is not about allowing the homeless to set up permanent residence on public lands. Law enforcement is allowed to ask the homeless to move on but do not have the authority to give a violation for sleeping or camping on public lands. Numerous counties in 9th Supreme Court district are dealing with homeless with this court case. Homeless advocates have repeatedly dictated and gas lighted our community into believing that our county is required to provide encampment housing is simply not true. Jefferson County does not "HAVE" to do anything, it is only that law enforcement cannot tine or arrest a homeless person for being homeless and performing the biological need of sleep. Using this ruling as an over reaching arm to redefine the newly proposed ordinance presented by Jefferson County DCD "Repealing and Replacing Interim Ordinance 08-1213-21 and Adopting Zoning Regulation for the Siting, Establishment and Operation of Temporary Homeless Facilities in Unincorporated Areas of Jefferson County", will only open up our county to an unrestricted number of homeless people creating a gateway that our county does not have the resources to accommodate. I understand Jefferson County is legally bound by the state to have an ordinance for siting homeless encampments and emergency housing. State law does not dictate how this policy is written. Jefferson County DCD is preparing an Ordinance which supports creating shelters with low barrier access allowing sex offenders and warrant criminals, removing fire restrictions then removing any buffers of community safety and creating an Ordinance with no checks and balances or adequate review process. Allowing a single person the "DCD director" to have such a wide berth of discretion in approving and managing these sites, then removing any and all limitations on capacity for sites is a legal and financial nightmare. These actions set a reckless precedent. All we are hearing as a community lately is there is not enough money in this county. Our roads are failing, our infrastructure is weak, parks are barely operating, school bonds are failing and we have no adequate mental health resources. Many of the community members who live and work here and pay taxes are unable to afford housing and basic necessities. I am confused how such a small minority of people - many of which refuse services - are allowed to consume so much of our counties resources. The county initially spent 600k$ for 14 acres of land. 400k$ additional to build infrastructure and an additional 500k$ funding Olycap to support approximately 25 people at the Mill Rd complex until the end of December 2022 and this is only one encampment. This ordinance is going to create a vortex of need that the county and community simply cannot bear. Affordable housing, low income housing, transitional housing and true natural crisis emergency housing are not the same as a policy that allows a homeless encampment to be created anywhere with absolutely no limitation to population. When will our county stop wasting money and start putting our resources to good use by building systems that help young people and families and help struggling business owners and tax payers who live here now! Taking care of the community without throwing open arms and endless resource at attracting and supporting more homeless encampments is where the DCD and county commissioner's priorities should be, creating fair policies that have rules and metrics not an ordinance that is an open invitation to chaos. Sincerely —Tiffany Drewry— Resident, business owner, volunteer and mother for over 24 years. Joel Peterson From: aleawaters@olypen.com Sent: Friday, May 20, 2022 8:59 PM To: pcommissiondesk@jefferson.co.wa; Joel Peterson Subject: Permanent Ordinance Governing Temporary Housing Facilities in JeffCo. ALERT: BE CAUTIOUS This email originated outside the organization. Do not open attachments or click on links if you are not expecting them. I am a retired community health RN in Port Townsend. My husband and I write to urge theplanning commission to adopt the permanent ordinance governing temporga housing facilities in the county in its entiretK as presented by the Department of Community Development. Experience has shown here in our county that safe, secure shelter is a matter of life and death. The ordinance provides a well -planned and well -thought-out structure for the development of safe, temporary housing according to level of need, and professional management of that housing -- essential conditions of stability for people to be able to turn their attention toward securing a permanent home. Allowing homelessness to continue in our county in its present dangerous and shameful state is unconscionable. Please, do the right thing -- adopt this permanent ordinance exactly as written. Sincerely, Alea Waters and Lang Russel 1