LC Shelter - Meeting Minutes from 12/6/11

Seattle’s Union Gospel Mission

Meeting Minutes

12/6/2011

1. Call to order

Terry C. Pallas called to order the regular meeting of the Lake City Shelter Advisory Committee at 2:02p on 12/6/2011 in the Cedar Park Community Meeting Room.

1. Roll call

The following persons were present: 

• Seattle’s Union Gospel Mission – Terry C. Pallas 
• Lake City Development Council – Joe Simmons
• Cedar Park – Elena Earle
• Lake City Task Force on Homelessness – Melanie Neufeld 
• At Large Business Member – Annie Stocker
• At Large Business Member – Suzie Smith
• At Large Resident Member – Janet Arkills
• At Large Resident Member – Chuck Dickey
• North Council – Cheryl Klinker

1. Approval of minutes from last meeting

Minutes were approved by committee on 12/13/2011.

1. Open issues

1. UGM statistical report and testimonies:
   
• The Lake City Shelter opened on Thanksgiving day, 
• Meals Served Since Opening 958 (87 meals a day average), 
• Bed Nights since opening 250 men, 39 women (23 men, 4 women per night average). 
• Of the 55 registered guests at the LCS, over 90% come from Lake City.
2. Testimonies:
   
• “Rebecca came through the doors crying and asking the staff if this was a safe place that she could get away from her abuser and stay the night.  She had to leave her 10 year old son with relatives just so they could both be safe.  She spent the night and the LCS staff got her in contact with Stacy Cleveland, Director or Hope Place the very next day.” 

1. New business

1. Group discussed concern for individuals using LCS services that were previously outside Lake City area.  Concern that individuals from Tent City are coming to the LCS for services. 
2. Committee members were concerned about concentration of homeless individuals drinking and congregating around memorial of deceased homeless man in front of Pierre Ford.  It was suggested that the memorial was going to be moved.
3. Group discussed need for continued patrols for safety and litter pick-up.  Benefit of foot patrol v. patrol by vehicle was discussed.  Foot patrol leads to better engagement and relational approach to breaking up groups drinking and loitering.  Patrol by car can cover a much greater area and vehicles can be decaled to identify purpose.  All agreed that a vest for foot patrol or vehicle decals were necessary. 
4. An inherent philosophical difference was illuminated:  UGM is focused on developing relationships with its guests. The idea being that these relationships will help individuals choose paths toward recovery. Business owners and residents acknowledged the benefits of positive relationships but expressed a differing opinion that a sole focus on relationships can cross the line into enabling. Suggestions were made for ways shelter residents could contribute to the community with the possibility of receiving some kind of incentive for doing so.
5. Committee discussed possible ways to get homeless using LCS to get engaged in positive use of time by helping support Olympic Hill School with cleaning grounds maintenance or other during non-school hours.  Engagement with Douglass Park Cooperative Monday evening patrol may be beneficial. 
6. Committee member brought up report of local business owner who was trepidations about making deposit at night after the close of business because of loitering of intoxicated individuals.  Local business owner reports that 3 men who were highly intoxicated were standing near the bank deposit making her feel unsafe.

1. Action Items:

1.   (Melanie) Is meeting with church members Friday 12/9/2011 to pinpoint times, dates, and specific persons to provide patrols for the Lake City core.  
2. (Janet) Contact Olympic Hills School to see if there are needs shelter residents could help fulfill there.
3.   (Terry) Coordinate with Paul to institute opportunities for shelter residents to participate in the community, such as garbage pick-ups.
4. (Annie) Will you contact Dave Ross and ask about the possibility of shelter residents joining in the Douglas Park Monday evening walks?
5.   (Chuck) Has already provided garbage pick-up equipment and has other equipment available as needed. Is also willing to coordinate walks through the area - Chuck, what would you need from Terry to make this happen?
6.   (Suzy, Terry, Melanie) Suzy offered vehicles and the possibility of small cash to support patrol/garbage pick-up efforts.  Terry or Melanie will contact her to utilize these resources.

1. Adjournment

Terry C. Pallas adjourned the meeting at 3:08p.
Minutes submitted by:  Janet Arkills and Terry C. Pallas
Minutes approved by:  Minutes approved by Advisory Committee on 12/13

North District Council Meeting

The North District Council is meeting at 7pm tomorrow at the Lake City Library. Check back later today for an update with the meeting agenda.

The February meeting of the NDC will be focused on the urban planning of the future Lake City. There will be representatives of the Pierre brothers there to talk about their efforts to create a master plan for the redevelopment of their properties in Lake City. They are seeking community feedback, so this is an opportunity for DPC to influence the future development of this area.

	North District Council Wednesday January 4th, 2012, 7:00 p.m.- 8:30 p.m.   Lake City Library conference room 12501 28th Ave. NE
----- Agenda Topics -----
1.  Introductions Name and Affiliation		Phillip Duggan,  Co-Chair - NDC District Council Members	7:00 p.m.- 7:05 p.m.
2.  City Council Plans for 2012		Councilmember Sally Bagshaw	7:05 p.m.- 7:45 p.m.
3.  North District Council Business Enhancement Fund Neighborhood Project Fund Election Nominating Committee Bylaws Committee		NDC Executive Committee	7:45 p.m.- 8:00 p.m.
4.  Round Robin Reports 2011 Accomplishments and Plans for 2012		North District Members Neighborhood District Coordinator	8:00 p.m.- 8:15 p.m.
5.  North District CouncilWork Plan for 2012 Update Membership Forms		Members	8:15 p.m.- 8:30 p.m.
Contact persons:		Thomas Whittemore thomas.whittemore@seattle.gov Neighborhood District Coordinator 206-684-4096	Phil Shack,  Co-Chair philip.shack@gmail.com Phillip Duggan Co-Chair sparhawk2k@gmail.com

Weekly Walk Report

We've successfully added a Thursday walk to the routine. Since the last report on the 19th, we've had another three walks. Many of the reported issues have been resolved, and some more have been added. Take a look at the issue tracking page to see the issues we've been reporting.

Last Thursday, six DPC members met up and walked the perimeter of the Olympic Hills Elementary playground. We picked up two medium size bags of trash.

The next walk is this Thursday at 7pm. We will meet at the corner of 130th and 25th. Hope to see you there!

Concert at Two Dog Yoga tonight, December 30th

Two Dog Yoga is hosting a concert tonight, December 30th from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

The concert features David Stocker, a longtime musician and performer in the midwest. He will play an acoustic set from "About Time," his new CD featuring songs for dancing, meditation and sing along.

Bring a non perishable food donation for the North Helpline food bank for entry. More info here at the Two Dog website.

Mail thief arrested on 22nd Avenue NE

An admitted mail thief was arrested this week after an officer training with a K-9 unit watched occupants of a car stealing mail from street side boxes. In the car police found a number of credit cards. Similar incidents where people have been seen stealing mail from a car have been reported in other north Seattle neighborhoods recently. From the SPD Blotter:

On December 28th, just after midnight, a K-9 officer was setting up a “training track” for another K-9 officer in the 13300 Block of 20th Avenue NE.  While the officer was waiting for the K9 to “find” him, he observed a vehicle swerving from one side of the street to the other, stopping at mail boxes.  It was apparent that the individuals in the car were stealing mail from the boxes.  The officer notified Dispatch of the crime in progress, and several marked patrol cars responded  and the suspect vehicle was stopped in the 14300 Block of 22nd Avenue NE.  While officers were speaking with the driver and passenger in the car, a large bag of mail was observed on the floor of the car as well as a number of credit cards on the dashboard and floor.  The pieces of mail all had various names and addresses visible.  When asked if they knew anything about the mail, the male driver admitted that the mail was stolen. 

 Read more at the SPD Blotter here.

Four days, three armed robberies in Lake City

Over the last four days, three Lake City businesses have been robbed. Starbucks near 145th was robbed on Christmas Eve, Jack in the Box was robbed early Monday morning, and Radio Shack was robbed Monday night about 8:50 p.m.

In the Radio Shack robbery the robber was described as wearing a mask, a backpack, a hoodie and blue jeans.

In the Jack in the Box robbery he was described as 6 feet, 2 inches tall with a slim build and wore a motorcycle helmet with a dark shield, a dark leather jacket, dark backpack, blue sweatshirt and blue jeans.

And in the Starbucks robbery he carried a backpack and escaped on a blue and white motorcycle.

In each case the robber was described as a white male.

Police are unsure if all three robberies are connected.

A suspect was arrested early Tuesday morning during a traffic stop on NE 130th Street near 8th Avenue NE. Police say the arrested man may be related to some of the robberies.

Read more in this Seattle P-I story.

Weekly walk report, December 19

Graffiti near the intersection of 28th Ave NE and NE 130th Street.

Our Monday weekly walk included 11 community members —our largest group yet. Some took the opportunity to bring their kids out for a walk, others to enjoy the company of their neighbors. The added treat this week was seeing homes in our neighborhood decorated with holiday lights.

Pile of litter gathered by UGM residents

Last Thursday residents of the Union Gospel Mission participated in a neighborhood trash pickup, dramatically decreasing the amount of litter collected by Douglas Park Cooperative members during our weekly walk. During our Monday walk we stopped by the Union Gospel Mission and thanked residents of the neighborhood homeless shelter for their efforts in helping maintain the neighborhood we share. The impressive pile of trash they collected during their walk was waiting for pickup by the City of Seattle directly across from the shelter.

During the Monday walk we noted graffiti on a leaning 'Street End" sign near 28th Ave NE and NE 130th Street. The graffiti on the signs was reported to Seattle Public Utilities.

An abandoned vehicle was also noted and reported.

A downed "Adopt a Street" sign and a tree branch reported weeks ago were still on the SE corner of NE 125th Street and 25th Avenue NE.

You can see all reported items and their status in our issue tracking spreadsheet. It is available in the tab above or at this link.

Our weekly walks build community, offer free exercise and allows us to note things in our neighborhood that we can report to proper authorities.

We meet Monday's at 7 p.m. at Virgil Flaim Park, SE corner of 26th Avenue NE and NE 125th Street.

We also walk on Thursdays, meeting at 6:45 at NE 130th Street and 25th Avenue NE.

The walks also help us to better understand the issues that affect our community and lessen the fear that can build when you don't really understand your own neighborhood. Join us!

Neighborhood photo, then and now

The old Fire Station 39 has gone through many changes over the years. An unremarkable building, it was built in the 1950s to serve the outer reaches of a city that was fast spreading north. The Lake City fire station was a utilitarian building that provided a home for Engine 39, a reserve engine and the firefighters that manned the rigs, keeping lives and property safe.

The station was recently replaced with the more modern Station 39 next door. And the older building has now been converted to use as a temporary winter shelter run by the Union Gospel Mission.

This is part of an occasional series that features old photos from our community. If you have an old photo you would like to share send it to us and we will post it!

A photo of Seattle Fire Station 39 from 1953. (Seattle Municipal Archives)

The former Station 39, currently the Union Gospel Mission winter shelter shown earlier this week.

Neighborhood walk tonight, Thursday

We are starting another weekly walk on Thursday evenings. The first one will be tonight at 6:45 p.m. We will meet at 130th and 25th for our usual walk. They last about 30 minutes and are a good way to get some free exercise and this time of year enjoy holiday lights on your neighbor's homes.

We will note issues in our neighborhood and report them as usual. Some of us will collect litter, but you don't have to. It is mostly a brief walk with a chance to talk with neighbors.

Hope to see you there!  ( And sorry about the late notice. )

North Helpline donations down, need for assistance up

Iloya Martchyan, right, is given produce at the North Helpline Food Bank.

In these turbulent economic times of high unemployment and stagnant wages many are turning to food banks for assistance. However, Seattle-area food banks are reporting a dramatic drop in food and cash donations as the negative economic ripple pushes deeper into households that normally would help.

Donations are down by 31 percent, while need has increased 30 percent in the last four years, according to a recent U.S. Conference of Mayors study.

To highlight the need, Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn came to our neighborhood and visited the North Helpline Emergency Services and Food Bank on Wednesday.

The food bank provides basic essentials to people that are having a challenge covering their daily living expenses. North Helpline assists about 850 households per week, nearly double what they did two years ago.

You can donate to the North Helpline Food Bank here or drop off food items Tuesdays through Saturdays, 9 to 4, 12736 33rd Avenue NE.

Some of the items currently needed are: Protein (canned tuna, chicken, peanut butter), canned fruits and vegetables, 100% fruit juices, grains (pasta, rice, macaroni), condiments (ketchup, mustard, light salad dressings), meals in a can (canned stews, chili), soups (beef stew, chili, chicken noodle), multigrain Cereal (Cheerios, Cornflakes, Grapenuts, Raisin Bran)

Canned tomatoes

Canned food ready to be distributed

Linda and Howard Tomisser gather food supplies

Food ready to be distributed

Kate Murphy and David Ortiz give a cooking demonstration

Mayor Mike McGinn meets with volunteers

Bread

Television crews conduct an interview during the mayor's vist