HomeMy WebLinkAbout04/11/2023 Study Sessionin
STUDY SESSION
Aprilll,2023
ChambersCity Hall — Council 5:00 p.m. - conducted in person and via Zool
1 Roll Call
Present: Mayor Janice Deccio, presiding, Assistant Mayor Soneya Lund and
Councilmembers Matt Brown, Patricia Byers, Danny Herrera and Eliana Macias
Staff: City Manager Robert Harrison, City Attorney Sara Watkins, City Clerk Sonya Claar
Tee, and City Clerk in training Rosalinda I barra
Absent and excused: Councilmember Holly Cousens
Guests: Lee Murdock, Homeless Network of Yakima County; Mike Kay, Grace City
Outreach/Camp Hope; Mike Johnson, Union Gospel Mission (attending via Zoom); Rhonda
Hauff, CEO, Yakima Neighborhood Health Services; Renee Kollman, Cassidy Leslie,
Sophia Sanabria with Triumph Treatment Center; and, Esther Magasis, Director of Yakima
County Human Services
2, Public comment (allow 15 minutes)
Sister Roberta Rorke, resident, shared her concerns about refuse service moving to the
street, increased crime and drug use in the area following fencing off of Naches Ave.
parkway, and also commended first responders.
3. Discussion on homeless issues with nonprofit partners and stakeholders
Communication and Public Affairs Manager Beehler moderated the discussion, noting the
City Council would like an open conversation about homelessness and drug use and the
strategies that have been implemented as we strive to address these problems. City
Manager Harrison welcomed the nonprofit partners attending the study session and asked
the agencies in attendance to provide information regarding the following questions: 1) what
are you doing now to help manage homelessness and drug (addiction) issues; 2) what could
your agency do to further help improve the present state situation to an affirmative future
state; and 3) what obstacles are in your way to make change for the better?
Rhonda Hauff, Yakima Neighborhood Health Services, shared a presentation and described
their community outreach efforts and explained the services offered. Renee Kollman,
Cassidy Leslie and Sophia Sanabria with Triumph Treatment Center informed Council about
Triumph's inpatient and outpatient programs for substance abuse addiction, which includes
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mental health services and assisting with stable housing following treatment services. Ms.
Kollman noted approximately half of Triumph Treatment clients are not from Yakima.
Mike Kay stated Grace City Outreach/Camp Hope primarily provides shelter services in
cooperation with Triumph and Comprehensive Mental Health who are available and/or on -site
five days a week to assist the population at Camp Hope with mental health and substance
abuse needs.
After a question and answer session with Council members, nonprofit providers reported
success looks different for each organization and for each individual step in the process that
the homeless population is moving towards in their personal struggles. The agencies
described success is measured both by an individual's success and overall progress in the
community. The group shared the goal is stable housing for all.
Mike Johnson provided the Union Gospel Mission's five areas to determine success, which
include social functioning, education or employment opportunities, substance abuse
treatment, community involvement, and stable housing.
Lee Murdock discussed, and Esther Magasis agreed, that systemic plans and cooperation
with other providers to ensure unsheltered homelessness is addressed and that appropriate
housing not just additional housing is available. Appropriate housing includes housing
opportunities for singles, not just families, and permanent supportive housing is more cost
effective than transitional housing. Lee Murdock defined success as net zero homelessness
and believes the City's Comprehensive Plan, Consolidated Plan and Housing Action Plan
contain all of the necessary components to support housing, with the exception of funding.
Most providers stated more appropriate and available housing is the single biggest need in
the community to address unsheltered homelessness, with funding the biggest obstacle.
They encouraged Council to pass a 1 /10 of 1 % sales and use tax for housing and related
services. Mr. Johnson encouraged a visible reduction in homeless by enforcing no
trespassing laws.
4. Adjournment
MOTION: Lund mo- o adjourn to the next
_,neeting on April 18, rCouncil-carriedunanimous - The meetingadjourned . •
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