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1 Redmond Task Force on Homelessness Public Comment Tracking Document Name Date Submitted Comment Nicole Wiebe, City of Redmond Parks Dept Events and Marketing Coordinator May 15, 2015 My concerns, both as an employee and resident of Redmond (actually live in unincorporated King County Redmond, but consider Redmond my home, schools, shopping, etc.) are with the homeless in Redmond, in particular along the Sammamish River Trail. In the last two weeks, on two separate occasions and walks along the Connector and Sammamish River Trail I have been concerned by the homeless, open container drinking, groups collecting behind and amongst the shrubs along the trail and the congregating across the river, under the 85th St. Bridge. One of our Derby Days sponsors, Ben Franklin, specifically asked me if we, Police, would be patrolling along the river, the camps etc., for the safety of Derby Days attendees. Recently, I attended a WRPA (Washington Recreation and Parks Assn) conference and attended a session on homelessness, facilitated by the City of Bellevue, Parks, Police, and Human Services. Great content and they face similar issues (as you very likely know). They discussed working in the parks to trim and prune shrubs to make it less friendly for camping etc., and more visible for park visitors. The trail and it’s vegetation is owned and maintained by the county, and I know that it is part of the habitat, but the overgrown shrubs etc., provide a haven for some. In particular, there is a “cut out” with bench that is almost invisible to trail users, but a frequent spot for drinking etc. Hoping that as part of your taskforce, you may have a conversation with the county to encourage them to trim and prune this area. Thanks for “listening.” Nicole Michael Romano, resident June 10, 2015 The purpose of this correspondence is to, first, inform you about an incident that occurred this morning and, second, to express my general concerns about the increase in the numbers of homeless transients in downtown Redmond. As background, I am a resident in the Lions Gate community. I live and work in downtown Redmond out of one of the storefronts along SE 83rd Street. I am a business owner, licensed to do business in ---PAGE BREAK--- 2 the City of Redmond as Centurion Development Services. I have watched with great interest and, at times frustration, as this city has grown and changed substantially, in many ways for the better, during my residence here dating back to February 2008. I am a life-long resident of the Puget Sound region having grown up in the Burien area and am a graduate of the University of Washington, Class of 1978. Incident 6-9-15 As I was making my way on my morning sojourn to the Starbucks near Canyon’s Restaurant from my office on 83rd , shortly before 9:00 AM, I observed a female standing over a person that was laying on the sidewalk, apparently sleeping or unconscious. The woman looking down on the person appeared to be trying to decide how she could check to see if the person was ok. It was impossible to tell by looking what the condition of the sleeping person was due to a large, filthy blanket covering his head and upper torso. I could tell it was a male by the body build. The specific location was in the alley between the back of Element Cycles and Soccer West/back of Trader Joes on the sidewalk that is a designated pedestrian route. He was lying in the corner where the sidewalk turns east after heading south from 83rd at the north wall of Element Cycles storage space adjacent to the soccer store and the screened dumpsters that reside perpendicular thereof. I stopped to observe the proceedings and to make sure that the concerned female was not in danger. I observed her touch the sleeping male’s knee and speak to the person to which he failed to respond. At that point I spoke to her and suggested that perhaps we should call 911. Apparently the ostensibly sleeping male was either not asleep or the sound of my voice woke him because as soon as I said “let’s call 911” he cast off his blanket and rose. At this point the female, who identified herself as associated with Element Cycles, moved toward me and we both walked east in the alley way a few yards away from the person in question. At this point I was able to observe the person in full: Approximately 35 years of age, filthy from head to toe, front and back, approximately 6’ tall, 180 pounds, barefoot, wearing tattered pants and shirt and carrying his off-white blanket. He has black curly hair and beard with brown eyes and appeared to be able-bodied. At this point the concerned female asked me if I was going to call 911 to which I replied “yes” and began to dial. I believe at this point she withdrew into Element Cycles’ office through the rear door off the alley. At approximately the same time the transient started to become belligerent, demanding in harsh tones what my problem was and why I was calling 911, all the while moving in my direction. Although I’m going on 59 years old I’m somewhat of a physical specimen and generally speaking have little fear of fisticuffs, although perhaps at my age I should. In any event, I held my ground and a ---PAGE BREAK--- 3 verbal exchange ensued. Our somewhat heated verbal exchange, replete with expletives, carried out to 160th while I was on the phone speaking with City of Redmond 911. As the transient was crossing 160th headed east to the alleyway that serves ‘Zaw and the other shops down that way he spat in my direction which incited me to give chase where we nearly came to blows in the middle of 160th. I told him to get out of town and don’t come back. The fact of the matter is I didn’t want to touch him (he was absolutely filthy) or hurt him; I wanted to him to leave. He’s quite lucky, actually, that I have matured somewhat over the last 25 years or so or it’s extremely likely that he’d have ended up continuing his sleep in the middle of 160th. At that point he withdrew heading east down the alley as I continued my conversation with 911 and completed my daily walk to Starbucks. I’m sure that transcript is available for review. The bottom line is that apparently homeless people sleeping in the middle of pedestrian access and along the storefronts serving downtown Redmond is unacceptable. Influx of Transients Over the last several years, perhaps 3 or so, I’ve observed a marked increase in the number of apparent homeless, transients and street corner pan-handlers. I also have it from a source in a position of knowledge that the word out in the transient community is that the City of Redmond is de facto “hospitable” to such folks. I understand that people’s hearts are in the right place. I also understand human nature and when something is encouraged by being allowed to flourish it will…and, clearly, it has in this city. This is unacceptable and has to be policed with vigor in order to change the perception in the transient community that downtown Redmond is a fine place to hang out if you live in a tent, under a bush or sleep on the sidewalks. If the City doesn’t get a handle on this soon it will get worse, incidents like the one described above will increase and businesses will be negatively affected along with people just going about their daily business. The residents and business owners in this city shouldn’t have to put with this sort of thing and I expect you, the elected officials, to give your police force the tools to get the job done whatever it takes, such as modifying and/or enforcing RMC, dedicating resources to making sure the mission can be accomplished and steeling yourselves for the political fallout that is sure to occur from those whose hearts are with the homeless. ---PAGE BREAK--- 4 I would be more than happy to attend a Council Meeting to speak in person if you think that would be of value. Regards, Michael J. Romano Karen Pooley, resident June 15/16, 2015 From: Karen Pooley Sent: Monday, June 15, 2015 5:35 PM To: Colleen Kelly Subject: Re: Activities related to Homelessness in Redmond: UPDATE What I would like to know: Why is the City of Redmond only looking at solutions to the issues of residents after they become homeless and not looking at solutions to the issues that CAUSE homelessness? Not one government official will look at the continued unlawful foreclosures and understand the link between kicking people out of their homes unlawfully and the rise in rents and the rise in homelessness. Why we are only dealing with the issue when it becomes VISIBLE is beyond me. If you would like to converse relating to the issues that are CAUSING homelessness, I am available. Karen Pooley From: Colleen Kelly To: Karen Pooley Sent: Tuesday, June 16, 2015 10:58 AM Subject: RE: Activities related to Homelessness in Redmond: UPDATE Ms. Pooley— Thank you for your interest in Redmond’s work related to homelessness. Would you like me to share your email with the task force as public comment? All public comments are submitted as written and ---PAGE BREAK--- 5 posted on the Task Force web page. Please let me know. Thanks very much, Colleen From: Karen Pooley Sent: Tuesday, June 16, 2015 11:07 AM To: Colleen Kelly Subject: Re: Activities related to Homelessness in Redmond: UPDATE If the only thing the "task force" and City of Redmond is doing regarding unlawful foreclosures is post the comments received, be my guest......publish away. The City of Seattle is so concerned about unlawful foreclosures that they spent money to audit the land records for corruption. That audit will be released soon. Just think what the addition of City of Redmond Councilmembers' voices would have for pushing the Washington Legislature to pass bills that will stop Redmond's increase in homelessness and protect its constituents. I'm not sure if you are aware that Senator Hobbs sponsored a bill, SB 5968, this session that would allow the banks to foreclose without any evidence of OWNING the debt. This is the way the legislature is leaning. With this kind of nonsense, Redmond can continue to watch its homelessness increase. How expensive is homelessness to a suburb? Karen Pooley Daryl Lambert 7/14-7/22 From: Daryl Lambert Sent: 7/ 14/ 2015 12:19 AM To: John Marchione Subject: Concerns = signs and tent cities Dear Mayor, ---PAGE BREAK--- 6 I have lived in Redmond for over 32 years. Lately I have become concerned about the repeated impact to my neighborhood by the tent cities. The tent city is regularly at St. Jude’s Church a few blocks from my home. Then they move to the church behind my home on Redmond Wood Road. A few weeks ago someone broke in by smashing the window in my truck and took a blanket. There were other things in the car of more value, but they were not taken. They also left a mess of glass in my driveway. Now I have installed a new motion activated light in the front of my home and added signs on my gates to inform anyone that I have a guard dog in addition to having my window replaced and cleaning up the mess of glass. I appreciate having my home and neighborhood safe and do not want to see these impacts continue. I think that the tent city laws should be changed so that one neighborhood is not impacted repeatedly. There should be guidelines that these people are background checked and that the tent cities can be no closer than one mile between encampments. I called the police and they took a report. It is file 15-009201. Also I was using my GPS the other day and it was still on and it told me to turn East on NE 40th. The sign at the bridge says West 40th. The sign does not match what the GPS says. Thought you should know this so that people coming to the Redmond area do not get confused by the signage. Keeping my home and neighborhood safe is important and I hope that we can return to the safety we have had over the last 32 years. Thank you, Daryl Lambert From: John Marchione [mailto:[EMAIL REDACTED]] Sent: Sunday, July 19, 2015 3:32 PM Cc: Allyson Thompson <[EMAIL REDACTED]> Subject: re: Concerns = signs and tent cities Dear Mr. Lambert, ---PAGE BREAK--- 7 Thank you for your note, and I am sorry to hear that your truck was broken into. While the stolen blanket may lead you to certain conclusions, there is no way to know if the person who stole it was or was not a resident of the tent city in your neighborhood. Regarding homeless encampments in general, you may or may not know that cities are not allowed to impose undue burdens on faith communities wishing to host homeless encampments as part of their mission. As such, Redmond allows for a church to host any given tent city organization once per year for up to 110 days under a Temporary Use Permit. The two different tent city organizations that have been hosted in Redmond—Camp Unity and Tent City both conduct background checks. Over the several years that tent cities have been sited at churches in town, our Police Department has reported no significant increase in criminal activity or calls for service related to the encampments. Also, thank you for notifying the City about the potentially confusing signage on 40th street. City staff member Allyson Thompson is a Senior Engineer with Public Works’ Traffic Operations division, and she would like to talk to you further so that she may properly address your concern. Her contact information is: [EMAIL REDACTED], [PHONE REDACTED]. Sincerely, John John Marchione Mayor I City of Redmond From: Daryl Lambert Sent: 7/ 19/ 2015 6:33 PM To: John Marchione Subject: RE: Concerns = signs and tent cities Yes, I am aware of this information. When the next 110 day permit is submitted, why not look for another part of the city who has not had to continually deal with this issue? How can you say there is ---PAGE BREAK--- 8 no significant increase in criminal activity when I reported this criminal behavior and it is significant to me. I had to spend a day getting the glass man to come and wait for his arrival and clean my driveway and my truck. While I am retired, I am still busy and those activities were not on my schedule. So it was significant to me. Who will pay my hourly rate for the work I did to clean this mess up? As for the background checks, where are they posted so that I can be sure that my family is safe? What happens to the people who are turned away because they do not pass the check and are then walking around town? Plus as a tax payer, my taxes are being spent to do the background checks when the officers could be patrolling for proactive needs of this city and helping residents. In addition, I have lived here for over 30 years and have not had these problems prior to tent cities continually being in my neighborhood. It rotates from St. Jude’s to Family Church and so they remain in my neighborhood. We are hearing of so many strangers knocking on doors, suspicious behaviors, burglaries and car prowls. We as a neighborhood are tired of it. What I want to know is what are you doing to do to see that the residents of this city who pay taxes and expect not to have glass shattered all over our driveways and neighbors concerned for their safety. I can live without the blanket that was stolen, but I do not want to live without the peace of mind that I have had for the last 30 years. Thank you, Daryl From: Jane Christenson [mailto:[EMAIL REDACTED]] Sent: Wednesday, July 22, 2015 5:53 PM Subject: FW: Concerns = signs and tent cities Dear Mr. Lambert, Mayor Marchione has asked me to follow up on your concerns. I work in the Mayor’s Office and have also been working (along with other City staff) with a task force on Redmond’s homelessness concerns with local residents, business owners, churches and nonprofits. This task force is scheduled to report on its findings and recommendations to the Redmond City Council on September 22, and I can add your email to our distribution list if you are interested. • I am sorry to learn of your truck. To clarify, the comment below that our overall City crime rate has not increased significantly due to homeless encampments was in no way meant ---PAGE BREAK--- 9 to minimize the significance of your property loss. Many King County cities are seeing an increase in car break-ins, largely driven by criminals’ need for drug money. Similarly, our Redmond Police Department (RPD) reports that most of our property crime is driven by drug addiction, an issue not unique to homeless individuals. Most of the people Redmond arrests for these crimes are not homeless nor are they part of one of the local tent city encampments. • Secondly, please note that the City of Redmond is precluded by federal law from playing a role in the specific siting of tent cities. If individual churches wish to host a homeless encampment, the City can regulate issues of public health and safety via its required permit process, but cannot otherwise prevent this activity. • Lastly on background checks, it is the King County Sheriff’s Office that conducts background checks for Tent City 4, and the RPD if it is a Camp Unity homeless encampment. We do not post these checks for public review due to privacy issues, but do advise Camp Unity if the individual is clear to stay there, If the individual is wanted, and RPD then sends an officer to make the arrest or the individual should be rejected because he/she is listed as a registered sex offender. I hope this information is helpful, and I appreciate your sharing your concerns. Please call/email if you would like to discuss further, and please advise if you would like to be added to the distribution list for those concerned about Redmond homelessness issues so you can stay informed as these issues go before the Redmond City Council this fall. Regards, Jane Christenson From: Daryl Lambert Sent: Wednesday, July 22, 2015 9:46 PM To: Jane Christenson Subject: RE: Concerns = signs and tent cities Thank you. I will be interested in your September report. Our block has had 3 break ins in the last six months. Since we had none for 31 years, that is a significant change and one we do not appreciate. So I would disagree that there has not be a significant change as 0 percent to 300 percent change is very significant. ---PAGE BREAK--- 10 In addition my neighbor across the street says he no longer reports things as no one will do anything when it has to do with people breaking in or doing property damage. Yes please do include my emails in the comments as I feel my input is significant. While I realize that drug crime is not unique to the homeless it is often a factor in homeless tent cities. In fact my friends church in Sammamish will no longer take tent city as there were so many needles left on the grounds and across the street at the park that caused many neighbors to be angry. Even the news today had a story about Seattle businesses being angry about drug use in the tent city there. Again, we did not have these problems prior to the time that the tent cities moved up on the hill. So it may be a timing issue, but with the type of things being stolen it is not something that appears to be children in the area doing pranks. Yes, the churches are able to reach out to the homeless under federal law. I have read that before. But the city can work with churches all over the city so one neighborhood is not always being impacted. Or the city could work with finding services to get these people a help and back to work. Or they could enforce the background checks more closely to be sure that people who have criminal records are not in the tent city. I do not know what tent city is sponsored by whom. All I care about is that my family and neighbors are safe. That is apparently not happening with this rise in crime in my neighborhood. Yes I would like to be on the list so that I can know what is happening. My home is listed on records and my neighbors know who I am and how I am connected to this neighborhood. We watch out for each other as we are a long term stable neighborhood with an active block watch. We should know who is in our neighborhood so people in tent city should have their names publically listed or listed at the police dept so we can come down and ask if we have concerns. I just want the city I pay taxes to and have for 31 years to do the job of public safety that I have paid my taxes to have them do. Thank you. Daryl