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Hello, everyone, and welcome to Athens City Council. I think there are a few chairs dispersed throughout. Please utilize those.

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We do start tonight's meeting with a public hearing. So the students who are here from Dr. Settles' class, please know that we will start our normal council meeting after the public hearing.

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This public hearing is for council has received a recommendation from the Athens City Planning

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Commission to amend Athens City code zoning code section 23.04.03 permitted uses in R3

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residential zone multifamily to permit temporary housing shelters as a permitted accessory use

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or the gathering place located at 15 and 7 Congress Street.

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At this time, we invite the public to come up to the podium to share any comments with

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City Council regarding this recommendation from the Planning Commission.

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I will simply ask that you state your name and your address and whether you represent

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a group or just yourself, and then you will have three minutes to share with Council

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your comments.

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My name is Aaron Leatherwood. I live at 100 Coventry Lane. Homelessness is a

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national problem. I appreciate the efforts we've made as a city over the

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years to do our part. The gathering place, Timothy House, Good Works, the

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Salvation Army, Athens Hope, the Clems House, my sister's place, the Athens

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County Homeless Shelter and so many other organizations in Athens all were

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required to prevent and alleviate homelessness and I'm proud to have

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supported their work. The city also purchased a motel to provide transitional housing. Two

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things are clear. We are currently doing a lot and we will never be able to do enough.

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It's hard to solve national problems at the local level. The gathering place's desire

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to provide tent wagons is well-intentioned. The gathering place has mentioned that traditional

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shelters are not an option for the homeless people with mental health and or addiction

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issues which the tent wagons would serve. The proposals before council are problematic for

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several reasons. Uptown has large numbers of people consuming substances late at night, mostly

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beer but it's not an environment which is conducive to recovery. Putting an addict next to a school

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is a bad idea for any number of reasons. Drug crimes within a thousand feet of a school face

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escalated penalties. The site is less than 200 feet from the Athens Middle School.

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When we're trying to help people, we need to set them up for success.

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We should not house addicts in an unsupervised, uptown environment next to a school.

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The site will set up the people we want to help for failure.

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What we need.

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As one of the projects proponents stated in an earlier meeting, it is important that

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tent wagon sites offer the ability to support people.

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We have options.

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The new fire station on Stimson is an ideal location.

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station. It has space for wagons and ample room for portable bathrooms. The fire station

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also has facilities which could be made available on an outreach basis. Best of all, the fire

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station is located far away from uptown. It's not within 1,000 feet of a school and

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is staffed 24-7 by individuals who are experienced at providing first aid.

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The city's new homeless shelter on Columbus Road and the Athens County Public Library

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would also be excellent choices in this regard. I've been the victim of crime twice in the

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past five years, most recently involving a felony on North Congress, involving a repeat

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offender on probation. In both cases, the perpetrators were homeless people. Also in

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both cases, despite the perpetrators being caught and pleading guilty to the felony

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on North Congress, no jail time was served. As a straight, up-down vote, I would urge

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council to vote no on these ordinances. However as a community we pride ourselves on collaboration

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and I believe there's an opportunity to find the middle ground in which these could be operated

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on a pilot basis in a well supported and continuously supervised location far from alcohol in schools.

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I would expect the city to require background screening to ensure that these facilities

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are not made available to individuals with a misdemeanor or felony criminal record.

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thank you for your time. I

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am Nathan Crowley I live in the Plains and I am a

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member of the GP for those of you that don't know that's a short for the

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gathering place. I have been a member for two years and homelessness has

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affected me directly, twice in my life, so has violent crime.

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I was a victim of violent crime most recently when a man broke into my house who was high

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and out of his mind.

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And in the past, I was a victim of violent crime of an attempted mugging right here in Athens while working as a Jimmy John's employee.

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In both instances, despite their criminal history, I urged the court for mercy because

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I understand that a lot of what fueled them was because of their addiction issues.

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Sometimes it was not because they were bad people, addicts are not bad people.

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They just make sometimes bad choices based on their addiction.

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But onto the matter at hand, I think the gathering place is a secure location.

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That parking lot is actually locked, okay, for the chain, a physical chain, and from

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my understanding from talking to the director of the gathering place, Ginger, it will be

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moderate 24-7 and I understand the concerns about the possibility of them

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getting alcohol and drugs but that exists now okay they're out on the streets

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rates now. They have no shelter now. Okay? So and for them, this gives them that one step.

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And while the firehouse seems like a good option, they haven't offered that. So this is the

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best we got right now. And I truly support Ginger's mission in this, the

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Gathering Places mission.

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I think that it will be well taken care of. In my time

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at the Gathering Place, there has not been any violent altercations. So I

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I just ask you to please consider that we are doing a thing that is in the best interest

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of not only the city of Athens, but to show our humanity.

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Thank you very much.

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1980s, Carpenter Street, me again.

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I'm here to voice my support for the Conestoga Hut project.

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If passed by council, people who need to stay in one will begin to stabilize their lives

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by receiving support from the GP staff to get permanent housing, jobs, education, whatever

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they need is made, what they may need.

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This truly will be in hand up and it's much safer for everyone involved.

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Thanks.

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Hi.

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My name is Grace Pavich.

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I'm a student at OU, and I live in the house directly next to the gathering place, 15 North

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Congress. I'm representing my nine other roommates also. We just wanted to voice our concern with

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this project taking place next door to our house. A lot of my roommates work at bars,

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and they have to walk home late at night by themselves, and they already feel unsafe

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having to do that in the first place. And there's just a lot of safety concerns and

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just a little bit of uneasiness and being uncomfortable with this happening. We

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live in a house with all girls. I'm sure there's a lot of other houses on

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Congress Street and surrounding areas that feel the same way.

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Sorry, I'm like

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looking at the things I have written down. We didn't know that this was

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going to happen when we signed our lease two, three years ago. I'm sure like the girls that

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are living there next year have no idea this is going to happen. And we should just be able

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to feel comfortable and safe in our own home.

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And yeah, it's just,

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I don't know. I don't

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really know what else to say, but thanks.

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Thanks.

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Thank you.

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Hey, I'm Mason Korb.

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I've lived in Athens.

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I'm living at 18 Euclid.

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And I was a student here and I worked for AmeriCorps and I've been in Athens for a bit.

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Thanks for sharing your concerns.

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I just wanted to share some of the data and talk about what this looks like.

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So people that commit these types of crimes are often people that are very desperate

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desperate and not having housing makes you more desperate, but having a place to sleep

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makes you a lot safer and allows you to make safer decisions.

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So there was a Denver study that found that people in supportive housing were arrested

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52% less often for minor offenses than unsheltered individuals.

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A UCLA study found that 80% reduction in crime among house participants within 18

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months.

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Ohio's own Returning Home project showed participants with supportive housing services were 40% less

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likely to face re-arrests.

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So in general, when we put people in safe places, they're able to make safer decisions

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and I want to voice my strong support for the project.

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And I also want to just generally suggest that when the city puts things out like

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no camping or asks police officers to move houseless people from one spot to another that

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we offer other options.

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So there's a bridge next to the public library that says right underneath that bridge, no

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camping here, but there aren't other options.

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They doesn't say you can call this number.

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And when police have moved people from A to B, they usually don't.

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All the anecdotes that I've heard, they don't offer another option.

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Thanks.

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Thank you.

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Hi, I'm Megan, 15th Station Street.

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Hi, I'm Nora at 55 Mill Street.

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We are students at Ohio University and we are currently interning at the Gathering Place.

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Before we start, I would like to make corrections and clarify our numbers for our door-to-door neighborhood outreach.

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We completed conversations with 34 neighbors of the Gathering Place, 32 out of 34,

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which is 94% were supportive or expressed no concerns about the Conestoga Huts.

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Two out of 34, only 6% did not support or had concerns.

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11 doors went unanswered.

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For this week, we decided to touch on the personal experiences of members of the gathering place

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and discuss the Conestoga Hut project with them.

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Previous concerns have been about the safety of students,

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but our observations this week have shed light on the fears and uncertainties of unhoused individuals.

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The following is a collection of quotes, not our experience as interns,

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but those who are in most need of the Konestoga Hut projects.

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I have survived more things than I can count, and to survive, you have to find the good.

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The Konestoga Huts are a good thing that can turn the tables.

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I know someone in the community who has lost a leg from sleeping on the bench in the winter.

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The gathering place has spent 50 years helping to make things better for people like me,

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and like you, and like all of us.

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In those 50 years, we have not had any issues with the community being harmed by the programming.

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Not everyone is homeless by choice.

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They just need to get their feet on solid ground.

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These huts are a start and mean more help and safety.

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Last winter, a woman I know froze to death because she couldn't leave her dogs alone in her tent.

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I know the stigma that is attached to being displaced.

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I know the fear and the misunderstanding, and I know the pain.

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I also know the hope that simply having a shelter and a wellness and treatment program can give.

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I stood in the rain and...

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I watched my children's memories, drawings, and report guards dissolve in my hands because

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I had nowhere else to go. I feel like society doesn't care about me. We don't value our

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own species enough or help provide basic necessities. I served in the military for 13 years. I

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was deployed twice to Afghanistan and Iraq. I did everything right and I still sleep in

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car. Losing things is devastating. Intense stuff gets stolen and ripped but

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these huts have a lock for my safety. We all want help. We all want to make things

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better. Sometimes it's about finding that way. The way that you can make things

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better that other people can't. From these personal statements from members

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of the gathering place you can hear the desperation and inherent necessity for

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housing. The temperature is going to drop. Winter is coming and hypothermia

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can set in anywhere below 40 degrees. This isn't just a proposal, it's a lifeline. We

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are not standing here today to debate policy. I don't care about your biases or fears for

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this project when you have a safe place to go to at night. We're here because these

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are people that we know and we care about who are sleeping outside in the wintertime.

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This is a cry for help for dignity, shelter and a chance at stability. Don't let your

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prejudices speak louder than your compassion. Pass the Conestoga Hut proposal. Show the Athens

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community that we are willing to act with humanity, with heart, and with urgency. Thank you for your

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time. Thank you.

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Excuse me. Is there a sign-up sheet that's still circulating somewhere?

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Oh, it's

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okay. Hello. My name is Shelby Elzinga and I currently live in Nelsonville. I have come to

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speak as a formerly homeless person to exemplify that it is possible to be homeless

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without a substance abuse disorder, I do not even drink.

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I have a bachelor's degree and several tech certifications

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that are supposed to be highly sought after.

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I even run my own business doing tech support.

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But even with these qualifications,

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I have found myself with unstable housing

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because I have undiagnosed autism

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and faced gender and various other disability discriminations

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such as not being able to stand for two hours,

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which locks you out of most entry-level roles.

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With the frankly asinine job market, rising prices, and many other issues,

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I am not uncommon and I am going to become a more common example.

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I hear the issues around the offenders.

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I have dealt with them myself, but I do not think it is an issue

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of whether to house homeless people,

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but more of an issue of why our legal system continues to let them reoffend.

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Perhaps this project needs some of its details modified in order to reflect that,

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but ultimately such housing for the homeless that has as little bureaucracy as possible

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should be considered if we are to have a functioning society.

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Thank you.

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Thank you.

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Hi, my name is Allison Perry and I'm a student here at Ohio University.

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I also live at 15 North Congress Street, and I'm representing all of the girls over there or College Street. Sorry. I'm really bad at my address.

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But I want to first start off by saying it's not like we understand what the project is trying to do and we support that.

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I think it's more where they're trying to put them I know that homelessness is

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obviously a very prevalent thing in Athens but I think more of our concern is

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where they're planning on putting the huts like we said we live in a house

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with all girls we don't have we're not very good at defending ourselves if

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something were to happen and there also are a bunch of other houses with

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with only girls I'm sure on that street as well and we should feel safe and comfortable

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in our own house and along with that I know I'm not a middle schooler but there is the

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concern of that the middle school is there and when I am walking to my classes I see

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children like students, middle schoolers walking along in the sidewalks and I know

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that my parents we've obviously brought this concern up to them and what was happening

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and they are not they don't feel safe for us they don't feel like this is a

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smart place to do this and I can only imagine what the middle schoolers parents

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are thinking as well so I just wanted to bring up the aspect of walking home

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feeling safe and I think we're not against the ideas and goals of the

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project but I think it's more the placement of where this is occurring

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And I think that if it were to be picked up and moved somewhere else, that there would

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be a lot more support for this.

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Also there is a college campus and if I were to tour and see and know this, I know that

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my parents probably wouldn't have felt as comfortable with me going there.

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And I also wouldn't feel safe.

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And I know that the university does bring in a lot of people to Athens.

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So, yeah, just wanted to bring awareness up.

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Thank you.

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Thank you.

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Hello.

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I'm Kayla Campbell.

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I live in the Plains.

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I'm a member of the GP.

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I also am a manager at Taco Bell.

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I walk home from Athens at 4 or 5 a.m. some nights to the Plains through Congress.

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It's a very quiet area.

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Not a lot happens.

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We do not have a lot of incidents when we are at the GP to participate.

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You are trying to get sober. You are trying to better your life.

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They have helped me and my husband and my two kids get out of homelessness.

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When we first started, we were jumping hotel to hotel, barely paying.

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My paycheck was barely affording it.

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So, they are a big help and they do help you get better and help you find what is causing

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your issues to get you where you can succeed and strive in life.

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That's all I had.

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Thanks.

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Thank you.

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Hello again.

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Kent Lankes.

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I'm the senior resident at Mike's Bridge House, 34 West Washington.

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It's the recovery sober living house that is next to the gathering place and shares

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there's the parking lot for the proposed site. I've told my story before, it's already on

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the record, but you know, Val Victorian honors tutorial college at the university. I also

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built the sound systems and managed two of the bars uptown, so I'm very familiar with

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student life and things like that. A lot of them still know the name Kento.

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You

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I was homeless living under bridges and whatnot,

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and I was facing addiction and substance use issues

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and mental health issues.

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With Mike's Bridge House and the programming

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by the gathering place, which has been an operation

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for almost 50 years, specializing in recovery,

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mental illness, substance use,

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all of the things that people have concerns about.

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And yes, I do live next to the middle school as well.

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But if I did not have the shelter, the safety and security of shelter, a wellness and treatment

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program, which all of the individuals that would be considered for this pilot program

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have wellness and treatment programs, they are in recovery, they are on the path to recovery.

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This is not, you know, some crazy fish concert parking lot where a whole bunch

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of random, you know, people are going to be in there, you know.

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So in less than seven months, I have not only embraced recovery, I've become a certified

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peer recovery specialist.

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I live in the house attached to the parking lot, so I am there 24 hours a day, almost,

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except for when I work, because I am also gainfully employed, which I was not able

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to say seven months ago or when I was living under bridges.

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I no longer face uncertainty, but just that one thing of having shelter, of having security

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that allowed me to come so far.

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I was a featured speaker a few weeks ago at an event at ABH called Appalachian Stories

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of Resilience and Recovery.

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I was a featured panelist.

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Hope is infectious.

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Hope trumps stigma.

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We need to break stigma as far as the safety concerns are going.

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I am not kicking any of the members from the GP out of my yard at 3 a.m. For urinating in the bushes or throwing their beer cans

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Everywhere, you know, I understand that student life is student life

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They need to be allowed to embrace this part of their personal evolution

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but also we as a community and as adults need to not shelter people from the fact that the world can be

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difficult sometimes it can we all know this but

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With what I could accomplish in such a short amount of time

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Who are we to deny three other individuals in our community that same opportunity, who

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are participating in wellness and treatment programs, you know, it's getting colder outside.

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Thank you.

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Thank you.

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Hi, everyone.

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I'm Ruby Gallo and I live at 65 South Court Street and I'm speaking on behalf of my

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friends who live at 14 North High and 15 North Congress Street.

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I want to start by saying that I care deeply about helping those in need, and I truly respect

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the gathering place's mission.

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However, I have serious concerns about the proposal to build temporary housing huts

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at 7 North Congress and about expanding the zoning change citywide.

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My biggest concern is safety for myself, my neighbors, and for the individuals who

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would be placed in these huts.

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Putting small shelters in a parking lot with limited supervision, minimal access

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to bathrooms and no clear security measures raises real safety issues. Without proper oversight,

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this could put both residents and surrounding community members at risk. I live nearby and

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00:26:15,930 --> 00:26:19,990
I would no longer feel safe walking alone at night or even parking near that area if this

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plan goes forward. It's not because I lack compassion. It's because this approach doesn't

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ensure accountability or safety for anyone involved. If this goal is to help people,

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We need real solutions, transitional housing, mental health resources, and long-term support

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systems that protect everyone's well-being.

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Quick fixes like these huts don't provide that.

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I urge the council to vote no on this proposal and focus on safe, sustainable housing options

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that truly serve both the unhoused community and the neighborhoods around them.

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Thank you.

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Thank you.

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Hi, my name is Tara Boreen.

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And I lived at Timothy House and I'm also part of the gathering place.

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And I can tell you from experience, I lived out on the streets for five months.

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I've been stolen from twice, robbed, and where I came to the gathering place I just

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felt that I could do all this on my own.

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Well, I ended up getting with Ginger and all the crew over there at the gathering place

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and I knew I couldn't do this alone.

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And by the time I'm there, I've got all this help.

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I go to my meetings, what meeting area is, and then we talk everything out.

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I mean, if it wasn't for gender and everybody, I don't know where I would be,

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but the huts,

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they are 100 percent going to be safe for anybody that needs it for the wintertime, because

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I believe if I was out there in the wintertime and I was in Athens, that's probably where

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where I would stay is in my hut, but from experience of someone that lived out on the

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street, it's a dangerous world.

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Everybody ought to be thankful that they have some place to

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go. For me, I choose to be out on the street, but I came,

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now I'm here speaking about

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it because it works for if

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they need it just come on the board and come over we

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all will talk to you and

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00:29:19,080 --> 00:29:28,310
see how it all is ran and personally you would see that

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it's being ran the way that it needs to be ran by Ginger and the rest of the

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crew. So that's all I have. Thank you.

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Good evening. Thank you President Crowe and members of the

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Committee for the opportunity to speak this evening in support of rezoning to allow the gathering

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place to build more connoisseurs of huts on their property. My name is Ari Faber. I live

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at 23 Meadow Lane, and I am here tonight as the executive director of United Campus Ministry.

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In 2015, my parents kicked me out for being queer. That's what brought me to Athens.

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I spent several months couchsurfing between two cousins who were already living here.

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I was grateful to have a roof over my head, but I knew it could disappear at any moment

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if one of their roommates decided they didn't want me there.

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I was one conversation away from being alone and outside.

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That experience shaped the way that I understand housing insecurity.

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It showed me how quickly anyone can lose stable housing and how terrifying that uncertainty

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feels.

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When we talk about people who are in house, we sometimes forget that they are not

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strangers.

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They are community members who are in crisis.

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They are people who, like I once was, are simply trying to find safety and stability.

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They are not the boogeyman seeking to harm you or to face your property.

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They are our neighbors.

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The Gathering Places Conestoga Hut Project offers those neighbors a small but powerful

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measure of safety and dignity.

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It's a modest, well-supervised pilot, just a few huts on a fenced camera-monitored

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block next to an organization that has been serving Athens for nearly 50 years. These huts

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provide secure temporary shelter for people already connected to mental health and case

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management services. This isn't about turning Athens into a tense city, as some have said.

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It's about creating opportunity.

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It's about ensuring that when someone in our community

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loses their footing, we have a place for them to land. Athens has always been

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city that leads with compassion. Approving this rezoning continues that tradition and it tells

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our neighbors that they still belong here. That their safety matters and that our community

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refuses to turn its back on those who are struggling. I urge you to approve the rezoning

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and allow the gathering place to move forward with this humane and responsible project.

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Thank you for your time and commitment to building an Athens where everyone has

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the dignity of a safe place to sleep.

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Good evening.

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Thank you, Council.

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My name is Nick Tepe, and I am speaking tonight as a private resident of Athens living at One

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Ellis Avenue.

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As I've mentioned in previous statements to Council, while I am speaking as a private

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citizen on this topic, my professional experience deeply informs my views on this matter.

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I have worked in public libraries for 25 years, and I have worked with individuals living

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in insecure housing for all of those 25 years.

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Tonight, I would like to comment on a theme I have seen in the statements made by those

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who are opposed to this initiative, namely that those of us who support this initiative

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are downplaying or ignoring the safety concerns that are being raised and not taking those

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concerns seriously.

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Nothing could be further from the truth.

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Working in and managing a public facility, I have seen every type of bad behavior that

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every member of the public is capable of.

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If you can imagine it, I have seen it in a public library.

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Probably some things you can't imagine.

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Whatever safety issues the opponents can imagine, rest assured that I have seen it, and I have dealt with it in managing my public facilities.

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I have evicted people exhibiting bad behavior from libraries more times than I can count.

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While some of those individuals were people living in insecure housing situations,

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who inadvertently or otherwise brought the chaos of their lives with them into the library,

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far more were unruly teenagers, people angry with each other or with the library,

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and people with ill intentions that had nothing to do with their housing situation.

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I've also gotten to know many individuals living with insecure housing

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who are some of my best patrons, who would come to the library in the morning,

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use the computers, read magazines, stay warm or cool, chat with me, chat with their friends,

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and leave at the end of the day without any trouble.

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This should not be surprising.

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If you have nowhere to go, you don't want to get kicked out of one of the few places.

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00:34:21,890 --> 00:34:27,430
you can go. I do not have any concerns about the Gathering Places Conestoga

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00:34:27,430 --> 00:34:31,350
Project because I know the people who will be running the facility and I

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00:34:31,350 --> 00:34:35,310
know that they have as much if not more experience than I do in working with

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00:34:35,310 --> 00:34:38,530
people living with these circumstances and they know how to handle the

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00:34:38,530 --> 00:34:42,630
safety concerns that come with managing a facility like this. I also have no

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00:34:42,630 --> 00:34:45,830
concerns about conditional zoning allowing similar projects elsewhere in

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00:34:45,830 --> 00:34:49,430
the city because I know the city's Safety Service Director and the Board

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00:34:49,430 --> 00:34:54,770
of zoning appeals will do their due diligence in assuring that any facility offering services

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00:34:54,770 --> 00:34:58,950
like this will be able to manage it effectively. Those who claim that this will somehow lead

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00:34:58,950 --> 00:35:03,710
to tents all over the city are engaging in a slippery slope fallacy, it is false, it

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00:35:03,710 --> 00:35:07,650
is fear mongering, and it severely denigrates the professionalism of the safety service

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00:35:07,650 --> 00:35:11,730
director and the Board of Zoning Appeals who will be deciding whether or not to allow

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00:35:11,730 --> 00:35:16,130
conditional use of certain properties. The bottom line here is that as a city

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00:35:16,130 --> 00:35:20,170
we essentially have two choices. Change nothing about what we are doing and continue to live

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00:35:20,170 --> 00:35:23,870
with the chaos and suffering that come with the housing crisis that has grown worse over

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00:35:23,870 --> 00:35:28,450
the last five years and will likely continue to grow for the foreseeable future. Or pursue

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00:35:28,450 --> 00:35:33,290
any and all options available to us to alleviate the situation for the benefit of not just

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the people who are living without secure housing, but also for our whole community.

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When the people who can be helped are being helped, there are far fewer of the

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sorts of incidents that the opponents are concerned about, and there are more resources

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00:35:44,630 --> 00:35:46,810
is available to deal with the real safety concerns.

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00:35:47,530 --> 00:35:52,150
Those of us who are advocating for this initiative represent decades of experience in working

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with individuals who are living within secure housing, possibly centuries.

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00:35:55,950 --> 00:35:59,750
And we are all saying that we must pursue these solutions in order to improve the lives

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of everyone in our community.

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Please trust in the experience and expertise represented here and give us the tools

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00:36:06,130 --> 00:36:08,250
we are asking for to address those issues.

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Thank you.

429
00:36:09,510 --> 00:36:09,790
Thank you.

430
00:36:27,380 --> 00:36:28,400
My name is Eric Johnston.

431
00:36:28,400 --> 00:36:32,620
I am a social worker, and so you're speaking as a private citizen of at 300 Highland Avenue.

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I just want to voice my absolute support for this project.

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I think the realities of today are that all of us, or not maybe all of us, but many of

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00:36:41,900 --> 00:36:44,500
us, are but a few paychecks away from facing homelessness.

435
00:36:46,160 --> 00:36:48,600
Many of us in this room have experienced such, right?

436
00:36:50,080 --> 00:36:53,520
I think this is the compassionate thing to do, as Nick pointed out.

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00:36:54,100 --> 00:37:00,520
As a city we have an opportunity here to do things differently and I hear the

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00:37:00,520 --> 00:37:05,540
concerns about safety. I don't want those conflated with this project. Safety is

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00:37:05,540 --> 00:37:09,540
important and should be addressed, but I feel like that's maybe a separate issue

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00:37:09,540 --> 00:37:13,660
that could be taken up in other ways. The connection with the university can

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00:37:13,660 --> 00:37:17,340
be improved, the connection with the city and the university. There's a lot of

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00:37:17,340 --> 00:37:19,520
different things we can do here, but I think we have an opportunity that

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shouldn't be missed to care for those around us and so maybe even care for those in this room.

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00:37:25,080 --> 00:37:27,120
So again, I just want to voice my support. Thank you for your time.

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00:37:44,640 --> 00:37:50,660
Good evening. My name is Kelly Brar and I'm here tonight as a board member of the Gathering

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00:37:50,660 --> 00:37:55,520
Place. I do not live here in the city of Athens, but I do live in Athens County,

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00:37:55,800 --> 00:38:01,620
actually in Coolville. I've proudly served on the board for seven years and I have been

448
00:38:01,620 --> 00:38:06,960
involved with the gathering place for well over a decade. My son went to Athens

449
00:38:06,960 --> 00:38:12,180
Middle School for three or four years and as a parent we had no concerns with him

450
00:38:12,180 --> 00:38:17,180
leaving school many days most days walking uptown downtown over to the

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community center wherever he wanted to go. I'd also like to take just a few

452
00:38:22,060 --> 00:38:28,420
minutes to focus on key facts and common-sense truths especially amidst

453
00:38:28,420 --> 00:38:33,480
all the information and unfortunately the misinformation that is out there.

454
00:38:35,120 --> 00:38:41,920
If we truly want to talk about facts, common sense and community, we have to start with

455
00:38:41,920 --> 00:38:45,440
the people who are working every day to be a part of that solution.

456
00:38:46,820 --> 00:38:52,420
These are the people who care deeply about addressing issues that affect all of us, like

457
00:38:52,420 --> 00:38:59,500
affordable housing, income inequality, lack of employment, among many other things.

458
00:39:01,120 --> 00:39:06,500
Every single day, and again, as several people have mentioned for almost 50 years, the gathering

459
00:39:06,500 --> 00:39:09,020
place has been and offers that solution.

460
00:39:10,280 --> 00:39:16,580
It's a place where individuals in recovery, folks who want to be in recovery, sometimes

461
00:39:16,580 --> 00:39:22,300
Sometimes people just living with the mental health illness who are trying to be in recovery

462
00:39:22,300 --> 00:39:27,100
can find community, they can find stability, and they find hope.

463
00:39:29,120 --> 00:39:35,720
The gathering place is not a place where people gather to use drugs, commit violence, commit

464
00:39:35,720 --> 00:39:37,680
crimes, drink alcohol.

465
00:39:39,080 --> 00:39:45,980
It is structured supportive environment with rules and accountability and community.

466
00:39:45,980 --> 00:39:50,920
In fact, very often, when you go in there on an afternoon, you'll find a game of UNO,

467
00:39:51,380 --> 00:39:58,840
some bingo, people playing music, making some meals together, among several other really

468
00:39:59,420 --> 00:40:02,400
good community level services that these folks need.

469
00:40:04,100 --> 00:40:10,620
Members are expected to follow guidelines that are outlined in our handbook, and as

470
00:40:10,620 --> 00:40:15,760
As a board member and as a collective board, we take that responsibility very seriously.

471
00:40:17,460 --> 00:40:21,540
I myself personally have worked in health care in the behavioral health space for over

472
00:40:21,540 --> 00:40:28,000
30 years and several of our fellow board members bring professional expertise and credentials

473
00:40:28,000 --> 00:40:28,740
as well.

474
00:40:29,600 --> 00:40:34,600
We are deeply committed to ensuring that the gathering place operates safely, effectively

475
00:40:34,600 --> 00:40:35,660
and with compassion.

476
00:40:36,480 --> 00:40:43,000
We have complete confidence in our Executive Director and the staff who follow best practices,

477
00:40:43,600 --> 00:40:50,840
protocols, and provide ongoing and continuous monitoring to make sure our programs run responsibly.

478
00:40:52,220 --> 00:40:57,960
There is no better time than now to move forward, especially in partnership with the Co-Create

479
00:40:57,960 --> 00:41:00,720
Project and the Development Happening Columbus Road.

480
00:41:01,980 --> 00:41:08,000
Lastly, it's important to remember the folks that we help, that who need our help are our

481
00:41:08,000 --> 00:41:12,960
neighbors, our brothers, our sisters, our friends, our coworkers, and the same people

482
00:41:12,960 --> 00:41:15,380
who have the gathering place has been helping for decades.

483
00:41:15,540 --> 00:41:17,220
Why would we turn our backs on them now?

484
00:41:18,220 --> 00:41:23,560
This is not a reckless step, it is a responsible one towards compassion, safety, and progress.

485
00:41:24,520 --> 00:41:28,320
And to those who are afraid or uncertain, I understand that fear.

486
00:41:28,320 --> 00:41:32,940
But I ask you to consider the perspective of those who have so little.

487
00:41:33,860 --> 00:41:37,420
The people who need these temporary shelters are not afraid.

488
00:41:38,220 --> 00:41:39,320
They are hopeful.

489
00:41:40,360 --> 00:41:45,760
They look forward to the opportunity to have safety, dignity, and a chance to rebuild.

490
00:41:46,600 --> 00:41:52,220
Shame on us if we don't at least try to help make that situation better for someone else.

491
00:41:52,880 --> 00:41:54,700
This is not about politics or fear.

492
00:41:54,860 --> 00:41:55,640
It's about humanity.

493
00:41:56,580 --> 00:42:00,960
It's about compassion, responsibility, and the belief that everyone deserves a chance

494
00:42:00,960 --> 00:42:02,200
to live with dignity.

495
00:42:02,920 --> 00:42:03,340
Thank you.

496
00:42:03,820 --> 00:42:04,220
Thank you.

497
00:42:20,190 --> 00:42:20,790
Good evening.

498
00:42:21,310 --> 00:42:23,270
For those who don't know me, I'm Mark Sutton.

499
00:42:24,130 --> 00:42:26,810
I was born and raised here in Athens.

500
00:42:27,890 --> 00:42:29,910
My father actually used to be on City Council.

501
00:42:30,050 --> 00:42:31,590
His name is on the parking garage over there.

502
00:42:33,870 --> 00:42:37,290
I'm here because I've been a social worker for approximately 40 years.

503
00:42:37,290 --> 00:42:40,170
I'm now retired, but my

504
00:42:42,310 --> 00:42:45,350
issue has been with the fearmongering that I've seen that some

505
00:42:45,350 --> 00:42:50,750
of my peers in from this town, such as Jack, I'm here because of Jack writing the letter

506
00:42:50,750 --> 00:42:55,770
to the editor, feeling out a lot of fearmongering.

507
00:42:56,370 --> 00:43:01,410
And that's all I heard from the last, Kim Goode, when she spoke at one of the meetings,

508
00:43:01,890 --> 00:43:02,610
the same thing,

509
00:43:04,670 --> 00:43:09,290
even Crisk Cornwell, and I'm really disappointed to hear their views

510
00:43:09,290 --> 00:43:17,690
but my view is very opposite. I have been assaulted in this town either by friends or students.

511
00:43:18,390 --> 00:43:25,990
Students are much more dangerous than any homeless person you're going to ever run into. I'm

512
00:43:25,990 --> 00:43:34,630
just appalled that we, upstanding community members in here are so afraid of what, I

513
00:43:34,630 --> 00:43:38,010
don't know what they're afraid of, because everything that I read was not based on

514
00:43:38,010 --> 00:43:43,290
In fact, it was, you know, obviously I've heard what the gathering place says and what

515
00:43:43,290 --> 00:43:48,650
the media has reported and all of that disputes any of their concerns about fear.

516
00:43:49,090 --> 00:43:55,350
So I pray that you pass this and we really need it because, you know, these people are

517
00:43:55,350 --> 00:43:57,750
living in our community whether you like it or not.

518
00:43:58,570 --> 00:44:02,690
And a lot of them, many of them are friends of mine who are from here.

519
00:44:03,030 --> 00:44:04,650
So they're not coming from out of town.

520
00:44:04,650 --> 00:44:08,010
But, you know, winter's coming up, we need to protect them.

521
00:44:08,450 --> 00:44:10,350
So please do what is right.

522
00:44:11,130 --> 00:44:12,310
Make sure that this happens.

523
00:44:12,710 --> 00:44:13,070
Thank you.

524
00:44:13,430 --> 00:44:13,650
I'm

525
00:44:21,680 --> 00:44:23,760
going to wait a little longer, but I get that's by queue.

526
00:44:27,790 --> 00:44:28,950
My name is Jack Stoffer.

527
00:44:29,270 --> 00:44:30,110
I live on Elmwood.

528
00:44:31,590 --> 00:44:38,010
I'm here to represent myself as well as quite a group of concerned citizens.

529
00:44:38,970 --> 00:44:39,830
We're not a group.

530
00:44:39,930 --> 00:44:40,830
We don't have a name.

531
00:44:41,230 --> 00:44:42,950
We are a group of concerned citizens.

532
00:44:42,950 --> 00:44:43,930
This

533
00:44:46,840 --> 00:44:51,380
letter, you all received it. It was in the Athens messenger. It was on the

534
00:44:51,380 --> 00:44:58,700
independent. It was faxed or emailed around town where it says fact. It's a

535
00:44:58,700 --> 00:44:59,080
fact.

536
00:45:00,000 --> 00:45:08,580
It says concern, it's a concern. We make reference to a incident that happened in the past and

537
00:45:08,580 --> 00:45:17,540
a not too recent past that has a direct reflection on the past and present people running the gathering

538
00:45:17,540 --> 00:45:17,880
place.

539
00:45:20,500 --> 00:45:26,420
This letter I had quite a bit to do with input on. Where it says fact, it is

540
00:45:26,420 --> 00:45:30,820
a fact. I believe you could verify that from the information that's in the letter.

541
00:45:33,010 --> 00:45:33,310
For

542
00:45:33,310 --> 00:45:38,130
For those of you who know me fairly well, you already know I have neither the intellect

543
00:45:38,130 --> 00:45:41,290
or technical or computer skills to produce this document.

544
00:45:43,010 --> 00:45:48,110
I'm the front man, the fall guy, the guy with the internal strength to face the hateful

545
00:45:48,110 --> 00:45:51,890
blowback that I expect to follow and hear tonight.

546
00:45:52,950 --> 00:46:00,550
Many working folks, business people, fellow citizens, gave input to our team.

547
00:46:00,550 --> 00:46:04,810
team. Folks still in business must be careful. I'm retired.

548
00:46:09,120 --> 00:46:10,900
I delivered it to Debbie to email.

549
00:46:11,880 --> 00:46:16,680
I tried several times over two weeks to talk with Ginger at the gathering place, but she

550
00:46:16,680 --> 00:46:23,900
never returned my calls as I didn't want to cause her hardship or embarrassment. By the

551
00:46:23,900 --> 00:46:31,500
time I found her returned voicemail at 516 on the day I had already been to City Hall.

552
00:46:31,500 --> 00:46:35,900
In any event, this is accurate.

553
00:46:36,340 --> 00:46:45,570
I hope you use your knowledge of facts in the past to realize that we don't know what could happen there in the future.

554
00:46:46,170 --> 00:46:53,750
And if you pass this and something goes wrong up there, it will be a poor reflection on you folks and our city.

555
00:46:54,570 --> 00:47:01,510
It could damage our city's image to the point of affecting OU enrollment which would devastate our town.

556
00:47:02,770 --> 00:47:10,170
They have done some good work, I'm sure, in the past, but you, we need to look out for

557
00:47:10,170 --> 00:47:11,290
the future.

558
00:47:12,150 --> 00:47:18,390
I have an idea and I plan, I think, will work well for all parties involved, and I will

559
00:47:18,390 --> 00:47:22,230
speak to that at first reading, unless you want to let me do it now.

560
00:47:53,220 --> 00:47:55,240
Hi, my name is Dr. Kate Enger.

561
00:47:55,420 --> 00:47:57,640
I've been working in the social sciences for decades.

562
00:47:58,720 --> 00:48:03,540
I'm a little concerned to hear the kind of we versus them sense in here.

563
00:48:03,740 --> 00:48:05,400
The reality is we are them.

564
00:48:06,020 --> 00:48:07,920
Many are just looking around this room.

565
00:48:08,180 --> 00:48:13,760
Statistics tell me one out of five of us will be diagnosable with a mental disorder this year.

566
00:48:14,440 --> 00:48:16,000
Lifetime, one out of three.

567
00:48:16,600 --> 00:48:17,580
It's not them.

568
00:48:18,860 --> 00:48:21,160
And people with mental illness are not scary.

569
00:48:21,520 --> 00:48:22,340
They're not dangerous.

570
00:48:22,340 --> 00:48:29,660
Statistically speaking, they are much more likely to be the victims of crime than to be the perpetrators of crime.

571
00:48:30,460 --> 00:48:34,120
Do you know where a woman, a young woman, is most likely to be assaulted?

572
00:48:34,720 --> 00:48:38,000
That would be a college campus, not near a homeless shelter.

573
00:48:38,860 --> 00:48:44,860
I have spent thousands and thousands of hours in rehabs, in homeless drop-in shelters,

574
00:48:45,760 --> 00:48:51,120
recently in eviction courts in three different counties have not felt unsafe

575
00:48:51,120 --> 00:48:55,560
in any of those places. I have been unsafe in other places but not in those

576
00:48:55,560 --> 00:48:56,000
places.

577
00:49:01,260 --> 00:49:05,060
For every three families who need housing right now there's one place

578
00:49:05,060 --> 00:49:09,740
available so people are not choosing to be homeless. The people I know right now

579
00:49:09,740 --> 00:49:14,060
that are facing homelessness were injured, they were ill, they left work to

580
00:49:14,060 --> 00:49:18,240
take care of somebody who was ill, they were abandoned by a partner or

581
00:49:18,240 --> 00:49:23,020
abused by a partner. They were rejected by family because of their sexual orientation

582
00:49:23,020 --> 00:49:27,980
or some other difficulty. These days it could even be a political issue. I've actually

583
00:49:27,980 --> 00:49:34,080
seen that a few times. The recovery community members that I know, people who are in recovery

584
00:49:34,080 --> 00:49:40,180
in this community are some of the finest, wisest and most productive citizens we have.

585
00:49:40,180 --> 00:49:47,960
If we give people shelter, if we help them, they become those fine, wise, productive citizens.

586
00:49:48,820 --> 00:49:52,920
If we just tell them to go somewhere else, there is no somewhere else.

587
00:49:53,440 --> 00:49:58,060
And they are us. We need to be realistic. Thank you.

588
00:50:09,330 --> 00:50:17,330
I want to make sure that people in the hallway know this is coming down to the last chance to approach the podium and speak or anyone in the room, obviously.

589
00:50:20,950 --> 00:50:28,130
here we go thank you hello my name is autumn brown and after this I will be

590
00:50:28,130 --> 00:50:33,150
going home to my warm house at 5 3 1 6 a new floodwood in Nelsonville I work in

591
00:50:33,150 --> 00:50:37,870
Athens live in Athens County and I simply wanted to back up some of the

592
00:50:37,870 --> 00:50:41,690
statements that have been shared tonight as we have been working on this

593
00:50:41,690 --> 00:50:49,390
Conestoga Hut project. I am now a board member for the gathering place. I became a board

594
00:50:49,390 --> 00:50:53,250
member from the gathering place because I was one of the leadership that helped with

595
00:50:53,250 --> 00:50:58,750
the Emergency Warming Center. I was a partnership with the City of Athens. Thank you for letting

596
00:50:58,750 --> 00:51:02,190
us use the firehouse. We're in process of trying to figure out what that will look

597
00:51:02,190 --> 00:51:08,370
like this year. So in that opportunity where I was able to help operate the Warming

598
00:51:08,370 --> 00:51:13,610
Center, I met a lot of the individuals that would benefit from a Conestoga hut. Individuals

599
00:51:13,610 --> 00:51:17,590
who are living in Athens in random places that I don't know about, you don't know about,

600
00:51:17,890 --> 00:51:24,930
but they're here on the streets in the woods making do. And I've heard the fears where

601
00:51:24,930 --> 00:51:30,890
it's not an us against them in this situation. We're looking, I sit in the co-create housing

602
00:51:30,890 --> 00:51:39,110
team working on these solutions. And, you know, there are no other places for the Conestoga

603
00:51:39,110 --> 00:51:44,210
Huts to go. The gathering place has stepped up. They have a plan. The co-create team supports

604
00:51:44,210 --> 00:51:49,610
this. We've been working with the City of Athens to make sure this will work for everyone

605
00:51:49,610 --> 00:51:55,830
involved. There will be close oversight. The facilities will be maintained. The individuals

606
00:51:55,830 --> 00:52:00,990
individuals who are selected to go into those Conestoga Huts will be, as shared by many

607
00:52:00,990 --> 00:52:04,750
of the members, in active support of resources.

608
00:52:05,090 --> 00:52:07,130
Not everyone that's going to go in those huts may be an addict.

609
00:52:07,550 --> 00:52:08,530
That's always a go-to.

610
00:52:09,050 --> 00:52:11,330
These are individuals who are down in their luck who need help.

611
00:52:11,770 --> 00:52:14,170
And this has been very well thought out.

612
00:52:14,630 --> 00:52:17,130
This has been several years in the planning.

613
00:52:17,670 --> 00:52:19,810
And so this isn't taken lightly.

614
00:52:20,430 --> 00:52:25,030
If this opportunity is given to the gathering place, it's supported by Co-Create.

615
00:52:25,030 --> 00:52:29,790
We're also supporting the shelter down on Columbus Road to help make sure that they're

616
00:52:29,790 --> 00:52:33,850
using all the resources available to have a thoughtful plan in place.

617
00:52:35,030 --> 00:52:41,130
And the Conestoga has just a very small start to opening a door to be able to support opportunities

618
00:52:41,130 --> 00:52:45,270
for people to get into homes, homes that aren't available right now.

619
00:52:45,750 --> 00:52:48,530
And so I'm happy to reach out.

620
00:52:48,730 --> 00:52:49,630
Anyone can reach out to me.

621
00:52:49,790 --> 00:52:53,750
I'm easy to find my contact information, but if you need more information, there

622
00:52:53,750 --> 00:52:58,250
There are details about this plan that really show that it's thought out and well intended

623
00:52:58,250 --> 00:53:03,150
and if there are issues, we will be working together to address those as this pilot project

624
00:53:03,150 --> 00:53:03,470
starts.

625
00:53:03,890 --> 00:53:04,850
So, thank you very much.

626
00:53:13,660 --> 00:53:18,620
55 minutes into a public hearing and I just want to make sure everybody that would like

627
00:53:18,620 --> 00:53:20,380
to speak has the opportunity to do so.

628
00:53:24,190 --> 00:53:24,650
Hello.

629
00:53:24,970 --> 00:53:25,770
Ginger Schmalenberg.

630
00:53:26,510 --> 00:53:28,450
I work at Southern North Congress Street.

631
00:53:28,450 --> 00:53:32,570
I live up for 1-1-1 Williams Road, Shade, Ohio.

632
00:53:36,590 --> 00:53:44,310
I am not one to do a tit for tat of every misinformation that people are calling facts

633
00:53:44,310 --> 00:53:45,530
to refute that.

634
00:53:46,010 --> 00:53:52,370
I've been able to, on my own, give information to those people that need to.

635
00:53:52,930 --> 00:53:57,930
But I do want to say as I'm listening to everyone, I've listened for a while, which

636
00:53:57,930 --> 00:54:00,490
which is why I did not want to speak until I've listened to everyone.

637
00:54:01,870 --> 00:54:06,450
We have never said, something that Erin said, it has never been said that the connoisseurs

638
00:54:06,450 --> 00:54:11,110
took a hutzure for individuals because they have a mental illness and it's better for

639
00:54:11,110 --> 00:54:11,310
them.

640
00:54:11,810 --> 00:54:13,230
That was very confusing to me.

641
00:54:14,810 --> 00:54:21,930
And also, I think there's also some confusion with everyone's talking a lot about addicts

642
00:54:21,930 --> 00:54:23,390
and all these different things.

643
00:54:23,390 --> 00:54:27,910
And yes, indeed, we do serve individuals that do have lived experience of the mental

644
00:54:27,910 --> 00:54:33,690
health or co-occurring substance use disorder, but that's 25 percent of our population.

645
00:54:34,430 --> 00:54:40,490
And so you have to understand that these condensate huts are for individuals that are

646
00:54:40,490 --> 00:54:41,650
unhoused in general.

647
00:54:42,190 --> 00:54:47,690
I certainly, my plan, I did not want to say this out loud, but I'm playing vulnerable

648
00:54:47,690 --> 00:54:53,750
vulnerable women that we serve in these huts, everyone, you know, because that's what seems

649
00:54:53,750 --> 00:54:54,550
to be the most need.

650
00:54:54,650 --> 00:54:56,010
I'm not saying it will always be women.

651
00:54:57,250 --> 00:55:01,550
And I do want to respond to our next-door neighbors at 15 North Congress.

652
00:55:01,670 --> 00:55:07,410
I did not want to bring this out in the open, ladies, but before we ever started having

653
00:55:07,410 --> 00:55:14,570
meetings like before September 8, that first weekend that they moved in not knowing

654
00:55:14,570 --> 00:55:15,250
about anything.

655
00:55:15,710 --> 00:55:17,450
I have one video and I have it here.

656
00:55:18,410 --> 00:55:22,990
We caught one of them coming over, breaking our chain on the porch.

657
00:55:23,110 --> 00:55:26,470
They were obviously under the influence, stole a chair.

658
00:55:27,270 --> 00:55:29,070
They ended up throwing it back into our side yard.

659
00:55:29,830 --> 00:55:33,670
And so, and we were actually more concerned because they hobbled.

660
00:55:33,750 --> 00:55:37,090
It almost looked like they would fall onto Congress Street.

661
00:55:38,010 --> 00:55:42,290
So, and then my program manager a couple of days later recognized the individual,

662
00:55:42,510 --> 00:55:43,570
went over and talked to them.

663
00:55:44,230 --> 00:55:50,310
They were very polite to her and she just mentioned of how we do monitor, we do see things.

664
00:55:51,750 --> 00:55:52,630
No apologies.

665
00:55:52,970 --> 00:55:55,630
No one's offered to replace that $60 chain.

666
00:55:57,110 --> 00:56:01,830
And I'm not going to, you know, I do have this, but, you know, I did not turn it into

667
00:56:01,830 --> 00:56:02,230
the police.

668
00:56:02,830 --> 00:56:06,530
I did not turn it into judiciary because I believe in second chances.

669
00:56:06,530 --> 00:56:12,370
I believe that individuals should, you know, have an opportunity to learn from their mistakes.

670
00:56:13,770 --> 00:56:18,410
But I just think like who are we afraid of when that happens, it's like the gathering

671
00:56:18,410 --> 00:56:23,870
place, we do have 15 cameras, anyone in the past few years since we've had cameras that

672
00:56:23,870 --> 00:56:30,890
have come onto our campus and done anything to do with drugs or drinking, they have been

673
00:56:30,890 --> 00:56:31,650
young people.

674
00:56:31,910 --> 00:56:33,890
It has not been the individuals that we serve.

675
00:56:34,490 --> 00:56:42,450
So, I think that's something really important and I think everyone, our community, set it

676
00:56:42,450 --> 00:56:42,910
for us.

677
00:56:43,390 --> 00:56:46,970
I am not one to go into running an unsound program.

678
00:56:47,550 --> 00:56:49,490
I really want safety for our neighborhood.

679
00:56:50,230 --> 00:56:55,910
I want safety for the individuals that I serve and I know we can do a salt program.

680
00:56:56,110 --> 00:56:56,910
We have a record.

681
00:56:57,130 --> 00:56:57,530
We have a reputation.

682
00:56:58,170 --> 00:56:58,790
Thank you.

683
00:56:58,790 --> 00:56:59,470
Anyone

684
00:57:08,820 --> 00:57:10,660
else like to speak during this public hearing?

685
00:57:10,760 --> 00:57:11,360
Yes, thank you.

686
00:57:13,880 --> 00:57:17,300
Hi, my name is Nora Reynolds and I live at 14 North High.

687
00:57:18,060 --> 00:57:20,740
And as people said, I just have some concerns.

688
00:57:21,540 --> 00:57:24,920
And like everyone has said, I'm 21 years old.

689
00:57:25,140 --> 00:57:26,700
I live alone with my six of the roommates.

690
00:57:26,940 --> 00:57:27,360
We're all girls.

691
00:57:28,200 --> 00:57:30,220
And like our landlord had sent out,

692
00:57:30,420 --> 00:57:32,560
every girl he had sent an email telling us

693
00:57:32,560 --> 00:57:35,480
come to this meeting, 100 girls live on our street,

694
00:57:35,580 --> 00:57:36,500
live in the street behind us.

695
00:57:37,160 --> 00:57:39,500
And my parents have a lot of concerns for this.

696
00:57:39,500 --> 00:57:42,420
I mean, I pay a lot of money to rent our house, I want to feel safe.

697
00:57:43,120 --> 00:57:47,440
And I have sympathy for people who are struggling with addiction and need police to go.

698
00:57:48,120 --> 00:57:52,620
But I just have some questions about, like, if something happens, who is held accountable

699
00:57:52,620 --> 00:57:53,040
for that?

700
00:57:53,300 --> 00:57:54,640
Who is paying for the security?

701
00:57:54,760 --> 00:57:55,740
Is there security all the time?

702
00:57:56,500 --> 00:57:59,500
What if something happens or if they're going to be police on standby?

703
00:57:59,760 --> 00:58:01,460
Are people going to come and help if something goes wrong?

704
00:58:01,780 --> 00:58:05,240
Are they just going to blow it off because those people are struggling with addiction

705
00:58:05,240 --> 00:58:07,880
so they're going to blame it on that and not an actual issue that's happening?

706
00:58:08,900 --> 00:58:10,540
And, like, are there going to be cameras?

707
00:58:11,060 --> 00:58:13,580
How much are those people getting paid to sit there?

708
00:58:13,740 --> 00:58:17,220
Like, if there are security, are they just going to, like, not pay attention and just

709
00:58:17,220 --> 00:58:19,960
not do their job because they're being paid, like, less money?

710
00:58:20,680 --> 00:58:22,360
And other curfews, check-ins?

711
00:58:23,300 --> 00:58:27,980
There's just a lot of concerns we have, and I know people say that college students

712
00:58:27,980 --> 00:58:32,180
are more of an issue than homeless people, but as a young girl, I still have concerns

713
00:58:32,180 --> 00:58:32,660
with people.

714
00:58:32,800 --> 00:58:35,260
I mean, I walk home alone at night all the time.

715
00:58:35,360 --> 00:58:35,900
I work at a bar.

716
00:58:35,900 --> 00:58:39,660
I'm walking home alone at night all the time. I get scared walking home alone

717
00:58:39,660 --> 00:58:43,880
I walk right next to that parking lot and at 3 a.m. When I'm walking home alone

718
00:58:43,880 --> 00:58:49,000
I would be scared if I look over and there's people I didn't know I don't know what they have

719
00:58:49,000 --> 00:58:55,620
Going on in their life if they're still struggling if they're still addicted. I just don't want something to happen and

720
00:58:56,240 --> 00:58:58,100
There's not some sort of

721
00:59:00,180 --> 00:59:05,680
Some some way to like people not someone

722
00:59:08,360 --> 00:59:12,460
like there won't be someone like held accountable like someone will do something

723
00:59:12,460 --> 00:59:15,200
sorry thank you hi

724
00:59:23,900 --> 00:59:27,420
my name is Andy vote I live out in the county however I own a

725
00:59:27,420 --> 00:59:32,660
business in town I just have a couple first things first I wanted to say our

726
00:59:32,660 --> 00:59:37,860
community is better with the gathering place what they do and what we've heard

727
00:59:37,860 --> 00:59:41,960
that they've done is definitely a valuable asset to our community nobody

728
00:59:41,960 --> 00:59:50,560
doubt set. Is the idea of having three covered wagons in a parking lot cure for what the

729
00:59:50,560 --> 00:59:59,300
problem is? Maybe in time, maybe a little bit, but good works is not at capacity. It is not.

730
01:00:00,000 --> 01:00:06,700
Woodworks is run by two of the most ethical people in our whole county, Darlene and Keith

731
01:00:06,700 --> 01:00:14,260
Wasserman. Secondly, we have a large project being opened up on Columbus Road where I think

732
01:00:14,260 --> 01:00:22,040
we've got 80 bedrooms coming into service. Why is it so necessary that we have three

733
01:00:22,040 --> 01:00:31,560
more huts put into this place. Another thing our law director has basically said this is

734
01:00:31,560 --> 01:00:37,960
not a good idea and it has been blown off as just her opinion. I don't know about you

735
01:00:37,960 --> 01:00:41,340
but I've hired an attorney in the past and not followed those things and I've paid the

736
01:00:41,340 --> 01:00:46,830
price. It's just not a good idea. Now again I do want to reiterate that the folks at

737
01:00:46,830 --> 01:00:52,330
gathering place are offering a valuable service to our community.

738
01:00:52,930 --> 01:00:57,330
On February 9th of 2026, I will celebrate 20 years of sobriety.

739
01:00:57,950 --> 01:01:05,870
So I know what it's like to take responsibility for your actions.

740
01:01:06,090 --> 01:01:10,450
I know what it's like to sacrifice what you want to do for what is the best thing to

741
01:01:10,450 --> 01:01:10,610
do.

742
01:01:11,250 --> 01:01:15,910
And I'm asking you guys the same thing here, is three bedrooms and cover wagons

743
01:01:15,910 --> 01:01:19,090
It's really going to make the difference that we need when we know we've got 80 bedrooms

744
01:01:19,090 --> 01:01:24,550
coming up and when we have a known homeless shelter that is not at capacity.

745
01:01:25,750 --> 01:01:27,990
Secondly, I want to thank you women for coming here today.

746
01:01:28,330 --> 01:01:30,050
It took a lot of strength to get up here and talk.

747
01:01:30,770 --> 01:01:32,370
And I'm proud of each and every one of you.

748
01:01:32,530 --> 01:01:33,610
It's not easy.

749
01:01:34,230 --> 01:01:34,910
It's not easy.

750
01:01:36,110 --> 01:01:39,410
And I want to also thank you guys for your time for this opportunity to speak.

751
01:01:39,590 --> 01:01:40,570
So thank you very much.

752
01:01:41,170 --> 01:01:41,890
Appreciate it.

753
01:01:49,370 --> 01:01:49,610
Hello.

754
01:01:49,930 --> 01:01:50,790
Some of you I know.

755
01:01:50,790 --> 01:01:50,830
Hello.

756
01:01:51,350 --> 01:01:55,170
My name is Kristen Walts and I'm a licensed independent social worker.

757
01:01:55,710 --> 01:01:56,810
I work in the city of Athens.

758
01:01:58,430 --> 01:02:04,110
I live in the county on Mill Creek Road, sorry, a little nervous, I wasn't prepared.

759
01:02:04,950 --> 01:02:09,370
I will say that the people I serve, which many of them are members of the gathering

760
01:02:09,370 --> 01:02:16,230
place, three bedrooms is three people who aren't living under bridge.

761
01:02:17,230 --> 01:02:21,670
It's three people that you don't cross on the street when you're walking home.

762
01:02:22,950 --> 01:02:24,790
It's three people who have a safe place.

763
01:02:25,730 --> 01:02:27,710
Three people who have services.

764
01:02:29,570 --> 01:02:30,990
They have a case manager.

765
01:02:31,830 --> 01:02:33,090
They might have a therapist.

766
01:02:34,230 --> 01:02:39,410
It's three families who may not live in Athens, but know that the people that they

767
01:02:39,410 --> 01:02:41,250
love are housed for the night.

768
01:02:42,370 --> 01:02:51,290
It's not long-term solution, but it's three beds for three people, and that's important.

769
01:02:52,110 --> 01:02:56,710
We have this great shelter that's going to be opening up that people keep referencing.

770
01:02:57,310 --> 01:02:59,470
That isn't opening up right now.

771
01:03:00,450 --> 01:03:05,630
It's got a lot of work to go, so we have a lot of people who are going to be unhoused.

772
01:03:05,630 --> 01:03:16,090
unhoused. I work with people daily who are unhoused and it's heartbreaking. And the staff

773
01:03:16,090 --> 01:03:21,010
that I supervise come and they're like, why can't we do something? Something has to be

774
01:03:21,010 --> 01:03:25,150
done. There are not enough churches in this county to pay for people to be in a hotel

775
01:03:25,150 --> 01:03:32,290
room who need a place to be. I have people who wear everything that they own on their

776
01:03:32,290 --> 01:03:34,470
back every day.

777
01:03:36,820 --> 01:03:42,180
That's a lot when it's 100 degrees out. It isn't enough when it's

778
01:03:42,180 --> 01:03:42,440
zero.

779
01:03:44,820 --> 01:03:51,280
I worked with survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence for seven

780
01:03:51,280 --> 01:03:57,960
years for the University. Some of you know that. Not once did I work with

781
01:03:57,960 --> 01:04:02,120
somebody who had a perpetrator of that violence who was unhoused.

782
01:04:06,720 --> 01:04:06,720
The vast

783
01:04:10,850 --> 01:04:14,570
I think we need to look at this and realize that we come from a place of privilege.

784
01:04:16,600 --> 01:04:17,400
We're housed.

785
01:04:20,420 --> 01:04:25,280
It's really easy to say, well, just wait until the place on Columbus Road opens up.

786
01:04:27,990 --> 01:04:30,050
Tell those three people who are going to be freezing,

787
01:04:31,330 --> 01:04:37,770
or those three people who have to find their way to the old firehouse.

788
01:04:40,000 --> 01:04:40,560
It's a lot.

789
01:04:42,410 --> 01:04:47,350
I worked there this winter with Eric and Ginger and Autumn.

790
01:04:48,250 --> 01:04:52,690
and it was beautiful, and the people were thankful, and the community members that came

791
01:04:52,690 --> 01:04:59,350
in and set up beds and brought food were thankful to have the opportunity to help. Thank you.

792
01:05:00,050 --> 01:05:00,370
Thank you.

793
01:05:11,250 --> 01:05:14,150
Anyone additional who would like to speak? Yes, please.

794
01:05:22,250 --> 01:05:28,110
My name is Sam Redfern. I've been a lifelong Athens, Ohio resident. I went to Ohio University.

795
01:05:28,430 --> 01:05:34,430
I work here. I live here. And, you know, I'm really excited about this Columbus Road

796
01:05:34,430 --> 01:05:41,690
development it's not 80 beds it's 41 and it's not built yet. Three people in these huts are

797
01:05:41,690 --> 01:05:47,150
three people off the street, three people who can be safe and warm and have a locked door

798
01:05:47,150 --> 01:05:52,730
between them and the outside and that's three people who won't be on a street corner potentially

799
01:05:53,410 --> 01:05:57,010
just sitting there and making people uncomfortable as they walk.

800
01:05:59,670 --> 01:06:01,650
Housing is a real issue here

801
01:06:01,650 --> 01:06:06,970
in Athens. We walk down the street and we see people. We may try and avoid that. We may

802
01:06:06,970 --> 01:06:12,830
try and ignore that. But they're here. Unhoused people are here. And until there are methods

803
01:06:12,830 --> 01:06:20,050
for people to find housing, and they're going to be unhoused. And we have to create path

804
01:06:20,050 --> 01:06:25,470
lines for them to go from being unhoused to becoming citizens of Athens, Ohio, who

805
01:06:25,470 --> 01:06:29,810
can pay taxes. You know, if you have a place to stay today, you're going to

806
01:06:29,810 --> 01:06:37,310
paying taxes tomorrow? Do we want these people to be business owners, taxpayers in a year

807
01:06:37,310 --> 01:06:43,150
or do we want them to be unhoused in a year? That's the question. I want them to be community

808
01:06:43,150 --> 01:06:49,490
members. I want them to be neighbors. I don't want them to be left out in the cold. Thank

809
01:06:49,490 --> 01:06:49,930
you for listening.

810
01:06:50,430 --> 01:06:50,750
Thank you.

811
01:06:58,520 --> 01:07:03,100
Hi, I'm Michelle Pappy. I live in North Congress Street. Ex-City Council person.

812
01:07:03,100 --> 01:07:05,700
and last time I saw this place is filled

813
01:07:06,200 --> 01:07:10,360
was the last time we had a conversation about homelessness.

814
01:07:11,620 --> 01:07:14,860
The mayor probably remembers that and Ms. Walker.

815
01:07:16,900 --> 01:07:20,580
All I wanna say is takes a lot of broad shoulders

816
01:07:20,580 --> 01:07:25,440
to be a council person and to listen to all the community.

817
01:07:25,960 --> 01:07:28,020
And I'm hoping you have the broad shoulders

818
01:07:28,440 --> 01:07:30,080
to support the Conestoga Huts.

819
01:07:30,520 --> 01:07:31,000
Thank you.

820
01:07:31,500 --> 01:07:32,140
Thank you.

821
01:07:44,860 --> 01:07:45,300
Hi.

822
01:07:45,600 --> 01:07:48,860
My name is Ava Justino and I'm a student here at Ohio University.

823
01:07:50,120 --> 01:07:51,880
This is a very important issue to me.

824
01:07:52,080 --> 01:07:57,020
I'm a sociology, criminology major, so in the past three years I've done a lot of research

825
01:07:57,020 --> 01:08:01,580
projects and things on this issue of homelessness, addiction, mental health issues and such.

826
01:08:02,680 --> 01:08:06,600
I do just want to say I do hold a lot of compassion in my heart for these individuals

827
01:08:06,600 --> 01:08:09,540
who are facing these struggles, especially in the community of Athens.

828
01:08:10,020 --> 01:08:16,360
I was an intern at the CASA program last semester and I saw firsthand really the impacts that

829
01:08:16,360 --> 01:08:18,300
addiction and housing have on these individuals.

830
01:08:18,980 --> 01:08:23,420
But I think that getting to the root cause of this issue instead of putting a band-aid

831
01:08:23,420 --> 01:08:24,880
on it is something that I hold really close.

832
01:08:25,400 --> 01:08:29,900
I live with multiple of these ladies standing right here and walking home alone for me

833
01:08:29,900 --> 01:08:32,960
can be very scary at times and I'm sure a lot of the other women in this room

834
01:08:32,960 --> 01:08:35,240
have felt those same insecurities as well.

835
01:08:35,240 --> 01:08:38,440
As a woman living in this day and age, it can be extremely terrifying.

836
01:08:39,380 --> 01:08:45,260
When you're walking home alone anytime, going anywhere alone is terrifying sometimes.

837
01:08:45,780 --> 01:08:48,560
When you don't know your surroundings, you don't know who you're with.

838
01:08:48,700 --> 01:08:49,560
You don't know who's around.

839
01:08:50,260 --> 01:08:51,880
So I just want to make that point.

840
01:08:52,400 --> 01:08:54,660
I don't want to feel unsafe in this community.

841
01:08:55,060 --> 01:08:58,540
I came to Ohio University because of the safety and how safe I felt here.

842
01:08:58,880 --> 01:09:01,960
And if there are people around that I'm not really sure living right directly in

843
01:09:01,960 --> 01:09:04,420
my backyard, that just might make me feel a little bit unsafe.

844
01:09:04,420 --> 01:09:11,360
So thank you all for listening and I really do want to thank everyone coming here tonight and sharing all your opinions because I think this is a very important issue. Thank you so much.

845
01:09:12,420 --> 01:09:13,040
Thank you.

846
01:09:16,000 --> 01:09:25,140
Hi, I'm Josie. I also live at 15 North High with all these girls and some of them that live behind us directly like we share backyards together.

847
01:09:25,140 --> 01:09:29,660
I just wanted to show that there's power in numbers and that we're all just concerned

848
01:09:29,660 --> 01:09:35,440
about the safety of all of us and I think there's a lot of concern about what we don't know

849
01:09:35,440 --> 01:09:41,320
and a lot of like fear about the unknown, like what would happen if the three rooms or

850
01:09:41,320 --> 01:09:46,420
huts were filled, we're just scared of what might happen.

851
01:09:46,820 --> 01:09:47,780
So yeah, thank you.

852
01:09:48,240 --> 01:09:48,620
Thank you.

853
01:09:55,070 --> 01:09:55,390
I'm sorry.

854
01:09:55,490 --> 01:09:56,610
I'd like to speak again real quick.

855
01:09:56,950 --> 01:09:57,670
So I'm sorry.

856
01:09:57,670 --> 01:10:05,530
We can we only allow once although I will let everybody know that this is coming up for a first reading during our regular council session

857
01:10:06,130 --> 01:10:11,730
So anyone mr. Stauffer has already mentioned this they would like to stay and speak there will be another opportunity at that point

858
01:10:29,450 --> 01:10:32,170
Hi, my name is Brita. I'm not a

859
01:10:32,170 --> 01:10:38,810
Life-long resident of Athens, but I did commit to moving down here and becoming part of the community a little over three years ago

860
01:10:38,810 --> 01:10:40,550
When I went to Hawking College

861
01:10:41,090 --> 01:10:42,130
I'm also nervous.

862
01:10:42,470 --> 01:10:46,370
I live at 23 Elliott Street and intend to stay here for a while.

863
01:10:48,090 --> 01:10:52,990
I'm nervous because I didn't intend to talk, but I was very moved by different things that

864
01:10:52,990 --> 01:10:54,370
people said tonight.

865
01:10:55,250 --> 01:11:01,110
And so some of the things that I've been thinking about are that the comment of like only

866
01:11:01,110 --> 01:11:05,230
three people or like that it's not worth it to help three people.

867
01:11:05,730 --> 01:11:07,170
There's two things about that.

868
01:11:07,170 --> 01:11:10,750
But number one, the situation really is truly that dire.

869
01:11:11,350 --> 01:11:12,210
It is that dire.

870
01:11:12,790 --> 01:11:16,170
People would give anything to like sleep on a bathroom floor.

871
01:11:16,830 --> 01:11:17,950
It is that dire.

872
01:11:18,730 --> 01:11:20,630
Also, it's not just three people.

873
01:11:20,990 --> 01:11:25,030
It's three people for a minute, but then a new crew comes in.

874
01:11:25,250 --> 01:11:29,090
Like people are moved up and on through the system.

875
01:11:29,250 --> 01:11:31,810
This is not permanent housing for three people.

876
01:11:32,150 --> 01:11:33,550
They're not going to live there for a year.

877
01:11:33,550 --> 01:11:38,250
This is a temporary part helping to funnel people back through a system.

878
01:11:39,170 --> 01:11:45,670
I also want to point out that I think law enforcement should be offended by the fears

879
01:11:45,670 --> 01:11:47,370
that these ladies have expressed.

880
01:11:48,110 --> 01:11:53,250
I think that anyone in this room who is invested in the safety of other people, especially

881
01:11:53,250 --> 01:12:00,590
like protecting young women, should be offended that these women feel so unsafe and so

882
01:12:00,590 --> 01:12:01,350
at risk.

883
01:12:02,550 --> 01:12:09,730
I think that protection as a word is really coming out here.

884
01:12:09,990 --> 01:12:15,150
So it's like protection of other community members by letting three people sleep there.

885
01:12:15,350 --> 01:12:17,530
Like there are so many eyes on those huts.

886
01:12:17,670 --> 01:12:19,090
People are watching those huts.

887
01:12:19,190 --> 01:12:20,750
People don't want stuff to happen there.

888
01:12:20,990 --> 01:12:24,010
People don't want like big chaos happening there because they don't want to get kicked

889
01:12:24,010 --> 01:12:24,250
out.

890
01:12:25,470 --> 01:12:26,530
There are eyes.

891
01:12:26,530 --> 01:12:32,230
There are people in this room like when you say that you're scared about people being in those huts

892
01:12:32,230 --> 01:12:37,270
You are telling people in this room that you don't trust them to keep you safe

893
01:12:37,270 --> 01:12:40,610
You are telling people in this room that they are

894
01:12:40,610 --> 01:12:46,490
Not super protective people who are going to like join together and like protect one another

895
01:12:46,490 --> 01:12:51,090
So I think this is a yes and situation in which we have yes

896
01:12:51,690 --> 01:12:54,070
Protect some people add three more huts

897
01:12:55,590 --> 01:13:00,030
when there's like a waiting list of 300 who would probably be willing to live in that

898
01:13:00,030 --> 01:13:01,290
hut, including me.

899
01:13:01,450 --> 01:13:02,310
I am very biased.

900
01:13:02,450 --> 01:13:07,370
I was at one point without stable housing and that has come up a few times in my life.

901
01:13:07,530 --> 01:13:10,430
So I do know from personal experience how dire it is.

902
01:13:10,790 --> 01:13:15,490
And from the emergency warming shelter, how dire it is in this county and with our

903
01:13:15,490 --> 01:13:16,130
community members.

904
01:13:16,410 --> 01:13:22,710
I have seen people lose housing because medical issues miss a paycheck, miss a payment

905
01:13:22,710 --> 01:13:24,190
it spirals down from there.

906
01:13:24,350 --> 01:13:25,450
It is our community members.

907
01:13:25,970 --> 01:13:29,370
So I hope that the people in this room who are scared

908
01:13:30,050 --> 01:13:32,690
do have people that step up and protect them

909
01:13:33,050 --> 01:13:35,650
and that there are systems in place to help them protect.

910
01:13:36,030 --> 01:13:39,970
And as a last note, feelings of unsafety

911
01:13:40,470 --> 01:13:45,530
are not more important than actual safety issues.

912
01:13:46,510 --> 01:13:47,190
Thank you.

913
01:13:47,770 --> 01:13:48,250
Thank you.

914
01:14:01,640 --> 01:14:03,680
Okay, I think we're nearing our last call

915
01:14:03,680 --> 01:14:10,440
all for anyone in the hallway or in the room who would like to address council on this issue

916
01:14:11,180 --> 01:14:12,680
during this public hearing.

917
01:14:18,330 --> 01:14:21,590
I really appreciate the community coming out. It's very important

918
01:14:21,590 --> 01:14:27,630
that we hear all voices and I want to thank you all. I will note that this will be the

919
01:14:27,630 --> 01:14:31,990
end of the public hearing and we're going to take five minutes to allow anybody who

920
01:14:31,990 --> 01:14:36,790
is not staying for the regular council meeting to leave the room and work their way out

921
01:14:36,790 --> 01:14:45,910
safely and so we will begin our City Council meeting at 8.22. Thank you. Call the end of the public hearing.

922
01:22:22,740 --> 01:22:27,040
Okay, thank you very much. We are now going to start our regular session of city council.

923
01:22:27,320 --> 01:22:33,560
It's Monday, August, excuse me, October 20th, 25, and we are in regular session tonight.

924
01:22:34,580 --> 01:22:39,060
Excuse me, may I have the attention? Thank you. I'd like to start that by acknowledging

925
01:22:39,060 --> 01:22:42,200
that here in Athens County we live and work on land initially settled and developed

926
01:22:42,200 --> 01:22:46,280
by earlier people, particularly the Shawnee and the Osage, and those identified through

927
01:22:46,280 --> 01:22:50,480
cultures commonly known as the Edina, Hopewell, and Fort Ancient. This acknowledgment

928
01:22:50,480 --> 01:22:54,520
that reminds us of the importance of honoring history people in the planet as we work to

929
01:22:54,520 --> 01:23:00,960
improve our city's legacy. I want to thank Member McCary for speaking about this statement,

930
01:23:01,420 --> 01:23:07,960
particularly right around Indigenous Peoples Day. Our first order of business is to establish

931
01:23:07,960 --> 01:23:13,300
quorum. We have all members of council here with us tonight, which is wonderful.

932
01:23:15,040 --> 01:23:23,180
And so we have quorum. And then the next item is a disposition of minutes. May I have a

933
01:23:23,180 --> 01:23:28,500
motion to accept the regular session of council minutes held October 6, 2025, please?

934
01:23:29,560 --> 01:23:30,120
Seconded.

935
01:23:30,620 --> 01:23:34,360
I have a motion and a second. Any comments or questions about these minutes? All those

936
01:23:34,360 --> 01:23:35,720
in favor signify by saying aye.

937
01:23:36,000 --> 01:23:36,220
Aye.

938
01:23:36,440 --> 01:23:42,240
Opposed nay. The regular session of council minutes held October 6, 2025 are approved.

939
01:23:42,960 --> 01:23:49,400
We now have communications and I want to start by letting the public know both here in the

940
01:23:49,400 --> 01:23:55,980
room as well as online that we received a lot of communications particularly about the

941
01:23:55,980 --> 01:24:01,940
issue of the public hearing that we just experienced and we will be having a first reading as

942
01:24:01,940 --> 01:24:05,260
I mentioned of this ordinance this evening.

943
01:24:05,260 --> 01:24:18,180
There is some question as to whether city council will read publicly into the record every communication that it receives.

944
01:24:18,960 --> 01:24:21,920
This is not a requirement by the High Revised Code.

945
01:24:22,060 --> 01:24:29,420
It is not a requirement in council rules for us to read into the record any communication that we receive.

946
01:24:29,420 --> 01:24:35,920
You might imagine, and I'm afraid I have to share that we don't always receive letters

947
01:24:35,920 --> 01:24:37,140
that I would read publicly.

948
01:24:38,020 --> 01:24:44,260
They often, they sometimes contain language or derogatory comments or name calling, and

949
01:24:44,260 --> 01:24:46,840
it would not be appropriate to read that into the record.

950
01:24:47,420 --> 01:24:50,800
And sometimes we receive communications that are very, very lengthy.

951
01:24:51,340 --> 01:24:55,960
And if we were to spend the time to read all of these into the record, we wouldn't

952
01:24:55,960 --> 01:24:57,060
be able to do our normal business.

953
01:24:57,060 --> 01:25:04,900
So what I have told council members is that if they have individual communications, they

954
01:25:04,900 --> 01:25:11,020
will each have the ability to share any communications to read into the record.

955
01:25:11,280 --> 01:25:12,620
Then they are welcome to do so.

956
01:25:13,240 --> 01:25:17,860
They might choose to read an entire communication into the record.

957
01:25:18,220 --> 01:25:21,580
They might choose to read a portion of a communication into the record.

958
01:25:21,580 --> 01:25:27,160
And they might also just choose to say, I received this many emails that were generally

959
01:25:27,940 --> 01:25:32,880
saying this, and this many that were generally saying that, so the public has a sense of some

960
01:25:32,880 --> 01:25:34,020
of these communications.

961
01:25:35,040 --> 01:25:42,380
On that note, I am going to note that on a completely different issue, I received a

962
01:25:42,380 --> 01:25:47,960
communication from a citizen who is not able to be here tonight.

963
01:25:47,960 --> 01:25:56,120
And so he, in particular, asked me to communicate this to the public and really to our cities,

964
01:25:56,520 --> 01:25:57,100
to our city.

965
01:25:57,240 --> 01:26:04,740
And this is from Cody Sigmund, and he wrote that he believes it's fair for the citizens

966
01:26:04,740 --> 01:26:12,000
of Athens to receive, and I quote, thoughtful, planful, road construction timing that supports

967
01:26:12,000 --> 01:26:16,820
businesses and citizens rather than actively making things harder for them.

968
01:26:16,820 --> 01:26:24,280
And two, proactive communication about in-progress road construction and its impacts, as well

969
01:26:24,280 --> 01:26:28,040
as how they can access businesses impacted by the construction.

970
01:26:28,940 --> 01:26:35,460
And I just note that Mr. Sigmund was concerned about numerous transportation and communications

971
01:26:35,460 --> 01:26:38,700
issues, not just with the City of Athens, but with the Ohio Department of Transportation

972
01:26:39,520 --> 01:26:43,500
with projects outside of the city limits and in the region in general.

973
01:26:43,500 --> 01:26:51,180
So that sort of ask from him really goes out to many entities in the area.

974
01:26:54,060 --> 01:26:57,940
Do other council members have any communications that they would like to share this evening?

975
01:26:58,920 --> 01:26:59,480
Admiral McCary.

976
01:27:00,160 --> 01:27:01,320
Thank you, President Crowell.

977
01:27:01,680 --> 01:27:07,580
I am going to read one or at least a portion of one from Stephanie Hunter, a member of

978
01:27:07,580 --> 01:27:11,880
the pedestrian accessibility and bicycle task force that the city has.

979
01:27:11,880 --> 01:27:18,160
And I believe it's sufficient to say that this was a result of a motion and a discussion

980
01:27:18,160 --> 01:27:23,400
and a vote by members of that task force to request assistance from the administration

981
01:27:23,400 --> 01:27:28,160
for improved pedestrian safety regulations for Halloween.

982
01:27:28,720 --> 01:27:32,760
And we may have some individuals here who end up speaking further to that, but I know

983
01:27:32,760 --> 01:27:35,780
our administration is aware of that and will be in touch.

984
01:27:36,040 --> 01:27:36,420
Thank you.

985
01:27:36,420 --> 01:27:37,820
Thank you, Mr. McCary.

986
01:27:38,680 --> 01:27:40,980
Other members of council, any communications?

987
01:27:44,240 --> 01:27:49,480
Seeing none, we now turn to reports and communications from other elected officials.

988
01:27:50,800 --> 01:27:53,080
Mayor, anything to communicate this evening?

989
01:27:53,700 --> 01:27:54,720
A couple of things.

990
01:27:55,600 --> 01:28:02,060
I think everyone is well aware that as usual, when I say usual it wasn't necessarily the case in the past,

991
01:28:02,500 --> 01:28:05,100
but neighborhood trick-or-treating is coming up.

992
01:28:05,100 --> 01:28:10,740
it will be October 31st again this year, which is Halloween, which is when it should take place.

993
01:28:11,340 --> 01:28:18,840
I will also mention that with the trick-or-treating, the city has put out numerous guidelines for how

994
01:28:18,840 --> 01:28:22,520
to make it safe and effective and whatnot. We have the Near East neighborhood, we have the

995
01:28:22,520 --> 01:28:25,360
Far East neighborhood, we have the South Side neighborhood, with the West Side neighborhood.

996
01:28:25,920 --> 01:28:29,540
We have a lot of trick-or-treating that's taking place all over the place. I would encourage

997
01:28:30,120 --> 01:28:35,060
parents with individuals under the age of 12 that need to be accompanied to make

998
01:28:35,060 --> 01:28:38,740
sure that when individuals are trick-or-treating and transitioning from

999
01:28:38,740 --> 01:28:41,900
one side of the street to the other to help make sure that they get across

1000
01:28:41,900 --> 01:28:48,780
safely, it takes a village to protect everyone. So encouraging everyone to do

1001
01:28:48,780 --> 01:28:56,100
that. On the point of announcements when it comes to the street closures and

1002
01:28:56,100 --> 01:29:02,320
what not it is timely so therefore I will mention that on October 24th between

1003
01:29:02,320 --> 01:29:10,880
the hours of 2 a.m. to 9 a.m. the Simpson Avenue bridge will be completely

1004
01:29:10,880 --> 01:29:16,500
shut down for that period of time to pour the second half of the concrete

1005
01:29:16,500 --> 01:29:21,600
decking which is great because once that's done and it's cured and the

1006
01:29:21,600 --> 01:29:25,060
crash rails go up that's concrete as well so that's work that has to take

1007
01:29:25,060 --> 01:29:33,620
place further on that street that we're looking at hopefully putting this project to bed you know

1008
01:29:33,620 --> 01:29:38,640
in the not too distant future and by that I mean this year that we will have Stimson Avenue bridge

1009
01:29:38,640 --> 01:29:45,720
back open again but to pour that decking the entire bridge does need to be shut down from

1010
01:29:45,720 --> 01:29:54,660
2 a.m to 9 a.m on the 24th of October so please plan accordingly in terms of being able to

1011
01:29:55,720 --> 01:29:59,920
come down the Stimson Avenue corridor if that's what you do take an alternative route take the rich

1012
01:30:03,380 --> 01:30:11,740
We all know how the city works and it's manageable, but again, since you brought up the issue of challenges

1013
01:30:11,740 --> 01:30:16,220
at times of getting the information out, one of the big challenges that I acknowledge first

1014
01:30:16,220 --> 01:30:22,300
and foremost is that it's difficult for any municipality to hit all the different ways

1015
01:30:22,300 --> 01:30:27,660
in which people consume their information. I would be remiss not to sit there and say,

1016
01:30:27,660 --> 01:30:31,020
We have two great products in the city of Athens you can use number one

1017
01:30:31,020 --> 01:30:37,160
You can use the Athens, Ohio CitySource app and get information that is provided to the city

1018
01:30:37,160 --> 01:30:41,220
But also alerts the website is another one, but the third one is Nixle

1019
01:30:41,220 --> 01:30:47,820
Nixle is a product that again is is easy to find easy to download. It's free as is the

1020
01:30:48,700 --> 01:30:49,180
the

1021
01:30:50,180 --> 01:30:52,060
Athens, Ohio CitySource app

1022
01:30:52,060 --> 01:30:55,500
That is free as well. You can find that at Google Play or

1023
01:30:55,500 --> 01:31:04,120
or the Apple App Store, and then the Nixle you can get at blanking on what the number is,

1024
01:31:04,200 --> 01:31:07,800
but we'll get it out. And for anyone who ever pays attention to my weekly update with the

1025
01:31:07,800 --> 01:31:14,140
Mayor and Kyle Johansson, who's my favorite weather reporter in the city of Athens, we

1026
01:31:14,140 --> 01:31:19,240
talk about those two products all the time. Those are ways in which you can keep yourself

1027
01:31:19,240 --> 01:31:26,040
self-informed as to what's happening when we're talking about street maintenance, road

1028
01:31:26,040 --> 01:31:28,640
closures, if they're necessary, and things of that type.

1029
01:31:29,700 --> 01:31:31,040
Thank you, President Cropel.

1030
01:31:31,420 --> 01:31:31,900
Thank you.

1031
01:31:32,420 --> 01:31:34,280
Mr. Townley, anything from the law director's office?

1032
01:31:34,580 --> 01:31:35,840
Nothing from the law director's office.

1033
01:31:36,120 --> 01:31:36,980
Thank you for being here.

1034
01:31:37,980 --> 01:31:38,540
Okay.

1035
01:31:38,780 --> 01:31:41,760
We will now move on to ordinances for third reading.

1036
01:31:43,240 --> 01:31:48,540
Ordinance 85-25 is an ordinance amending certain sections of the Athens City Code

1037
01:31:48,540 --> 01:31:57,580
Title IX, General Regulations, Chapter 9.12, Streets and Sidewalks, Section 9.12.18, Materials

1038
01:31:57,580 --> 01:32:00,920
on Street or Sidewalk, introduced by Council Member Spianus.

1039
01:32:02,620 --> 01:32:03,940
Thank you, President Crowell.

1040
01:32:04,720 --> 01:32:07,120
So this one has been talked about quite a bit.

1041
01:32:07,560 --> 01:32:09,820
This is the third reading, so this is where we make the decision.

1042
01:32:11,860 --> 01:32:17,380
And we've changed wording on this based on new ideas of how to make this easier.

1043
01:32:17,380 --> 01:32:24,540
So, I'm going to read the new sections, that's G, no dumpsters, moving pods or construction

1044
01:32:24,540 --> 01:32:30,060
trailers may be set on sidewalks or public streets without first being permitted by the

1045
01:32:30,060 --> 01:32:32,060
service safety director or their designee.

1046
01:32:32,440 --> 01:32:35,280
The fees for said permits shall be established by separate ordinance.

1047
01:32:35,980 --> 01:32:41,040
And then H, no temporary closure of any street alley or sidewalk may be allowed unless

1048
01:32:41,040 --> 01:32:44,660
permitted by the service safety director or their designee.

1049
01:32:44,660 --> 01:32:50,780
Any temporary closure requests shall include a pedestrian and vehicle maintenance of traffic plan

1050
01:32:50,780 --> 01:32:54,900
and follow the manual on uniform traffic control devices.

1051
01:32:55,680 --> 01:33:00,160
Sidewalks closed for extended periods must be appropriately barricaded and signed.

1052
01:33:00,980 --> 01:33:03,740
Alternate passageways may be required.

1053
01:33:04,320 --> 01:33:08,220
Special event street closures are not regulated by this section.

1054
01:33:08,680 --> 01:33:13,780
The fee for the temporary closure of any street alley or sidewalk per day shall be established by separate ordinance.

1055
01:33:13,780 --> 01:33:19,080
So I move that we pass this ordinance, this proposed ordinance.

1056
01:33:19,420 --> 01:33:19,640
Second.

1057
01:33:20,420 --> 01:33:22,400
We have a motion and a second for approval.

1058
01:33:22,540 --> 01:33:24,780
Are there any comments or questions here?

1059
01:33:29,740 --> 01:33:31,760
You're the only elected official here tonight, I guess.

1060
01:33:32,280 --> 01:33:34,480
Anything to comment or add?

1061
01:33:35,440 --> 01:33:39,160
Okay, audience members, anything to comment on this ordinance?

1062
01:33:41,470 --> 01:33:44,430
Seeing none, all those in favor signify by seeing aye.

1063
01:33:44,630 --> 01:33:44,850
Aye.

1064
01:33:45,050 --> 01:33:45,590
Opposed nay.

1065
01:33:46,170 --> 01:33:48,290
Motion carries and the ordinance is approved.

1066
01:33:51,650 --> 01:33:59,210
Ordinance 96-25 is an ordinance amending the 2025 appropriation ordinance 115-24

1067
01:33:59,210 --> 01:34:03,530
introduced by Councilman McCary. Thank you President Crowell. This is an item

1068
01:34:03,530 --> 01:34:08,430
that we've heard on multiple occasions annually from our partners with the

1069
01:34:08,430 --> 01:34:13,090
Athens County Public Libraries and it is a request. This is legislation

1070
01:34:13,090 --> 01:34:17,030
authorizing support for the Imagination Library project that will

1071
01:34:17,030 --> 01:34:23,930
benefit to children in our city. This would be at a price tag of $10,000 and it's coming

1072
01:34:23,930 --> 01:34:29,210
from our general fund. So I think it's important to recognize that our mayor has offered his

1073
01:34:29,210 --> 01:34:34,250
support for this despite the challenges that our budget faces and that this is an important

1074
01:34:34,250 --> 01:34:43,170
community value with an important impact. And I believe with that I would rest. Do

1075
01:34:43,170 --> 01:34:50,090
We need to hear from others first or okay a motion to adopt 96 dash 25 second. Thank you

1076
01:34:50,090 --> 01:34:53,290
We have a motion the second for approval any comments or questions on this ordinance

1077
01:34:54,610 --> 01:34:57,930
Yes, member would second Micah's motion for rest

1078
01:34:59,330 --> 01:35:03,150
You may any other comments or questions. Yes members like

1079
01:35:04,730 --> 01:35:10,470
Apologize my grand youngest granddaughter just got her most recent book. I left it on the kitchen table

1080
01:35:10,470 --> 01:35:14,550
But thank you for sorting the program and this is obviously one that I think all the members

1081
01:35:14,550 --> 01:35:17,010
of council stand firmly behind as well as the administration.

1082
01:35:18,890 --> 01:35:19,990
Mr. Mayor, anything to add?

1083
01:35:21,990 --> 01:35:24,130
Audience members, anything about this ordinance?

1084
01:35:24,290 --> 01:35:25,170
Please, Mr. Teppy.

1085
01:35:25,270 --> 01:35:25,910
Thanks for being here.

1086
01:35:27,630 --> 01:35:30,910
This time I am speaking as the Director of Athens County Public Library to extend

1087
01:35:30,910 --> 01:35:37,150
my thanks, particularly members Wank for your persistence in making sure that we

1088
01:35:37,570 --> 01:35:38,410
secure this funding.

1089
01:35:38,410 --> 01:35:42,810
this is a great benefit to the Imagination Library in Athens County and I appreciate it.

1090
01:35:43,390 --> 01:35:44,450
Thank you very much.

1091
01:35:47,460 --> 01:35:48,780
Okay, any other audience members?

1092
01:35:49,780 --> 01:35:53,020
Seeing none, all those in favor signify by saying aye.

1093
01:35:53,260 --> 01:35:53,540
Aye.

1094
01:35:53,860 --> 01:35:54,360
Opposed nay.

1095
01:35:54,840 --> 01:35:57,880
Motion carries and the ordinance is approved.

1096
01:35:58,980 --> 01:36:01,560
We now have ordinances for second reading.

1097
01:36:02,040 --> 01:36:06,780
I will read the title and then check to see if there are any comments or questions.

1098
01:36:08,500 --> 01:36:14,100
Ordinance 100-25 is an ordinance authorizing the Service Safety Director to enter into

1099
01:36:14,100 --> 01:36:18,280
a pre-annexation agreement with the Athens County Commissioners, introduced by Council

1100
01:36:18,280 --> 01:36:18,920
Member Swank.

1101
01:36:23,800 --> 01:36:28,640
Ordinance 101-25 is an ordinance authorizing the Service Safety Director to advertise

1102
01:36:28,640 --> 01:36:33,560
and accept bids where necessary and enter into contracts for construction of a new

1103
01:36:33,560 --> 01:36:39,360
water line along Jacob Street from Graham to Stony Brook, Project Number 386, introduced

1104
01:36:39,360 --> 01:36:40,400
introduced by Council Member Thomas.

1105
01:36:45,760 --> 01:36:50,660
Ordinance 103-25 is an ordinance establishing Title 29,

1106
01:36:50,980 --> 01:36:53,680
Housing Regulations, Chapter 29.37,

1107
01:36:54,660 --> 01:36:57,400
Unoccupied and Vacant Property Registration,

1108
01:36:57,620 --> 01:36:59,060
introduced by Council Member Swank.

1109
01:37:00,440 --> 01:37:01,500
Yes, Member Swank?

1110
01:37:03,320 --> 01:37:07,200
This is a wonderful proposal that's being advanced

1111
01:37:07,780 --> 01:37:10,820
from our Assistance Service Safety Director, Andrew Chicky.

1112
01:37:10,820 --> 01:37:16,420
and it's gotten to this point very quickly but in reading through this over

1113
01:37:16,420 --> 01:37:21,640
the weekend there's a section under exemptions that I have a bit of a

1114
01:37:21,640 --> 01:37:30,800
concern about. This is section 29.37.07 exemptions letter C and the way it

1115
01:37:30,800 --> 01:37:35,480
reads it says a property that is for sale enlisted with a licensed state of

1116
01:37:35,480 --> 01:37:39,860
Ohio realtor shall be exempted for a period of 12 months from the start of

1117
01:37:39,860 --> 01:37:45,480
vacancy, provided that the owner submits proof of such listing and for sale status.

1118
01:37:47,060 --> 01:37:52,840
As this is written, it would preclude a sale by owner from getting an exemption.

1119
01:37:54,420 --> 01:37:58,780
Now granted, there are some people that need a realtor to sell property, but there are

1120
01:37:58,780 --> 01:38:00,080
many others who do not.

1121
01:38:01,260 --> 01:38:07,280
And I'm just wondering if we need some wording along the lines of if someone is

1122
01:38:07,280 --> 01:38:10,860
selling it on their own with an approved sales plan.

1123
01:38:11,540 --> 01:38:15,740
A plan that will be approved by, I guess it's the code office

1124
01:38:15,740 --> 01:38:20,020
is excited throughout this, but it kind of forces people

1125
01:38:20,020 --> 01:38:22,080
into a real estate relationship.

1126
01:38:22,620 --> 01:38:26,440
And for every $100,000 of value, that's $6,000 more

1127
01:38:26,440 --> 01:38:28,020
they have to charge for the property

1128
01:38:28,020 --> 01:38:29,320
than they hope to net.

1129
01:38:30,400 --> 01:38:33,780
For example, if you had a $300,000 property

1130
01:38:33,780 --> 01:38:35,780
and you wanted to sell for $300,000,

1131
01:38:35,780 --> 01:38:41,560
If you listed it with a realtor, you'd have to list that for $318,000, which further drives

1132
01:38:41,560 --> 01:38:43,200
up the cost of housing in the city.

1133
01:38:44,240 --> 01:38:49,380
So I'd throw that out for your consideration if it's something that Council feels might

1134
01:38:49,380 --> 01:38:56,060
be in order, then we would need to amend Section C of this.

1135
01:38:58,420 --> 01:39:00,360
Thank you for that comment, Member Swank.

1136
01:39:00,360 --> 01:39:08,600
Like any additional comments on members' points, point about under exemptions, C.

1137
01:39:11,000 --> 01:39:11,560
Yes, members,

1138
01:39:11,720 --> 01:39:11,800
Bill?

1139
01:39:12,100 --> 01:39:13,740
Yeah, I hear your point.

1140
01:39:13,940 --> 01:39:21,140
I think this is one of those things, though, that could be, you know, as I've talked about

1141
01:39:21,140 --> 01:39:29,180
with Deputy Safety Director Chicky, that you could say, well, you know, this is

1142
01:39:29,180 --> 01:39:34,040
an exemption an exception because I want to do it this way instead I don't know

1143
01:39:34,040 --> 01:39:38,920
that we need to change the wording I guess I could ask our representative from

1144
01:39:38,920 --> 01:39:43,240
the law the law director's office if you feel that's necessary law

1145
01:39:46,760 --> 01:39:47,640
director and

1146
01:39:47,640 --> 01:39:50,180
we can get an opinion to council I'm

1147
01:39:55,880 --> 01:39:59,480
sure yeah my concern with that is if we

1148
01:39:59,480 --> 01:40:05,740
do that this will come up for third reading on November the 3rd and if

1149
01:40:05,740 --> 01:40:10,960
If we do amend it, that knocks it back to first reading, which means we wouldn't be

1150
01:40:10,960 --> 01:40:12,300
approving this until December.

1151
01:40:13,580 --> 01:40:16,000
And that's getting real tight to the end of the session.

1152
01:40:16,300 --> 01:40:20,080
And I think the Service Assistant, Service Safety Director, would like to have this in

1153
01:40:20,080 --> 01:40:25,780
place for the 2026, let's say school year, for the 2026 calendar year.

1154
01:40:27,860 --> 01:40:32,620
To your point, Member Spellness, I went through this looking for a place that that

1155
01:40:32,620 --> 01:40:38,440
could be covered and I couldn't find it in terms of general exemptions or I'm

1156
01:40:38,440 --> 01:40:42,940
thinking just for a property is for sale enlisted with the license stated

1157
01:40:43,580 --> 01:40:51,380
state of Ohio realtor or has an approved sales plan shall be exempted

1158
01:40:51,380 --> 01:40:52,460
something that simple.

1159
01:40:58,620 --> 01:41:01,000
I would think adding sub-language like that at the

1160
01:41:01,000 --> 01:41:04,980
end would probably cover just that there's an approved plan or the plan

1161
01:41:04,980 --> 01:41:08,100
has been filed with the Code Office? Yeah.

1162
01:41:14,940 --> 01:41:16,400
I know

1163
01:41:22,160 --> 01:41:25,040
the 3% and what that looks like when

1164
01:41:25,040 --> 01:41:29,580
you have a realtor working with you as opposed to them. That happens a lot in the city about

1165
01:41:29,580 --> 01:41:34,500
them so our individuals will be for sale by owner. So I think it's appropriate to put

1166
01:41:34,500 --> 01:41:38,940
that in there because it would capture all. And if it's a simple amendment like that

1167
01:41:38,940 --> 01:41:43,000
to keep this piece of legislation on track, I support it.

1168
01:41:44,620 --> 01:41:50,420
Remember Thomas, what you said, I think nailed it. Can you give us the verbiage for that?

1169
01:41:51,840 --> 01:41:53,700
I don't mean to put you on the spot, but what you said.

1170
01:41:54,700 --> 01:42:02,960
Yeah, we can, I think just adding to the end that a sale plan must be filed with the Code Office

1171
01:42:03,540 --> 01:42:06,660
to avoid or to be qualified for exemption.

1172
01:42:09,730 --> 01:42:16,870
A property that is for sale enlisted with a licensed state of Ohio realtor or has a

1173
01:42:16,870 --> 01:42:21,790
code office approved sales plan for sale by owner.

1174
01:42:22,630 --> 01:42:35,390
So I would move the section C reads, a property that is for sale enlisted with a licensed

1175
01:42:35,390 --> 01:42:45,010
sales, licensed state of Ohio realtor, or has an approved sale by an approved plan for

1176
01:42:45,010 --> 01:42:51,530
the code office for sale by owner. Be exempted for a period of 12 months for the rest of

1177
01:42:51,530 --> 01:42:51,690
that.

1178
01:42:58,910 --> 01:43:05,030
Changing it is the garbage sale plan defined term.

1179
01:43:07,120 --> 01:43:08,120
I've never heard of that before.

1180
01:43:10,960 --> 01:43:13,640
Retail sales business. Obviously.

1181
01:43:16,280 --> 01:43:21,020
This is my concern is what the code office would recommend in terms of the language

1182
01:43:21,720 --> 01:43:23,240
for this inclusion.

1183
01:43:26,140 --> 01:43:28,160
Maybe I'll ask the city administration again.

1184
01:43:31,140 --> 01:43:32,560
Yes, we would like this

1185
01:43:32,560 --> 01:43:40,880
legislation to be approved on a regular schedule. Is there something timely that would cause

1186
01:43:40,880 --> 01:43:46,160
a problem if this was not January 1st, 2026? I'm wondering just how we should make this

1187
01:43:46,160 --> 01:43:51,720
amendment, whether we should talk to the code office, talk to Mr. Chicky, and find out what

1188
01:43:51,720 --> 01:43:58,520
his intention is, or we should make this amendment here on the CSA, which may have to be amended

1189
01:43:58,520 --> 01:43:58,860
again.

1190
01:43:59,540 --> 01:44:00,020
Member Spelz.

1191
01:44:00,260 --> 01:44:00,480
Okay.

1192
01:44:00,800 --> 01:44:04,620
If we just said a property that is for sale shall

1193
01:44:07,210 --> 01:44:09,310
be exempted for a period of 12 months

1194
01:44:09,310 --> 01:44:14,430
from the start of vacancy, provided that the owner submits proof of listing and

1195
01:44:14,430 --> 01:44:18,750
for sale status. Then they can have to do it either way.

1196
01:44:21,430 --> 01:44:24,190
That's right. That nails it.

1197
01:44:25,490 --> 01:44:30,270
I'm curious as to why Mr. Chicky included a licensed state of Ohio realtor and I'm

1198
01:44:30,270 --> 01:44:34,430
guessing he had a reason for that, but I'm comfortable with this language and

1199
01:44:34,430 --> 01:44:40,430
proposed there. Lately because Director Chicky is pulling this from what

1200
01:44:41,190 --> 01:44:46,290
municipalities doing, and it's probably language that was in there. Tell us more about this.

1201
01:44:46,370 --> 01:44:50,650
I like the language you just put forward. It captures all. You know, if someone is selling

1202
01:44:50,650 --> 01:44:53,290
the house, whether it's through a re-letter or by sale from owner.

1203
01:44:53,510 --> 01:44:56,010
Right. I think if we just do that, we're done.

1204
01:44:56,510 --> 01:44:59,650
So we would, so I would withdraw that original motion.

1205
01:45:00,080 --> 01:45:06,420
And make it read, a property that is for sale shall be exempted for a period of 12 months

1206
01:45:06,420 --> 01:45:11,440
from the start of vacancy, provided that the owner submits proof of such listing and for

1207
01:45:11,440 --> 01:45:16,380
sale status. What we're basically doing is crossing out and listed with the licensed

1208
01:45:16,380 --> 01:45:26,300
state of Ohio realtor. Yes. But that sparks one question, at least for me. If we remove

1209
01:45:26,300 --> 01:45:30,340
the part and I'm totally in favor of deleting the part that says listed with

1210
01:45:30,340 --> 01:45:35,420
a license state of Ohio realtor but then the later wording of such listing

1211
01:45:35,420 --> 01:45:41,640
doesn't make sense so that maybe need a little word spitting. A sale by owner can

1212
01:45:41,640 --> 01:45:48,160
it be listing? Yeah. Yes it's a listing. And even if you're doing for sale by

1213
01:45:48,160 --> 01:45:52,940
owner you probably have it on Facebook or something. There's all

1214
01:45:52,940 --> 01:45:56,360
kinds of options there, but that's part of making it plan.

1215
01:45:56,360 --> 01:46:03,860
OK, we have a motion to amend this ordinance by striking the language that the clerk, I'm

1216
01:46:03,860 --> 01:46:05,460
certain, has recorded.

1217
01:46:06,180 --> 01:46:08,160
Is there a second for that amendment?

1218
01:46:08,440 --> 01:46:08,880
Second.

1219
01:46:09,380 --> 01:46:10,740
We have a motion and a second.

1220
01:46:10,900 --> 01:46:12,760
Any discussion on the amendment on the table?

1221
01:46:15,260 --> 01:46:15,920
Are there any dead?

1222
01:46:16,900 --> 01:46:18,600
Audience, anything to add on this amendment?

1223
01:46:21,590 --> 01:46:23,310
I guess 34 West Washington.

1224
01:46:24,550 --> 01:46:29,710
I'm just wondering what the state of Ohio realtor has to do with it.

1225
01:46:30,010 --> 01:46:33,530
Are there specific extra taxes or funds or fees?

1226
01:46:35,150 --> 01:46:42,830
Maybe that is something where they don't want people from out of people in Florida buying

1227
01:46:42,830 --> 01:46:44,150
up a whole bunch of properties here.

1228
01:46:44,270 --> 01:46:49,490
It has to be listed with the local somebody related to the community because there is

1229
01:46:49,490 --> 01:46:55,490
a lot of instances that I've, you know, heard of where people out of the country, people

1230
01:46:55,490 --> 01:47:00,810
out of the city, people out of the state are buying up lots and lots of property and doing

1231
01:47:00,810 --> 01:47:05,210
developments and things like that without, you know, the community's involvement. So

1232
01:47:05,210 --> 01:47:06,330
maybe that's something that...

1233
01:47:07,830 --> 01:47:09,170
Thank you for that point.

1234
01:47:09,470 --> 01:47:10,290
I wouldn't make any difference.

1235
01:47:10,730 --> 01:47:16,410
Any other comments or questions? All those in favor of amending this ordinance signified

1236
01:47:16,410 --> 01:47:17,150
by saying aye.

1237
01:47:17,350 --> 01:47:17,610
Aye.

1238
01:47:17,610 --> 01:47:22,090
The ordinance has been amended and read for the first time.

1239
01:47:29,320 --> 01:47:37,680
Ordinance 104-25 is an ordinance amending Title 29, Housing Regulations Chapter 29.37, Definitions

1240
01:47:38,200 --> 01:47:39,520
introduced by Council Member Swank.

1241
01:47:45,970 --> 01:47:53,930
Ordinance 105-25 is an ordinance amending App in City Code Title 1, General provisions

1242
01:47:53,930 --> 01:47:56,930
Chapter 1.03, Code Fees Established.

1243
01:47:56,930 --> 01:48:02,310
to include section 29.37.06 introduced by Council Member Swank.

1244
01:48:03,630 --> 01:48:04,090
Member Swank?

1245
01:48:04,990 --> 01:48:10,330
The second thing that I came across was section 29.37.06 fees.

1246
01:48:11,670 --> 01:48:21,630
And what I can't get my head around is why the fees for vacant commercial properties are double what they are for residential properties.

1247
01:48:21,630 --> 01:48:25,930
And as an example, I will use my colleague to my left, Member Wood.

1248
01:48:27,890 --> 01:48:31,170
If his house set vacant, the first year would cost him $300.

1249
01:48:32,210 --> 01:48:36,850
If his record store set empty, it would cost him $600.

1250
01:48:37,870 --> 01:48:39,690
Why double the price for businesses?

1251
01:48:45,220 --> 01:48:45,780
Member Stonis?

1252
01:48:47,790 --> 01:48:55,730
I think this is based on, as the Mayor pointed out, what you see in other communities.

1253
01:48:56,910 --> 01:49:00,730
And I know I ran this by the West Side Community Association.

1254
01:49:00,990 --> 01:49:02,790
They said, oh, I don't think those fees are high enough.

1255
01:49:03,650 --> 01:49:08,690
So I don't see a problem with having residential be lower than commercial.

1256
01:49:09,550 --> 01:49:11,750
I mean, it's a money-making business.

1257
01:49:12,230 --> 01:49:16,590
That's different than you're trying to deal with your own home.

1258
01:49:20,720 --> 01:49:21,100
I'm sorry?

1259
01:49:23,190 --> 01:49:24,170
I didn't promise to give them a say.

1260
01:49:24,390 --> 01:49:24,710
Please.

1261
01:49:25,910 --> 01:49:28,850
Yeah, I would say the same thing as what Membership Illness was saying.

1262
01:49:28,850 --> 01:49:32,530
and also that generally a commercial property it might be larger and it's

1263
01:49:32,530 --> 01:49:39,050
going to have higher rents, maybe just keeping it more tied to to that commercial

1264
01:49:39,050 --> 01:49:44,530
stuff generally goes has higher fees, higher penalties, rent, everything.

1265
01:49:47,010 --> 01:49:51,610
I just can't justify it. I mean I don't know what the

1266
01:49:51,610 --> 01:49:56,890
economic philosophical reasoning for it is and I could use because not

1267
01:49:56,890 --> 01:50:01,050
to use your property, because he's sitting next to me, but the same thing. Your business

1268
01:50:01,050 --> 01:50:07,410
would pay double what your home does. And I just, there's no logic to it in my mind.

1269
01:50:12,170 --> 01:50:12,490
Please.

1270
01:50:13,010 --> 01:50:17,310
I can kind of understand that, but I can also say that looking around town we have commercial

1271
01:50:17,310 --> 01:50:22,330
properties that sit empty for long periods of time, a rent that's just outrageous.

1272
01:50:23,070 --> 01:50:28,670
And it prohibits people from opening a business. You know, we have more people

1273
01:50:28,670 --> 01:50:33,130
People come to town when people think the city is anti-business, landlords are anti-business

1274
01:50:33,130 --> 01:50:33,710
and happens.

1275
01:50:34,130 --> 01:50:38,190
It costs way more money to rent here than a lot of other places in comparison to the

1276
01:50:38,190 --> 01:50:40,450
number of months you have or business available.

1277
01:50:42,150 --> 01:50:46,230
So if there's a way to motivate them to have a reasonable rent that makes sense for

1278
01:50:46,230 --> 01:50:50,130
a business plan versus letting it sit empty just because they own the property and it's

1279
01:50:50,130 --> 01:50:55,090
no loss to them, I think a higher fee is going to motivate them a little bit

1280
01:50:55,090 --> 01:50:55,290
more.

1281
01:50:57,870 --> 01:50:58,430
Member Wood.

1282
01:51:00,010 --> 01:51:06,710
Yeah, I think, to that point, my record store makes more money than my house, luckily.

1283
01:51:07,030 --> 01:51:07,830
Glad to hear that.

1284
01:51:08,710 --> 01:51:09,370
Not much.

1285
01:51:11,070 --> 01:51:14,990
And so, yeah, there's more urgency around it.

1286
01:51:15,150 --> 01:51:19,330
I think the survey brought up the example of the bait shop a couple of times.

1287
01:51:19,430 --> 01:51:20,610
It's been empty forever.

1288
01:51:22,170 --> 01:51:24,330
The community cost is higher.

1289
01:51:24,330 --> 01:51:33,430
and I think that it just makes sense. Also, there's a higher demand for residential property

1290
01:51:33,430 --> 01:51:40,610
than businesses, so there's less of a sort of, if my landlord decided to leave my building

1291
01:51:40,610 --> 01:51:48,710
empty, that would be less harmful to them or less likely than them leaving the apartments

1292
01:51:48,710 --> 01:51:52,690
upstairs empty because there's way more demand for them so people are going to

1293
01:51:52,690 --> 01:51:53,270
fill them anyway.

1294
01:51:56,430 --> 01:52:00,250
I think another point to this is it's not just about the value

1295
01:52:00,250 --> 01:52:04,170
of the property and the taxes or whatever it's also commercial and

1296
01:52:04,170 --> 01:52:09,970
industrial property translates into jobs and we want more jobs as well as for

1297
01:52:09,970 --> 01:52:12,530
you know the business and the residential.

1298
01:52:15,720 --> 01:52:18,740
I guess I would have a question for our

1299
01:52:18,740 --> 01:52:20,320
acting law director this evening.

1300
01:52:22,940 --> 01:52:25,560
Granted, there are two different classes of property.

1301
01:52:25,740 --> 01:52:28,460
One's residential, and one is commercial.

1302
01:52:29,400 --> 01:52:31,540
From your experience, and you may not know the answer to this

1303
01:52:31,540 --> 01:52:33,380
today, but in the eyes of the law,

1304
01:52:33,800 --> 01:52:36,340
and this was brought to me by a couple of business owners,

1305
01:52:36,780 --> 01:52:37,580
full transparency.

1306
01:52:38,400 --> 01:52:41,440
In the eyes of the law, would this

1307
01:52:41,440 --> 01:52:44,820
be a discriminatory practice?

1308
01:52:45,300 --> 01:52:47,280
As long as the government and council

1309
01:52:47,280 --> 01:52:55,280
can provide a rational basis such as what council member Thomas did. You can justify under the

1310
01:52:55,280 --> 01:53:02,020
rational basis test then for instance keeping the businesses open you know promoting those

1311
01:53:02,020 --> 01:53:07,240
and what members illness said I think you could justify it. Okay thank you.

1312
01:53:24,250 --> 01:53:25,150
Any other

1313
01:53:25,150 --> 01:53:30,870
106-25, an ordinance establishing a do not knock registration program through the Northeast

1314
01:53:30,870 --> 01:53:34,210
Ohio Public Energy Council introduced by Council Member Swank.

1315
01:53:38,640 --> 01:53:44,180
Ordinance 107-25 is an ordinance amending Athens City Code Title 11, business regulations

1316
01:53:44,180 --> 01:53:52,920
Chapter 11.04, vending, peddling and soliciting, Section 11.04.17, trespassing of peddlers

1317
01:53:52,920 --> 01:53:55,500
or solicitors introduced by Council Member Swank.

1318
01:53:59,220 --> 01:54:06,720
Ordinance 110-25 is an ordinance establishing a cybersecurity policy for the city of Athens,

1319
01:54:06,900 --> 01:54:08,240
introduced by all members of council.

1320
01:54:12,870 --> 01:54:16,290
Okay, we now move on to ordinances for first reading.

1321
01:54:17,590 --> 01:54:26,170
Ordinance 112-25 is an ordinance amending Athens City Code Title 23 Zoning, Chapter 23.04,

1322
01:54:26,170 --> 01:54:34,130
four permitted uses to allow temporary shelters as a permitted use in an R3 residential zone

1323
01:54:34,130 --> 01:54:39,210
at 1, 5 and 7 North Congress Street, introduced by Council Member Swank.

1324
01:54:40,050 --> 01:54:44,270
You know, bear with me one second, a lot to scroll through here to get to 1-12.

1325
01:54:46,710 --> 01:54:48,450
Cybersecurity policy is pretty long.

1326
01:54:53,990 --> 01:54:54,470
Okay.

1327
01:54:54,950 --> 01:54:59,630
Let me read the meat of this.

1328
01:54:59,630 --> 01:55:06,630
This is A, principal permitted uses, temporary housing, shelters, one, five, and seven, Congress

1329
01:55:07,160 --> 01:55:08,910
should be in North Congress Street.

1330
01:55:09,870 --> 01:55:14,650
Anyway, Congress Street, commonly known as the gathering place and known by Athens Mental

1331
01:55:14,650 --> 01:55:18,150
Health Incorporated, housing structures of a temporary nature that are not affixed

1332
01:55:18,150 --> 01:55:21,950
to the property and that do not contain kitchen or bathroom facilities.

1333
01:55:23,020 --> 01:55:27,070
Biennial review, the use must be formally reviewed and renewed every two years by

1334
01:55:27,070 --> 01:55:32,410
the Service Safety Director, Infrastructure Limitation, no more than three temporary housing

1335
01:55:32,410 --> 01:55:37,430
shelters may be installed per available sink and toilet located within 200 feet of the shelters.

1336
01:55:38,210 --> 01:55:42,530
This approval may be revoked at any time by the Service Safety Director for serious safety

1337
01:55:42,530 --> 01:55:43,950
or sanitation concerns.

1338
01:55:44,690 --> 01:55:49,230
This approval shall cease upon transfer of the property to different ownership.

1339
01:55:51,070 --> 01:55:59,470
Last month, we asked for a legal opinion from the law director about this, in reference

1340
01:55:59,470 --> 01:56:05,030
to this recommendation from the Planning Commission and a subsequent recommendation from the Planning

1341
01:56:05,030 --> 01:56:07,670
Commission and the differences in requirements.

1342
01:56:08,490 --> 01:56:16,070
In reading this, because this is a pilot project, and it has been called a pilot project

1343
01:56:16,070 --> 01:56:20,970
by the director of the gathering place, I would be a little more comfortable if we

1344
01:56:20,970 --> 01:56:25,490
changed the review from every two years to one year.

1345
01:56:25,670 --> 01:56:30,850
This is a pilot, one year, and that would address one of the issues that the law director

1346
01:56:30,850 --> 01:56:37,030
brought up in terms of what might happen if the two approvals, assuming both do get

1347
01:56:37,030 --> 01:56:39,130
approved, had different criteria.

1348
01:56:40,510 --> 01:56:46,950
The two things she brought up is one, this could be considered spot zoning and be taken

1349
01:56:46,950 --> 01:56:52,470
to court or it could be differential treatment and a possible citizen initiative.

1350
01:56:53,070 --> 01:56:57,810
I would like to kind of head that possibility off or those possibilities off and again

1351
01:56:57,810 --> 01:57:03,130
if we approve both of these to make them consistent in their review and be simply

1352
01:57:03,130 --> 01:57:08,930
changing one thing from biennial every two years to one year particularly because

1353
01:57:08,930 --> 01:57:14,470
it's a pilot project. Throw that out for the consideration of members of council.

1354
01:57:19,020 --> 01:57:22,680
Members Billness. Okay, so it's my understanding just before we get a

1355
01:57:22,680 --> 01:57:26,100
conversation further with this. It's my understanding that because the Planning

1356
01:57:26,100 --> 01:57:30,980
Commission already approved the language as is that if we want to make any

1357
01:57:30,980 --> 01:57:36,720
changes we have to have supermajority. Supermajority. Yeah. Right? So six out

1358
01:57:36,720 --> 01:57:40,240
of seven, right? That's correct. Okay, so just so everybody knows that.

1359
01:57:42,360 --> 01:57:42,840
Thank

1360
01:57:42,840 --> 01:57:44,640
Thank you. Any other comments from City Council?

1361
01:57:45,180 --> 01:57:45,560
Member Swank?

1362
01:57:45,680 --> 01:57:46,820
Member Wood?

1363
01:57:48,300 --> 01:57:51,020
It does seem like we should change 7 Congress

1364
01:57:51,020 --> 01:57:53,280
in the two places to 7 North

1365
01:57:53,280 --> 01:57:54,820
Congress as those are

1366
01:57:55,340 --> 01:57:56,140
different places.

1367
01:57:57,360 --> 01:57:58,700
And that seems minor

1368
01:57:58,700 --> 01:57:59,780
enough, but I think it's

1369
01:57:59,780 --> 01:58:00,180
clerical.

1370
01:58:02,480 --> 01:58:04,220
Thank you, Member Wood. Member Swank?

1371
01:58:05,580 --> 01:58:06,980
Just something to add, Member Swank?

1372
01:58:07,600 --> 01:58:08,620
Oh, yes, to that end.

1373
01:58:09,020 --> 01:58:10,740
And one of the reasons that we're doing this tonight

1374
01:58:10,740 --> 01:58:17,900
as opposed to two weeks ago give opportunity for member Reisner to return to his rightful

1375
01:58:17,900 --> 01:58:22,340
seat there almost 12 years now to be a participating member in such a vote.

1376
01:58:22,580 --> 01:58:24,760
I flew back from Bangkok just for this vote.

1377
01:58:27,340 --> 01:58:33,200
So with that said, I would move that we change by annual review to annual review.

1378
01:58:33,920 --> 01:58:39,000
The use must be formally reviewed and renewed every year by the Service Safety Director.

1379
01:58:40,720 --> 01:58:41,780
I'll second it.

1380
01:58:42,420 --> 01:58:51,360
We have a motion and a second to amend this ordinance by changing biennial review to annual review.

1381
01:58:51,840 --> 01:58:55,300
Any additional comments or questions from City Council members on the amendment?

1382
01:58:56,860 --> 01:58:59,800
City Administration, I need to add on the amendment proposed.

1383
01:59:03,750 --> 01:59:10,130
Clerk of Council, is that an administrative change from two to one?

1384
01:59:13,790 --> 01:59:19,570
Thank you, Mayor. Anybody in the public would like to speak to this? Please.

1385
01:59:23,810 --> 01:59:24,670
Mr. Stoffer,

1386
01:59:24,750 --> 01:59:30,210
just so you know, this is about the amendment on the table. So this is about changing from

1387
01:59:31,290 --> 01:59:36,810
two to one year. We'll get to the next point in just a minute. Please stay with us. Thank

1388
01:59:36,810 --> 01:59:42,670
you. On the amendment, anyone? Okay. All those in favor of amending the ordinance

1389
01:59:42,670 --> 01:59:44,550
from biannual to annual.

1390
01:59:44,890 --> 01:59:47,230
Yes, that's a good signify by saying aye.

1391
01:59:47,610 --> 01:59:47,850
Aye.

1392
01:59:48,330 --> 01:59:49,270
All those opposed say nay.

1393
01:59:50,250 --> 01:59:52,610
Remember, Swank, the ordinance has been amended.

1394
01:59:53,950 --> 01:59:56,750
It has been read for the first time,

1395
01:59:57,110 --> 01:59:59,950
and we're now back to...

1396
02:00:00,910 --> 02:00:07,130
City council, none from the mayor. Anything additional? And now to the public. Mr. Stoffer, if you'd like to join us, please.

1397
02:00:08,330 --> 02:00:10,150
I actually wanted to add something.

1398
02:00:10,670 --> 02:00:12,090
Okay, that was why I asked.

1399
02:00:12,330 --> 02:00:13,710
Yes, I guess I did.

1400
02:00:13,810 --> 02:00:14,910
That's okay. Members, please.

1401
02:00:14,950 --> 02:00:15,930
I'm way down here.

1402
02:00:16,230 --> 02:00:16,670
I see you.

1403
02:00:17,230 --> 02:00:25,770
I just wanted to add, in addition to the comments being made earlier about this, I wanted to add that Carrie Pigman,

1404
02:00:25,770 --> 02:00:32,610
Again, the Executive Director of Athens County Foundation again wrote a support letter confirming

1405
02:00:32,610 --> 02:00:40,470
her appreciation and confidence in the gathering place and I'll quote, this project is a thoughtful

1406
02:00:40,470 --> 02:00:43,250
and practical step towards addressing the housing crisis in Athens.

1407
02:00:43,510 --> 02:00:47,910
It will provide safety and dignity for individuals who are already part of our community and

1408
02:00:47,910 --> 02:00:50,270
already served daily at the gathering place.

1409
02:00:50,610 --> 02:00:54,930
The project has been carefully designed with input from local partners and with

1410
02:00:54,930 --> 02:01:02,450
safeguards in place to ensure community confidence. I also wanted to emphasize that there was a

1411
02:01:02,450 --> 02:01:09,890
repeated discussion about safety and I just want to say and pardon me for repeating this again,

1412
02:01:10,050 --> 02:01:15,270
but I was a social work professor at Ohio University. My students volunteered at the

1413
02:01:15,270 --> 02:01:23,650
gathering place for the entire time that I was working at OU for 13 years and many of

1414
02:01:23,650 --> 02:01:31,230
them worked as volunteers, and some went on to work there. Also, both my sons, who are

1415
02:01:31,230 --> 02:01:38,690
now past that age, they volunteered at the gathering place, and one of my sons worked

1416
02:01:38,690 --> 02:01:43,670
there a total of four and a half years. So I got to know the various staff members,

1417
02:01:44,270 --> 02:01:51,910
how things operate, how it functions, and I heard the stories from my son who worked

1418
02:01:51,910 --> 02:01:57,730
there for four and a half years. So I have probably a better understanding than anybody

1419
02:01:57,730 --> 02:02:05,370
on council anyway about the intimate workings of the gathering place and I want to say emphatically

1420
02:02:05,990 --> 02:02:11,230
that all that time, and now it's been 17 years since I've been in the city, I have

1421
02:02:11,230 --> 02:02:18,250
never heard of any volunteer or anybody in my family or when I've been there that

1422
02:02:18,250 --> 02:02:26,870
It has had any violence issues or felt unsafe or assaulted or anything of the kind.

1423
02:02:27,370 --> 02:02:33,590
And I want to emphasize again that people who are unhoused, especially those people

1424
02:02:33,590 --> 02:02:39,950
who have mental illness, are much more likely to be the victim of crime than the perpetrator

1425
02:02:39,950 --> 02:02:40,530
of crime.

1426
02:02:41,030 --> 02:02:46,730
And as someone pointed out earlier, students are probably, women students are probably

1427
02:02:46,730 --> 02:02:52,870
more in danger of the male students in college than the people who are unhoused in our community.

1428
02:02:53,370 --> 02:02:57,810
So I think it's really important that we take some solid steps to help folks.

1429
02:02:58,270 --> 02:03:00,030
So I am very much in favor of this.

1430
02:03:00,250 --> 02:03:00,570
Thank you.

1431
02:03:01,610 --> 02:03:02,810
Thank you, Member Spellness.

1432
02:03:03,090 --> 02:03:10,170
And I'll just say that we received, as I mentioned during the public hearing, numerous communications

1433
02:03:10,170 --> 02:03:15,010
both in support and against this initiative.

1434
02:03:16,410 --> 02:03:21,310
And I personally won't be reading all of these communications into the record.

1435
02:03:22,050 --> 02:03:25,990
They are public documents. Once they are received by City Council,

1436
02:03:26,170 --> 02:03:27,250
they're part of the public record.

1437
02:03:27,770 --> 02:03:32,930
So they are available through Freedom of Information Act

1438
02:03:32,930 --> 02:03:35,410
or anybody who would like to collect that.

1439
02:03:36,590 --> 02:03:39,790
But that is all I have. Anything additional from City Council?

1440
02:03:40,990 --> 02:03:44,770
Okay. Mr. Stauffer, sorry for the delay. Your turn.

1441
02:03:45,330 --> 02:03:47,490
Before I step in for the timer starts,

1442
02:03:52,550 --> 02:03:54,090
I've watched a lot of City Council meetings.

1443
02:03:54,430 --> 02:03:55,950
I've missed a lot of City Council meetings.

1444
02:03:56,390 --> 02:04:06,390
I know, Dan Goodinwell, that I've watched the President of Council read letters to the Council, to the public, to the TV.

1445
02:04:06,390 --> 02:04:13,510
All the folks that I communicated with, I said, send your letters to the clerk of council

1446
02:04:13,510 --> 02:04:17,930
and they will be read into the record because I've seen it happen before.

1447
02:04:18,690 --> 02:04:20,270
It did not happen tonight.

1448
02:04:20,990 --> 02:04:26,310
All the folks that I contacted, they're in my camp who's laying up there.

1449
02:04:26,690 --> 02:04:28,210
They didn't get read into the record.

1450
02:04:28,630 --> 02:04:29,850
I don't think it's fair.

1451
02:04:30,570 --> 02:04:33,230
I want to say that and now I will address the council.

1452
02:04:33,230 --> 02:04:34,050
Jack

1453
02:04:38,780 --> 02:04:40,060
Stoffer Elmwood.

1454
02:04:44,800 --> 02:04:48,840
Please listen with an open heart and mind and consider a

1455
02:04:48,840 --> 02:04:55,760
common-sense decision. This is about Athens, its citizens of all stripes, the

1456
02:04:55,760 --> 02:05:02,560
working folks, the business folks, the OU students, their parents, our children, and

1457
02:05:02,560 --> 02:05:08,860
visitors to our town, including the homeless. No one I've been working with

1458
02:05:08,860 --> 02:05:13,600
or talking with doubts that the gathering place has been providing a

1459
02:05:13,600 --> 02:05:20,420
needed service to some folks who needed guidance. That is not the point of this

1460
02:05:20,420 --> 02:05:26,740
hearing. The point is there needs to be a common-sense approach to your

1461
02:05:26,740 --> 02:05:36,400
consideration and decision for our town. My proposal seems to make sense. Please

1462
02:05:36,400 --> 02:05:39,500
Please listen closely and ponder the possibilities.

1463
02:05:41,220 --> 02:05:43,380
No huts on Congress Street.

1464
02:05:44,060 --> 02:05:51,500
There are many locations in town that could accommodate these three huts only in town

1465
02:05:52,060 --> 02:05:59,800
for one year or until the Sunset Motel opens and then the huts go away.

1466
02:06:00,680 --> 02:06:12,020
Your proposed needs at the gathering place continue to be provided to the unfortunate and we enjoy our downtown area as it now exists.

1467
02:06:13,040 --> 02:06:26,640
I've spoken to the mayor and several council members and I have suggested alternative sites that would be out of public view and give some sense of privacy to the folks in the huts which they may appreciate.

1468
02:06:26,640 --> 02:06:27,420
The

1469
02:06:30,560 --> 02:06:33,540
fairground seems to be a logical possibility.

1470
02:06:34,160 --> 02:06:41,820
I'm sure there are several or many possibilities on city property in green spaces or corners

1471
02:06:41,820 --> 02:06:45,840
of parking lots that could provide privacy for these folks.

1472
02:06:47,100 --> 02:06:54,480
If you choose to insist on Congress Street, then this appears that your intention is

1473
02:06:54,480 --> 02:07:03,700
a political statement or a political stunt. Athens invites other homeless downtown. That's

1474
02:07:03,700 --> 02:07:10,880
what it looks like. We can't solve homelessness in Ohio, but maybe with your thoughtful consideration

1475
02:07:11,060 --> 02:07:18,520
we can help the needy in Athens City and Athens County. Let our sweet little town remain

1476
02:07:18,520 --> 02:07:24,420
our sweet little town. You don't have to put the homeless on display on Congress

1477
02:07:24,420 --> 02:07:31,560
Street unless that is your point and intention. Table this and give it

1478
02:07:31,560 --> 02:07:39,860
further thorough consideration. Please let common sense and reason prevail. I will

1479
02:07:39,860 --> 02:07:48,490
also reiterate the fact of what Mr. Slank made that Ms. Eliason gave you some

1480
02:07:48,490 --> 02:07:55,910
advice and at least one member said, well, that's just an opinion. Most people that hire

1481
02:07:55,910 --> 02:08:01,250
a lawyer follow their advice and when they don't follow their advice, things don't go

1482
02:08:01,250 --> 02:08:06,250
their way and this indeed could be challenged.

1483
02:08:21,590 --> 02:08:29,630
I just want to reiterate the fact and things that were echoed by members of council, like

1484
02:08:29,630 --> 02:08:37,730
councilwoman Spelanus of, you know, it's this proposed site at the gathering place.

1485
02:08:38,210 --> 02:08:39,510
There's cameras everywhere.

1486
02:08:39,510 --> 02:08:49,970
It is a perfect spot for this program because immediate access to services is extremely important.

1487
02:08:50,570 --> 02:08:56,010
Shoving people somewhere, you know, I lived under the roundabout bridge and, you know,

1488
02:08:56,510 --> 02:09:03,390
until they put Porta John's up in the dairy barn, like the Dairy Lane Park, you know,

1489
02:09:03,690 --> 02:09:07,430
it was quite a trek to be able to find any sort of a facility.

1490
02:09:07,430 --> 02:09:13,370
And, you know, access to facilities is very, very important, and access to services is

1491
02:09:13,370 --> 02:09:14,070
very important.

1492
02:09:14,330 --> 02:09:18,670
But also, as far as safety, you know, the place is monitored 24-7.

1493
02:09:19,150 --> 02:09:25,730
I just want to quickly read what I posted on Facebook as a response to some of the

1494
02:09:25,730 --> 02:09:27,570
misinformation that's going around.

1495
02:09:27,990 --> 02:09:31,790
And I can be found on Facebook, you know, I'm not trying to hide.

1496
02:09:32,570 --> 02:09:39,270
As always, if anyone has any questions whatsoever, please reach out to me or better yet, come

1497
02:09:39,270 --> 02:09:44,530
over to the gathering place any time during their operating hours and see for yourself

1498
02:09:44,530 --> 02:09:50,010
what this wonderful and essential part of our community for almost 50 years is all about.

1499
02:09:50,530 --> 02:09:55,630
I volunteered there when I was in high school and I am still playing the same piano there

1500
02:09:55,630 --> 02:09:55,930
today.

1501
02:09:56,350 --> 02:09:57,390
It's in the same spot.

1502
02:09:57,710 --> 02:09:58,250
It's awesome.

1503
02:09:58,250 --> 02:10:05,010
There is no place for the sensationalism, fear mongering and misinformation that is being

1504
02:10:05,010 --> 02:10:10,390
spread about this project, or this amazing organization that has done and continues to

1505
02:10:10,390 --> 02:10:12,870
do so much for the Athens community, period.

1506
02:10:13,390 --> 02:10:13,870
Thank you.

1507
02:10:14,490 --> 02:10:14,890
Thank you.

1508
02:10:20,600 --> 02:10:22,160
Anyone else like to speak to this?

1509
02:10:28,030 --> 02:10:29,870
Aaron Thomas, 28 A-bomb Place.

1510
02:10:30,450 --> 02:10:36,290
So I really only came to listen in on Eric and what's going on and follow the council

1511
02:10:36,290 --> 02:10:41,590
mean all the readings on this for the past few months, reading all the good information and

1512
02:10:41,590 --> 02:10:49,430
misinformation on Facebook and other social pages. And I come here wearing a multiple hats as a

1513
02:10:49,430 --> 02:10:55,330
community member, as a business owner, as a member of the board, as owner of appeals. So

1514
02:10:56,390 --> 02:11:02,630
this opinion is my personal opinion. I, three houses is better than no houses. You know,

1515
02:11:02,630 --> 02:11:09,070
So I'm very disappointed in some of the people that believe addiction is the reason for people

1516
02:11:09,070 --> 02:11:09,630
homelessness.

1517
02:11:10,050 --> 02:11:14,750
I've had family members and friends who have been homeless and not been addicted to drugs.

1518
02:11:14,790 --> 02:11:18,750
So I'm disappointed when people say, you know, that people live in these houses would

1519
02:11:18,750 --> 02:11:20,950
be drug addicts or recovering addicts.

1520
02:11:20,970 --> 02:11:23,010
So that as a community aspect.

1521
02:11:23,450 --> 02:11:29,310
Now on the other side of it, a lot of support has come from this and I love

1522
02:11:29,310 --> 02:11:33,970
to support from the county, but one of these things I feel sometimes people show support

1523
02:11:34,430 --> 02:11:38,450
for things that's not in their backyards, you know, and it's one of these things, oh

1524
02:11:38,450 --> 02:11:40,830
yeah, this is great, long as you don't put it in my backyard.

1525
02:11:41,410 --> 02:11:44,990
So when I hear people speaking outside the county, outside the city, I support that,

1526
02:11:45,070 --> 02:11:49,610
I support the opinion, but you know, put yourself in that situation, can this happen

1527
02:11:49,610 --> 02:11:50,210
in your backyard?

1528
02:11:51,090 --> 02:11:57,110
Which takes me to my final, as a member of the Board of Zoning of Appeals, and

1529
02:11:57,110 --> 02:12:04,330
And I think if this do get passed, the law really needs to be very tight, because before

1530
02:12:04,330 --> 02:12:09,650
I was a member of the Board of Zones Appeals, CIDA-Baptons lost a few hundred thousand dollars

1531
02:12:09,650 --> 02:12:10,610
to a court case.

1532
02:12:11,950 --> 02:12:18,330
As a member of Zones Appeals, we have dealt with the BNV problem at Athens for a decade

1533
02:12:19,010 --> 02:12:23,930
to three, three and a half years ago when City Council finally passed resolution that

1534
02:12:23,930 --> 02:12:31,910
that didn't come to our desk as the BZA on the BNB, which you all can read the statements

1535
02:12:31,910 --> 02:12:38,730
and we still have people coming in about BNBs, which we did have a lawsuit against us last

1536
02:12:38,730 --> 02:12:41,070
year that was dropped over a BNB.

1537
02:12:41,590 --> 02:12:46,350
So this is something looking at all aspect as a community member, as a business owner,

1538
02:12:46,870 --> 02:12:51,350
as somebody, a part of the city, I have volunteered my time for the last 20 years

1539
02:12:51,350 --> 02:12:58,850
to make sure Athens stays a community and my whole thing is that once again I

1540
02:12:58,850 --> 02:13:02,510
respect people's opinions but you know once again could this be in your

1541
02:13:02,510 --> 02:13:06,510
backyard and will you allow this to be in your backyard. I commend the ladies that

1542
02:13:06,510 --> 02:13:12,070
came up and spoke from Congress and Hyde because this is in their backyard. I

1543
02:13:12,070 --> 02:13:15,650
live on a far east side it's not in my backyard but I have been through sales

1544
02:13:15,650 --> 02:13:19,070
parking I have seen the encampments I have rode my bike down the bike path

1545
02:13:19,070 --> 02:13:24,270
homeless you cannot hide it I'm sorry it's here you can't hide it you can't

1546
02:13:24,270 --> 02:13:29,290
help temporary with the three housing what was going on on Columbus road but

1547
02:13:29,290 --> 02:13:34,470
I'm just looking at all aspects and I want you all look at that as as a board

1548
02:13:34,470 --> 02:13:38,830
as a council member from the legal side ends a community side so we don't

1549
02:13:38,830 --> 02:13:42,690
have a repeat of what happened ten years ago for those who've been around

1550
02:13:42,690 --> 02:13:45,310
long enough thank you thank you

1551
02:13:49,820 --> 02:13:52,100
any additional comments from the public

1552
02:13:52,100 --> 02:13:54,260
on this ordinance, please.

1553
02:13:59,470 --> 02:14:00,470
I am a member.

1554
02:14:00,770 --> 02:14:03,510
I do live on North Congress Street, not right next door to them,

1555
02:14:03,810 --> 02:14:08,170
but I've been a North Congress Street resident for 35 years.

1556
02:14:08,610 --> 02:14:13,270
The only time I've had any problems with anybody has been students.

1557
02:14:14,250 --> 02:14:18,590
And even one year, many years ago,

1558
02:14:19,550 --> 02:14:21,730
one of my house guests was here for Halloween.

1559
02:14:22,530 --> 02:14:25,810
She went back to the house just three blocks from downtown.

1560
02:14:26,690 --> 02:14:31,910
and the streets were crowded with people and when I walked by the time I got

1561
02:14:31,910 --> 02:14:36,530
home she was running down the middle of the street. Somebody had

1562
02:14:36,530 --> 02:14:40,110
followed her home stalked her they arranged three exits out of my house

1563
02:14:40,110 --> 02:14:46,010
right up here on North Conga Street and it was a student. I mean fortunately my

1564
02:14:46,010 --> 02:14:50,070
friend she was a tenant and then in the Navy she was able to take care of

1565
02:14:50,070 --> 02:14:53,570
herself and this guy put his tail between his legs and ran down the

1566
02:14:53,570 --> 02:14:55,130
street, but there's 200 people.

1567
02:15:00,000 --> 02:15:06,060
But again, to reiterate, I have never, ever, and I've worked with crisis intervention. I've

1568
02:15:06,060 --> 02:15:12,320
been a survivor advocate. I used to run the crisis, you know, programs at the hot lines

1569
02:15:12,320 --> 02:15:17,060
and things at Fright County Mental Health. I've been a survivor advocate, off and on

1570
02:15:17,060 --> 02:15:22,300
for years. You know, it is not, it is not the homeless people that we have to worry

1571
02:15:22,300 --> 02:15:27,140
about. And that's why I just encourage you all to support this effort. I've worked

1572
02:15:27,140 --> 02:15:31,820
to the gathering place off and on for years, and it's only been good things. And everything

1573
02:15:31,820 --> 02:15:36,520
I've read, they have this set up, and it's not going to be a problem. And it's certainly

1574
02:15:36,520 --> 02:15:40,760
not going to be an eyesore, and there's going to be security. And I just think this is what

1575
02:15:40,760 --> 02:15:42,220
we need. So thank you very much.

1576
02:15:42,880 --> 02:15:43,280
Thank you.

1577
02:15:48,400 --> 02:15:51,560
Any additional comments from the public on this ordinance?

1578
02:15:56,230 --> 02:15:56,810
No, this is the

1579
02:15:56,810 --> 02:16:02,170
first reading, so there'll be second reading and third reading. Come on back.

1580
02:16:05,070 --> 02:16:05,510
Tonight's

1581
02:16:05,510 --> 02:16:07,570
It's happy when I was speaking as a private citizen.

1582
02:16:07,970 --> 02:16:11,410
I wanted to just briefly touch on a couple of the things that were raised earlier.

1583
02:16:13,070 --> 02:16:18,230
The primary reason why the location that has been selected makes sense is because services

1584
02:16:18,230 --> 02:16:19,050
are available there.

1585
02:16:19,770 --> 02:16:22,610
A gentleman earlier suggests the public library parking lot is an option.

1586
02:16:23,050 --> 02:16:27,150
If I was able to pay my staff to be available in the way that the gathering place folks

1587
02:16:27,150 --> 02:16:30,290
are available, sure, but I can't.

1588
02:16:30,290 --> 02:16:33,850
Talking about in my backyard, I'd be more than happy to have the Conestoga Hut

1589
02:16:33,850 --> 02:16:34,430
to my backyard.

1590
02:16:34,430 --> 02:16:37,670
If I was able to provide 24-7 services, I can't.

1591
02:16:38,270 --> 02:16:42,550
Part of the reason for this to be located where it is is the services that are available.

1592
02:16:42,950 --> 02:16:47,670
I would like to see there be more opportunities like this at other places where services are available.

1593
02:16:48,070 --> 02:16:53,670
But this is something that we can act on right now that will make the situation at least a little bit better

1594
02:16:53,670 --> 02:16:57,390
and provide people with a path forward out of the situation they're living in.

1595
02:16:57,590 --> 02:16:57,890
Thank you.

1596
02:16:59,470 --> 02:17:00,090
Thank you.

1597
02:17:13,590 --> 02:17:15,650
I'm just listening to all the different themes.

1598
02:17:15,930 --> 02:17:20,930
And most of the themes I'm really hearing is there's this fear, they're fearful of these

1599
02:17:20,930 --> 02:17:25,390
kinds of houses there, but no one's saying what they're fearful of, what are they fearful

1600
02:17:25,390 --> 02:17:25,650
of?

1601
02:17:25,830 --> 02:17:27,950
Are they afraid that someone's going to jump out and rape them?

1602
02:17:28,230 --> 02:17:32,190
I mean, because you just need to say it, that's the case, because what are you afraid

1603
02:17:32,190 --> 02:17:32,390
of?

1604
02:17:33,630 --> 02:17:39,850
I do know that I am always shocked when I put on the cameras on weekends, like what's going on in the neighborhoods.

1605
02:17:40,530 --> 02:17:47,750
And I know a lot of landlords encouraged their tenants to maybe feel a certain way.

1606
02:17:49,050 --> 02:17:53,710
But I guess what I'm seeing is, so what's been said is, who's supervising them, who's monitoring them?

1607
02:17:54,150 --> 02:17:57,010
So my question is, who is monitoring supervising students?

1608
02:17:57,750 --> 02:18:01,730
Because we're monitoring them, and it is shocking what one might see.

1609
02:18:02,330 --> 02:18:06,710
You know, if we want to talk about drug tests and drinking and crowded and people having open fires,

1610
02:18:07,430 --> 02:18:10,490
that's what you can see on high and on North Congress.

1611
02:18:12,070 --> 02:18:17,670
I'm, you know, I'm more fearful for our property damage, which whenever there's no property damage,

1612
02:18:18,050 --> 02:18:20,950
I want to say they're a student, they're a person that would be a student age.

1613
02:18:21,950 --> 02:18:25,350
So I just think that's something we should all really think about,

1614
02:18:25,350 --> 02:18:30,610
the majority of damage that happens in our town, the urination, throwing up, I know when

1615
02:18:30,610 --> 02:18:35,030
I walked down Court Street early, that's what I'm seeing, I'm seeing a lot of vomit.

1616
02:18:35,710 --> 02:18:42,210
So I just think, we should think about, because we're talking about, is that people are not

1617
02:18:42,210 --> 02:18:46,770
going to be in the gathering place drinking or doing drugs, that people come there to

1618
02:18:46,770 --> 02:18:53,930
be sober. And they've been fixating on addict, addict, addict. And it's like, that's, people

1619
02:18:53,930 --> 02:18:58,330
are in recovery. And that is not the majority of what we serve. And the got-in place started

1620
02:18:58,330 --> 02:19:02,950
50 years ago serving those individuals that were former patients for mental health and

1621
02:19:02,950 --> 02:19:06,730
community members. And that's what we are. We are a community. We are a social community.

1622
02:19:07,350 --> 02:19:13,190
And I just, I just really need help. People can put aside their fears. We've made friends

1623
02:19:13,190 --> 02:19:18,750
with our neighbors, because sometimes our residents at our recovery house, you know, they're seeing

1624
02:19:18,750 --> 02:19:22,790
all this going on. We go and we talk about what we are and then you see the change in

1625
02:19:22,790 --> 02:19:28,090
our students. We have so many students that want to help build now. So I just think that

1626
02:19:28,090 --> 02:19:31,230
everyone should hear that that's also a big side of this. Thanks.

1627
02:19:31,990 --> 02:19:32,550
Thank you.

1628
02:19:38,990 --> 02:19:41,910
Anyone else like to address Council on this ordinance?

1629
02:19:45,040 --> 02:19:46,100
Okay. Thank you very much

1630
02:19:46,100 --> 02:19:58,240
for your comments. Um, we are now moving on to 113. Ordnance 113 dash 25 is an ordinance

1631
02:19:58,240 --> 02:20:03,660
rezoning portions of North Lancaster Street, Second Street, Columbia Avenue and Columbus

1632
02:20:03,660 --> 02:20:12,400
Road from Zones R1 and B2D to Zones R2, B1 and B2. Introduced by council members

1633
02:20:12,400 --> 02:20:16,540
first one. Oh, that was quick. Didn't have to ask for it.

1634
02:20:20,710 --> 02:20:23,630
Commission made up of the mayor,

1635
02:20:24,330 --> 02:20:29,930
the A&M Service Director, Chris and Isley, former President of the City Council, who

1636
02:20:30,570 --> 02:20:34,690
have gotten Allie Lee Wrapped, a realtor here in town, and there's one more person.

1637
02:20:34,790 --> 02:20:39,590
Who am I forgetting, Mr. Mayor? The Chair. John Katowski. That's right, John Katowski,

1638
02:20:39,590 --> 02:20:48,290
former planner for high university. Some discussion about rezoning this area. What is this? This is

1639
02:20:48,970 --> 02:20:54,050
12 Lancaster Street or Lancaster 2nd Street. There's a little antique shop right here on the corner.

1640
02:20:55,230 --> 02:20:58,430
You go on, continue on through. You've got Columbus Road and out of town.

1641
02:20:59,170 --> 02:21:03,270
Rezoning this entire area to make it more walkable, hopefully to encourage businesses

1642
02:21:03,810 --> 02:21:06,990
and it makes some rhyme or reason out of what we have here.

1643
02:21:07,230 --> 02:21:13,830
The Planning Commission's recommendation was to zone all of this as you see it.

1644
02:21:13,890 --> 02:21:15,810
This is a cemetery, that's what OS is.

1645
02:21:16,550 --> 02:21:18,950
The various zones, R2B2B1.

1646
02:21:19,510 --> 02:21:26,140
And on this side, this entire area from the corner returns into Columbia,

1647
02:21:26,480 --> 02:21:28,860
except for those two properties to R2.

1648
02:21:29,640 --> 02:21:32,660
We had several meetings, lots of people turned out.

1649
02:21:32,660 --> 02:21:36,900
We had a meeting last week some residents came and met with me behind this area

1650
02:21:36,900 --> 02:21:42,660
We had discussion we talked to the city planners and what this represents is the to

1651
02:21:45,060 --> 02:21:46,680
the Planning Commission's recommendation

1652
02:21:47,260 --> 02:21:48,660
Do all of this?

1653
02:21:49,520 --> 02:21:55,700
But leave this as it is r1 all these properties and those two would stay as

1654
02:21:57,260 --> 02:21:58,480
The b2

1655
02:22:00,240 --> 02:22:04,740
B1, I'm sorry, B1, the pink is B1.

1656
02:22:04,820 --> 02:22:09,800
What this does, it gives us further time, further time to look into this, particularly

1657
02:22:10,280 --> 02:22:14,420
how these buildings could be used, but also the environmental,

1658
02:22:18,840 --> 02:22:19,420
and all of you have been

1659
02:22:19,420 --> 02:22:22,620
right here long enough to know, we've lost a house on a cliff, not too far from here.

1660
02:22:23,560 --> 02:22:28,680
The other thing this does, it allows us to proceed with the leasing of the fire

1661
02:22:28,680 --> 02:22:33,960
station, and we need to get that taken care of as soon as possible, get some tenants

1662
02:22:33,960 --> 02:22:37,360
tenants or a tenant in there make use of that property.

1663
02:22:38,180 --> 02:22:46,160
So what I am proposing today is amending the Planning Commission's recommendation, accept

1664
02:22:46,160 --> 02:22:52,860
all of this, modify this to leave it the way it is until we can take a further and deeper

1665
02:22:52,860 --> 02:22:53,580
look at it.

1666
02:22:55,400 --> 02:22:58,440
Offer that in the form of a motion, Mr. President.

1667
02:23:01,500 --> 02:23:06,660
So I'm unclear if we would just exchange out for that.

1668
02:23:06,660 --> 02:23:13,980
Yeah, we don't need a motion to amend the Planning Commission's recommendation. The ordinance itself is this map

1669
02:23:13,980 --> 02:23:19,480
Is that correct? It's clear. It's still it's still an amendment. It's still it is a meant an amendment

1670
02:23:21,300 --> 02:23:21,860
Okay

1671
02:23:23,300 --> 02:23:27,600
So I've been corrected. This does come forward as an amendment

1672
02:23:29,480 --> 02:23:32,340
Or as a as part of this ordinance

1673
02:23:32,340 --> 02:23:34,740
We are amending the Planning Commission's matter.

1674
02:23:35,260 --> 02:23:38,100
City Council, any comments or questions on the amendment

1675
02:23:38,100 --> 02:23:40,600
that Member Swank has proposed?

1676
02:23:43,300 --> 02:23:45,780
Thank you.

1677
02:23:46,720 --> 02:23:48,560
We have an amendment and a second.

1678
02:23:48,760 --> 02:23:49,840
Yes, members of the audience?

1679
02:23:50,140 --> 02:23:54,600
Based on the comments I've heard from people who have been very engaged with this

1680
02:23:54,600 --> 02:23:58,660
and talking to people on the west side where I represent

1681
02:23:58,660 --> 02:24:02,500
and other folks, I feel as though this change,

1682
02:24:02,500 --> 02:24:07,680
change. This amendment is just what we need to do because there was a lot of concerns and

1683
02:24:07,680 --> 02:24:12,800
almost all of it basically was that portion. And I think there was some good reasons for

1684
02:24:12,800 --> 02:24:18,600
being concerned about that portion remaining as it is until maybe down the road we can

1685
02:24:18,600 --> 02:24:22,020
figure out if that's the best way to go. But I think there's been a lot of good

1686
02:24:22,020 --> 02:24:26,980
input and that this will make the residents happy. So, thank you.

1687
02:24:28,020 --> 02:24:33,580
any other comments or questions on this. May or anything to add?

1688
02:24:36,040 --> 02:24:37,300
I would like to

1689
02:24:37,300 --> 02:24:44,080
first start by saying that the Planning Commission meeting as we discussed as

1690
02:24:44,080 --> 02:24:55,560
you had indicated the R2 possibility along Lancaster slash Columbia and I

1691
02:24:55,560 --> 02:25:02,420
I want to commend someone who's here tonight, who came to those meetings and suggested they're being

1692
02:25:04,560 --> 02:25:10,480
small group to really look more closely at the suggested changes that we were proposing through

1693
02:25:10,480 --> 02:25:16,360
the Planning Commission. And that would be former Council Member Michelle Pappy and many others

1694
02:25:16,360 --> 02:25:24,640
who were there as well. But the communications had been outstanding in terms of treating this

1695
02:25:24,640 --> 02:25:33,200
as another opportunity to engage with our citizens on a level of importance, such as this, because

1696
02:25:33,200 --> 02:25:38,900
this would create, in theory, if you looked at what the map showed with the B2 and the B1,

1697
02:25:39,680 --> 02:25:45,440
as well as now having this removed, I should have said, should have said on the front end,

1698
02:25:45,440 --> 02:25:55,680
Councilmember Swank that I'm supportive of retaining that southeast, whatever direction that is,

1699
02:25:56,180 --> 02:26:03,540
of Lancaster and Columbia as it sits now. This opens the opportunity for there to be

1700
02:26:03,540 --> 02:26:12,140
kind of a small neighborhood commerce area. There's already, you know, a couple businesses

1701
02:26:12,140 --> 02:26:16,040
This is that are in there that are basically non-compliant with what the current zoning

1702
02:26:16,040 --> 02:26:23,360
is in this area, but I think it was very fruitful for everyone to come together and figure out

1703
02:26:23,360 --> 02:26:32,180
how to best solve this interesting re-zoning of an area.

1704
02:26:32,400 --> 02:26:37,160
I could see this being a model moving forward and looking at other such locations.

1705
02:26:37,160 --> 02:26:43,700
I would it was referenced earlier tonight and that was Frank's bait shop. I think it would be

1706
02:26:43,700 --> 02:26:51,140
wonderful in the future to see commerce down on the west side along Central Avenue because it used

1707
02:26:51,140 --> 02:26:57,600
to exist in that part of the city where Washington Street, State Street and Schaefer was its own

1708
02:26:57,600 --> 02:27:04,960
walkable little community when it came to getting the provisions that you needed. When we're

1709
02:27:04,960 --> 02:27:09,320
sitting there striving as hard as we are to reduce our carbon footprint. When we're

1710
02:27:09,320 --> 02:27:16,020
striving as hard as we are to make our city more engaging, welcoming and accessible, something

1711
02:27:16,020 --> 02:27:22,260
like this is perfect for that being a starting point to rethink how things should or could

1712
02:27:22,860 --> 02:27:32,590
be in the city of Athens. So short of that is that suggested amendment I feel is in

1713
02:27:32,590 --> 02:27:39,210
alignment with what the Planning Commission initially brought forward and is quite acceptable

1714
02:27:39,210 --> 02:27:39,910
moving forward.

1715
02:27:42,200 --> 02:27:42,900
Thank you, Mayor.

1716
02:27:43,600 --> 02:27:44,300
Just one quick comment.

1717
02:27:44,500 --> 02:27:44,680
Yes, please.

1718
02:27:44,980 --> 02:27:47,080
Before we vote, I have to be full disclosure.

1719
02:27:47,720 --> 02:27:49,320
If this passes, this is your award.

1720
02:27:49,480 --> 02:27:50,260
You take it from here.

1721
02:27:51,960 --> 02:27:52,940
Gee, thanks, Alan.

1722
02:27:54,460 --> 02:27:58,840
Members of the public, anything to add on this proposed amendment on the table?

1723
02:28:03,120 --> 02:28:07,920
I think we would be remiss if we didn't thank Megan Jennings, our planner for

1724
02:28:07,920 --> 02:28:09,720
for the really hard work she did

1725
02:28:09,720 --> 02:28:11,520
to bring this to the community

1726
02:28:11,520 --> 02:28:13,920
and have some conversation and lead the discussion.

1727
02:28:14,640 --> 02:28:16,680
I thought that was really a model

1728
02:28:16,680 --> 02:28:18,380
for how things ought to be in the future.

1729
02:28:18,840 --> 02:28:19,820
So thanks to Megan.

1730
02:28:20,620 --> 02:28:21,700
Thank you, Mayor Spelz.

1731
02:28:21,980 --> 02:28:24,100
Okay, all those in favor of this amendment

1732
02:28:24,100 --> 02:28:25,300
signify by saying aye.

1733
02:28:25,480 --> 02:28:25,840
Aye.

1734
02:28:26,040 --> 02:28:26,580
Opposed nay.

1735
02:28:27,360 --> 02:28:29,800
Member Swank, the ordinance has been amended

1736
02:28:29,800 --> 02:28:30,920
and read for the first time.

1737
02:28:33,210 --> 02:28:35,890
Ordinance 114-25 is an ordinance amending

1738
02:28:35,890 --> 02:28:39,130
the 2025 appropriation ordinance 115-24.

1739
02:28:39,130 --> 02:28:40,530
or introduced by Councilor McCary.

1740
02:28:41,230 --> 02:28:42,550
Thank you, President Crowell.

1741
02:28:42,770 --> 02:28:44,410
This has been discussed at committee

1742
02:28:44,410 --> 02:28:50,330
and is a $35,000 expense to replace the controls

1743
02:28:50,330 --> 02:28:52,510
for our HVAC at the community center.

1744
02:28:55,870 --> 02:28:56,550
Thank you.

1745
02:28:56,650 --> 02:28:58,510
Any comments or questions from council members?

1746
02:28:59,710 --> 02:29:02,390
City administration, HVAC, members of the public.

1747
02:29:03,980 --> 02:29:04,610
Thank you.

1748
02:29:05,840 --> 02:29:07,490
That has been read for the first time.

1749
02:29:07,490 --> 02:29:15,530
Ordinance 115-25 is an ordinance declaring property located at 25 Central Avenue, no longer

1750
02:29:15,530 --> 02:29:20,890
needed for a municipal purpose, and authorizing the mayor to sell said property to another

1751
02:29:20,890 --> 02:29:23,890
political subdivision introduced by Councilman McCary.

1752
02:29:24,310 --> 02:29:25,550
Thank you, President Crowell.

1753
02:29:25,630 --> 02:29:29,390
I'll begin since you already said a great deal of important information with Section

1754
02:29:29,390 --> 02:29:29,710
3.

1755
02:29:30,130 --> 02:29:32,830
The purchase agreement shall include as part of the sale of the following.

1756
02:29:32,830 --> 02:29:39,110
should Athens Metropolitan Housing Authority its successors or assigns wish

1757
02:29:39,110 --> 02:29:45,050
to sell the property the city of Athens shall have the right to first refusal for

1758
02:29:45,050 --> 02:29:49,430
purchase at fair market value. Section 4 reads upon completion of the sale the

1759
02:29:49,430 --> 02:29:54,690
city auditor is hereby directed to receipt the proceeds from the sale of the

1760
02:29:54,690 --> 02:29:54,970
property.

1761
02:30:00,080 --> 02:30:03,200
to be used for an eligible CDBG activity.

1762
02:30:05,230 --> 02:30:08,950
Thank you, Mayor McCary. Any comments or questions on this ordinance from city council members?

1763
02:30:10,170 --> 02:30:10,550
Members, Mike?

1764
02:30:11,310 --> 02:30:14,530
Member McCary, have we had the fair market value?

1765
02:30:17,430 --> 02:30:19,670
Do we have it yet? Has there been an appraisal?

1766
02:30:20,390 --> 02:30:22,330
I have not received a final figure.

1767
02:30:23,450 --> 02:30:24,810
President Crowley, do you?

1768
02:30:25,430 --> 02:30:28,070
The service safety director had mentioned getting that appraisal,

1769
02:30:28,130 --> 02:30:29,950
but I'm not sure it's been done yet. Mayor, do you have any information?

1770
02:30:32,250 --> 02:30:37,030
Okay, so we should have it by two weeks for the second reading. I believe that's accurate. Okay, great. Thank you

1771
02:30:37,750 --> 02:30:39,570
Any other comments or questions on this ordinance?

1772
02:30:41,570 --> 02:30:43,490
Mayor, anything to add? Members of the public?

1773
02:30:45,410 --> 02:30:46,730
Okay, moving on.

1774
02:30:48,190 --> 02:30:53,650
Ordinance 116-25 is an ordinance declaring property located at 458 Richland Avenue.

1775
02:30:53,650 --> 02:30:58,130
no longer needed for a municipal purpose and authorizing the mayor to sell said

1776
02:30:58,130 --> 02:31:01,930
property to another political subdivision introduced by councilmember McCarrick.

1777
02:31:02,310 --> 02:31:06,210
Thank you President Crowell this is very similar to the ordinance we just reviewed

1778
02:31:06,210 --> 02:31:10,010
so I'll jump down to section 3 and indicate that once again this would be

1779
02:31:10,010 --> 02:31:14,670
for the Athens Metropolitan Housing Authority and section 4 reads that

1780
02:31:14,670 --> 02:31:18,050
upon completion of the sale the city auditor is hereby directed to receive

1781
02:31:18,050 --> 02:31:22,290
the proceeds from the sale of the property into the general fund 101

1782
02:31:22,290 --> 02:31:24,510
and appropriating from the unappropriated balance,

1783
02:31:24,630 --> 02:31:31,450
the sum of $144,160 to general fund 101 slash 120

1784
02:31:32,210 --> 02:31:34,590
for transfer and increasing the total appropriations

1785
02:31:34,590 --> 02:31:35,270
by set amount.

1786
02:31:35,630 --> 02:31:40,990
So again, there, the total price would be $144,160.

1787
02:31:42,910 --> 02:31:43,930
Thank you, Mr. McCary.

1788
02:31:44,130 --> 02:31:46,190
Council, any comments or questions on this ordinance?

1789
02:31:47,990 --> 02:31:50,290
May I add members of the public?

1790
02:31:51,630 --> 02:31:52,450
Thank you.

1791
02:31:52,630 --> 02:31:54,870
116.25 has been read for the first time.

1792
02:31:55,590 --> 02:32:01,910
Ordinance 117-25 is an ordinance authorizing the disposal of equipment no longer needed for a municipal purpose,

1793
02:32:02,090 --> 02:32:03,370
introduced by Council Member Thomas.

1794
02:32:04,330 --> 02:32:04,910
Thank you.

1795
02:32:05,270 --> 02:32:06,670
The title pretty much says it all.

1796
02:32:06,810 --> 02:32:07,990
We talked about it last week.

1797
02:32:08,670 --> 02:32:15,950
This is for the government channel to dispose of three tricaster systems used for broadcasting,

1798
02:32:15,950 --> 02:32:20,470
One of which has already been replaced and just see what they can get for it to put towards a backup.

1799
02:32:22,070 --> 02:32:26,870
Thank you, member Thomas. Any questions or comments on this ordinance from City Council members?

1800
02:32:28,170 --> 02:32:35,950
Mayor, members of the public. Seeing none, we now move on to announcements and other business.

1801
02:32:36,390 --> 02:32:40,570
May have a motion to accept the September 2025 financial reports.

1802
02:32:43,370 --> 02:32:47,510
We have a motion and a second. Any comments or questions on those reports?

1803
02:32:48,670 --> 02:32:51,970
All those in favor, signify by saying aye. I pose nay.

1804
02:32:52,570 --> 02:32:56,270
The reports are accepted. May I have a motion to accept the August

1805
02:32:56,270 --> 02:33:01,890
2025 credit card transactions? A motion and a second. Any discussion?

1806
02:33:02,910 --> 02:33:06,010
All those in favor, signify by saying aye. I pose nay.

1807
02:33:07,030 --> 02:33:09,910
2025 credit card transactions for August are accepted.

1808
02:33:10,450 --> 02:33:12,970
We now have an opportunity for citizens to –

1809
02:33:12,970 --> 02:33:13,630
A couple announcements.

1810
02:33:13,950 --> 02:33:15,490
Oh, yes, sure, please.

1811
02:33:16,290 --> 02:33:18,790
Now we have other announcements in other business.

1812
02:33:19,490 --> 02:33:20,110
Members rank.

1813
02:33:20,410 --> 02:33:22,450
A couple of notices of public hearing.

1814
02:33:23,090 --> 02:33:24,010
I'll read the first one.

1815
02:33:24,870 --> 02:33:30,790
Athens City Council will hold a public hearing at 7 p.m. on Monday, November 3, 2025, in

1816
02:33:30,790 --> 02:33:33,210
the council chambers on the third floor of the city building.

1817
02:33:33,930 --> 02:33:38,070
This public hearing is to consider a recommendation from the Athens City Planning Commission

1818
02:33:38,070 --> 02:33:46,250
to amend Athens City zoning code section 23.04.03 permitted uses in our three residential zone

1819
02:33:46,250 --> 02:33:55,450
multifamily and 23.0407 B3 general business zone to permit temporary housing shelters as

1820
02:33:55,450 --> 02:34:00,990
a conditionally permitted use. The full text of the recommendation is available by contacting

1821
02:34:00,990 --> 02:34:04,330
DeWalker at ciatans.oh.us.

1822
02:34:05,110 --> 02:34:14,230
So that's the first public hearing and that's the R3B3 zoning request that we spoke earlier

1823
02:34:14,230 --> 02:34:19,310
in connection with the one we did up on Congress Street.

1824
02:34:20,130 --> 02:34:21,950
Second notice of public hearing.

1825
02:34:22,670 --> 02:34:27,910
At the City Council, we'll hold a public hearing at 7pm on Monday, November 17th,

1826
02:34:27,910 --> 02:34:31,350
2025 in the council chambers on the third floor of the city building.

1827
02:34:32,050 --> 02:34:37,510
The public hearing is to consider a recommendation from the Planning Commission, case 2506, proposing

1828
02:34:37,510 --> 02:34:42,550
zone changes for properties along North Lancaster Street, 2nd Street, Columbia Avenue, and

1829
02:34:42,550 --> 02:34:45,870
Columbus Road, basically what we talked about up here.

1830
02:34:46,370 --> 02:34:52,170
This hearing will take place before any final consideration of council on whether

1831
02:34:52,170 --> 02:34:55,510
we should pass it, amend it, or not pass it.

1832
02:34:55,790 --> 02:34:56,650
Thank you, President Crow.

1833
02:34:56,650 --> 02:35:02,210
Thank you, Member Swank. Any other business or announcements from City Council members?

1834
02:35:03,770 --> 02:35:09,610
Mayor, anything? Okay. We now have an opportunity for citizens to speak on legislative items

1835
02:35:09,610 --> 02:35:13,750
and city services that were not covered on tonight's agenda. Mr. Gluck, please.

1836
02:35:14,890 --> 02:35:20,550
My name is Rob Delich. I live here in Athens, City of Athens at 124 Morris Avenue.

1837
02:35:21,110 --> 02:35:29,050
I serve on the City Council Created Pedestrian Accessibility and Bicycle Task Force, which

1838
02:35:29,050 --> 02:35:31,930
was referenced earlier by Michael McCary, Member McCary.

1839
02:35:34,150 --> 02:35:39,510
We passed a motion at our last meeting to send a letter to the City and the Council,

1840
02:35:39,850 --> 02:35:42,970
which I will read just part of because I don't want to take any more time than I

1841
02:35:42,970 --> 02:35:43,470
have to here.

1842
02:35:43,570 --> 02:35:49,930
It's been a long meeting because we feel strongly about this issue, about safety

1843
02:35:49,930 --> 02:35:52,130
in this case children in our city.

1844
02:35:53,070 --> 02:35:56,910
So dear deputy city service safety director,

1845
02:35:57,570 --> 02:35:59,190
city council president and council

1846
02:35:59,190 --> 02:36:00,630
and the other city administration.

1847
02:36:01,910 --> 02:36:04,850
Halloween is the most dangerous night in the country

1848
02:36:04,850 --> 02:36:07,790
for children pedestrians due to it being one of,

1849
02:36:07,870 --> 02:36:10,970
if not the only night we as an American society

1850
02:36:10,970 --> 02:36:13,610
encourage children to walk around their neighborhoods

1851
02:36:13,610 --> 02:36:14,610
in any number.

1852
02:36:15,390 --> 02:36:17,850
This danger they face is not poison apples,

1853
02:36:17,850 --> 02:36:23,790
vehicles, it is car traffic. Even when children stay on sidewalks perfectly, they must at some

1854
02:36:23,790 --> 02:36:28,730
point cross the street. This puts them in direct conflict with vehicles. When traffic

1855
02:36:28,730 --> 02:36:33,810
as usual is allowed during such an event, during dusk, children can too easily become

1856
02:36:33,810 --> 02:36:38,790
statistics. In the Near East and Far East Side neighborhoods specifically, children

1857
02:36:38,790 --> 02:36:44,010
and parent participants in trick-or-treat numbers number in the thousands, far exceeding

1858
02:36:44,010 --> 02:36:48,450
the sidewalk's capacity to hold them, meaning that children and parents often spill into

1859
02:36:48,450 --> 02:36:53,310
the street outside of intersections. Additionally, exciting young children can easily be separated

1860
02:36:53,310 --> 02:36:58,330
from their adults on the overcrowded sidewalk, leading to further safety issues. And no

1861
02:36:58,330 --> 02:37:03,170
child can be expected to act perfectly, especially not during such an exciting time.

1862
02:37:04,090 --> 02:37:10,850
This is compounded this year by the fact that the trick-or-treat Halloween Eve falls

1863
02:37:10,850 --> 02:37:16,790
calls on OU-DAD's weekend, which will flood the town with drivers unfamiliar with our

1864
02:37:16,790 --> 02:37:17,730
neighborhoods and roads.

1865
02:37:18,790 --> 02:37:22,890
Physical safety measures taken by the City of Athens to curtail excess traffic from the

1866
02:37:22,890 --> 02:37:27,390
neighborhoods would not only help keep everyone out of danger, but allow it to bloom into

1867
02:37:27,390 --> 02:37:29,730
its full potential as a beloved Athens tradition.

1868
02:37:30,510 --> 02:37:34,250
Therefore, the Pedestrian Accessibility and Bicycle Task Force by unanimous motion

1869
02:37:34,690 --> 02:37:38,230
is formally requesting the following safety measures, and I will mention two items

1870
02:37:38,230 --> 02:37:38,610
briefly.

1871
02:37:38,610 --> 02:37:49,850
for the city to place saw horses or barriers with signs bearing the legend local traffic only at the main intersections to the neary side neighborhood and far east side neighborhoods.

1872
02:37:50,730 --> 02:38:05,750
For city police officers at those intersections to man those intersections to help alert people to take caution if they do enter the neighborhood, go around the barrier and enter the neighborhood and drive carefully.

1873
02:38:06,530 --> 02:38:08,670
Those are the two things I want to mention in particular.

1874
02:38:09,310 --> 02:38:13,690
The task force feels that these measures described above are minimally invasive to those traveling

1875
02:38:13,690 --> 02:38:18,430
in the city while ensuring the safety and comfort of all those participating in trick-or-treat

1876
02:38:18,430 --> 02:38:18,930
this year.

1877
02:38:19,490 --> 02:38:22,610
We look forward to the city's continued care and investment in the safety and traditions

1878
02:38:22,610 --> 02:38:23,250
of us all.

1879
02:38:23,850 --> 02:38:29,990
Sincerely, Stephanie Hunter, Rob Delich, Rory Brennan, Wolfgang Soetzel, Michelle

1880
02:38:29,990 --> 02:38:34,710
Hahn, George Turner, pedestrian accessibility and bicycle task force.

1881
02:38:34,710 --> 02:38:42,850
So two points I want to make in addition to this is OU Dad's weekend is not something just thrown in here.

1882
02:38:43,350 --> 02:38:52,510
I personally was hit by a pickup truck driven by an OU Dad three years ago almost to the day of this event

1883
02:38:53,610 --> 02:38:56,810
and had injuries that took a long time to recover from.

1884
02:38:57,390 --> 02:39:00,650
And the court settlement still not even happened years later.

1885
02:39:00,650 --> 02:39:06,510
It was an OU dad that, exactly like described here, didn't know where he was going and made

1886
02:39:06,910 --> 02:39:09,670
a rapid change in direction unexpectedly.

1887
02:39:10,850 --> 02:39:15,330
That's the kind of stuff we can expect that complicates trick or treating this year.

1888
02:39:17,640 --> 02:39:22,580
The other thing I want to mention is that this letter is written and sent to the

1889
02:39:22,580 --> 02:39:29,200
above mentioned because in the last two years we've sent an email to the city administration

1890
02:39:29,200 --> 02:39:33,900
asking to do something, just leaving it up to the administration to figure out

1891
02:39:33,900 --> 02:39:41,920
something to do, and neither time have we received a response in any form. So

1892
02:39:41,920 --> 02:39:46,880
received is all we got basically both times. Never did the city administration

1893
02:39:46,880 --> 02:39:50,960
respond to the task force saying we're not doing anything or we're doing

1894
02:39:50,960 --> 02:39:54,920
something, no response. That's why I'm here tonight and that's why the

1895
02:39:54,920 --> 02:39:57,000
Commission did what it, the task force did what it did.

1896
02:39:57,680 --> 02:40:00,080
Thank you. We appreciate your comments. Appreciate it.

1897
02:40:00,240 --> 02:40:01,680
Any other comments from the public?

1898
02:40:09,360 --> 02:40:10,980
Aaron, Thomas, 28, Avon Place.

1899
02:40:11,200 --> 02:40:11,920
Oh, already?

1900
02:40:14,540 --> 02:40:15,500
Got you.

1901
02:40:16,020 --> 02:40:20,120
So just sitting here tonight and over the, I mean,

1902
02:40:20,200 --> 02:40:22,160
over the past few years has been a conversation

1903
02:40:22,160 --> 02:40:23,880
about affordable housing in Athens.

1904
02:40:24,240 --> 02:40:29,320
And I want to, you know, request that the city

1905
02:40:29,320 --> 02:40:31,780
and the city council start working with the state

1906
02:40:31,780 --> 02:40:35,240
as they're trying to pass legislation for property tax relief.

1907
02:40:36,300 --> 02:40:42,240
We talked about the unhoused, the homeless, and a lot of people in Athens on the fixed

1908
02:40:42,240 --> 02:40:46,340
incomes are just two paychecks away from being homeless and losing their homes.

1909
02:40:46,860 --> 02:40:51,820
We talked about the cost of housing in Athens, and there's a reason why the cost of housing

1910
02:40:51,820 --> 02:40:52,920
in Athens is so expensive.

1911
02:40:53,660 --> 02:40:57,480
Any time the property taxes go up in Athens, it's going to roll down to the renter,

1912
02:40:57,780 --> 02:40:59,920
it's going to roll down to the business owner.

1913
02:40:59,920 --> 02:41:05,160
When you look at the average cost of housing in Athens, you know, non-student or just any

1914
02:41:05,160 --> 02:41:06,200
housing, it's $1,400.

1915
02:41:06,640 --> 02:41:09,580
It was a house in my neighborhood rent for $1,800 a month.

1916
02:41:10,960 --> 02:41:18,160
Business locations are written for $5,000 to $10,000 a month here in Athens, Ohio.

1917
02:41:19,020 --> 02:41:19,660
There's a reason.

1918
02:41:20,520 --> 02:41:25,540
If a person is paying $15,000 for their building, they're not going to eat that.

1919
02:41:25,540 --> 02:41:31,380
If a person is paying $6,000 on their home that they're renting out, that they still have

1920
02:41:31,380 --> 02:41:35,420
a mortgage on, that they're using it as some way to get passive income, they're going

1921
02:41:35,420 --> 02:41:36,580
to pass it on to the renter.

1922
02:41:37,280 --> 02:41:41,000
So my whole thing that I have been looking at over the past year with everything going

1923
02:41:41,000 --> 02:41:44,700
on to stay houses, hopefully the applicants can look at that, because I see a lot of

1924
02:41:44,700 --> 02:41:46,860
people in my neighborhood that are retired.

1925
02:41:47,980 --> 02:41:53,480
And my biggest fear is, did they fix income raised with the cost of property taxes

1926
02:41:53,480 --> 02:41:54,260
and inflation?

1927
02:41:54,260 --> 02:42:00,540
And one thing people look at when these levies do pass, it's $100 per $100,000.

1928
02:42:00,940 --> 02:42:07,620
Well, if a house is selling far east side for $400,000, that means everything else around that house is going to go up in property taxes.

1929
02:42:08,160 --> 02:42:14,520
Which leaves that person who may already own a house that's retired stuck with paying rent on a house their own.

1930
02:42:15,920 --> 02:42:20,440
My whole thing is that we talk about the people that are unhoused now.

1931
02:42:20,440 --> 02:42:26,940
What about the retiring community in our area that potentially can be unhoused if they can't

1932
02:42:26,940 --> 02:42:31,800
afford to pay $6,000 to $8,000 in property tax on a house that they currently own?

1933
02:42:32,020 --> 02:42:36,760
So I would encourage the city to look at what's going on at the state and look at is it going

1934
02:42:36,760 --> 02:42:41,180
to be some opportunities that can help our region, our city, our county, the people

1935
02:42:41,180 --> 02:42:48,400
that's here because my goal is to retire here in Athens but can I afford to pay $10,000

1936
02:42:48,400 --> 02:42:54,260
dollars on the house that I hopefully will own here in 10 to 15 years, what would that

1937
02:42:54,260 --> 02:42:54,880
be at?

1938
02:42:55,260 --> 02:42:59,560
So I encourage you all to keep that on your radar and hopefully get something going here

1939
02:42:59,560 --> 02:43:03,420
with the state that we can have something that can help some of these people in our

1940
02:43:03,420 --> 02:43:07,780
neighborhoods that want to stay here and hopefully they can afford to stay here.

1941
02:43:07,960 --> 02:43:13,720
So trying to keep people who own the houses affordable, that makes zero sense, but thank

1942
02:43:13,720 --> 02:43:13,880
you.

1943
02:43:13,880 --> 02:43:20,690
Thank you. Any other questions from the comments from the community?

1944
02:43:23,080 --> 02:43:24,340
Okay, seeing none, I take

1945
02:43:24,340 --> 02:43:30,520
a motion for adjournment. All those in favor, signify by saying aye. We are adjourned at

1946
02:43:30,520 --> 02:43:31,880
946 will hang out.