[4:17] >> Good morning and welcome to
[4:19] the work session for Colorado
[4:20] Springs City Council for
[4:22] Tuesday, SEPTEMBER 8th
[4:22] Twenty-twenty 6. Will the
[4:26] clerk please call the roll?
[4:29] >> Councilmember Casey here,
[4:29] Councilmember Corona the here.
[4:32] That's a member. Donna your
[4:33] councilmember gold and some
[4:33] member engine as councilmember
[4:37] line with here. Councilmember
[4:41] raining here and some member
[4:41] risley Councilmember Williams
[4:45] on PRESIDENT.
[4:45] >> Are there any changes?
[4:50] Today's Jen, Seeing none
[4:52] moving on to the regular
[4:52] comments. Are there any
[4:53] changes to the regular
[4:58] meeting?
[5:02] >> If for a will be.
[5:03] >> Clerk, please read item
[5:05] foray into the record.
[5:06] >> City Council work session
[5:09] meeting minutes AUGUST. 24
[5:09] 2026.
[5:10] >> Are there any changes to
[5:16] these minutes? Seeing none
[5:19] moving on to item 5, a.
[5:20] >> Well, the please read item
[5:21] into the record.
[5:26] >> Thomas would be.
[5:28] >> tried our 10 cool and
[5:29] really sunrise. Pascoe County
[5:30] District Court case number.
[5:38] 26, see the 3, 1, 6, 4, 1,
[5:54] Sorry, just a second.
[5:58] Hang on
[5:59] need to get my computer. Just
[6:13] give me one minute.
[8:56] >> Good morning, Stephanie
[9:01] Foster City attorney.
[9:02] >> Before the
[9:03] >> city Council today is a
[9:06] matter involving Thomas Wage
[9:09] versus Tony Bauer. Tom Cool.
[9:09] Andrew l#
[9:10] #
[9:10] #
[9:10] #
[9:11] . Jason Reser.
[9:12] It's a case in front of a
[9:14] e-pass si El Paso County
[9:17] District Court. It's case
[9:21] number 25 cd. 31 6, 4, 1,
[9:21] Council has in its agenda
[9:26] packet. A memorandum from the
[9:27] city Attorney's office which
[9:27] describes the nature of the
[9:33] case. And the civil action
[9:35] invested investigation
[9:38] committee met on AUGUST 14
[9:40] 2026. And recommends that has
[9:42] city council acknowledged the
[9:43] city's obligation to resent to
[9:43] represent the officers
[9:47] involved. As required by the
[9:49] Colorado Governmental Immunity
[9:50] act and the peace officers
[9:55] liability act and city
[9:56] attorney's office recommends
[10:00] that the city Council. Engage
[10:05] in that representation. So
[10:06] that ice time, I just need a
[10:07] thumbs-up from council
[10:08] members. If you the attorneys
[10:10] moving forward.
[10:14] >> Dan, thank you. Moving on
[10:17] to item 7, a well. The clerk
[10:20] please read item 7 a into the
[10:21] record informational
[10:22] presentation on the homeless.
[10:22] Homelessness Response Action
[10:28] Plan. Good Morning, Amy. Good
[10:30] morning, MADAM. PRESIDENT,
[10:31] members of City Council, I'm
[10:32] Aimee Cox, the chief housing
[10:35] and homelessness response
[10:35] Officer. I'm here today to
[10:37] give you an update on the
[10:39] homelessness response Action
[10:41] Plan Council had requested
[10:42] this presentation following
[10:45] the mayor's press briefing on
[10:46] AUGUST. 12th and thank you for
[10:48] your patience. As we got the
[10:50] scheduled, the presentation
[10:52] today will largely follow the
[10:54] outline that was in that
[10:55] presentation or that press
[10:56] briefing. But because
[11:00] homelessness. I often creates
[11:01] conversations that are both
[11:04] broad and deep. There are a
[11:05] number subject matter experts
[11:07] here today who can help answer
[11:08] questions. And so I just want
[11:11] to recognize Lieutenant Ryan
[11:13] Tapley who overseas are hot
[11:15] art programs. Deputy Chief
[11:17] Doug Trainer, Steve Johnson
[11:18] with the Colorado Springs Fire
[11:19] Department community Health
[11:23] programs. Kyle Hagerman senior
[11:24] analyst in Clutch project
[11:25] manager in the housing and
[11:26] homelessness response
[11:28] Department and the Chantel
[11:29] Withrow is scheduled to be
[11:31] here. She's the division chief
[11:33] for prosecution. They're also
[11:34] a number of providers and
[11:36] concerned residents in the
[11:37] audience today. Thank you for
[11:42] joining us. So the agenda
[11:43] pretty straightforward. I'm
[11:43] gonna give a brief overview of
[11:46] what we do. We'll go over the
[11:47] homeless response action plan
[11:49] and the 3 time horizon, the
[11:50] phased approach we've put
[11:52] together and then I want to
[11:53] recognize City Council's
[11:54] partnership in this work
[11:56] because you are really key
[11:57] players in reducing
[12:02] homelessness in our community.
[12:03] >> Soho Moses is really part
[12:07] of a broader response in our
[12:09] office it's part of a broader
[12:10] set of responsibilities that
[12:12] certainly include and
[12:12] investing in housing choice
[12:14] for low-income households. Our
[12:17] team made investments in
[12:18] nearly 3,000 units that have
[12:20] been leased up completed or
[12:22] under ructions since JUNE of
[12:24] 23. We also fund neighborhood
[12:26] in public facility
[12:28] improvements. We've invested
[12:30] in the current spring senior
[12:31] center, early connections
[12:34] learning centers and we help
[12:36] to build parks in low income
[12:36] neighborhoods. And this is
[12:39] part of a our commitment to
[12:40] improving overall quality of
[12:44] life our community. We manage
[12:47] diverse funding sources with
[12:48] each with different compliance
[12:49] requirements. So there's a
[12:52] level of complexity here. And
[12:54] with all these funding sources
[12:57] available in 2025, we
[12:57] distributed about 1 million
[12:59] dollars for homelessness.
[13:02] Response. And that was mostly
[13:04] to support shelters. Emergency
[13:06] shelters and winter shelter
[13:07] operations. And the intent
[13:09] here is not to grouse about
[13:11] resources, but to emphasize
[13:12] that our most significant
[13:13] contribution to homelessness
[13:14] response is really in our
[13:17] leadership and coordination.
[13:17] And these are themes that
[13:18] you're going to hear
[13:21] throughout this presentation.
[13:22] But we're going talk about the
[13:24] homeless is response. Action
[13:28] plan. The plan outlines 61
[13:29] actions across 6 priorities
[13:32] over 5 years. These actions
[13:34] were shaped by residents.
[13:36] Businesses, service providers
[13:37] and government government
[13:38] partners through a robust
[13:41] public engagement process. The
[13:44] focus is on addressing
[13:45] immediate challenges. Well,
[13:46] building long-term solutions
[13:50] to reduce homelessness the
[13:51] housing and homelessness
[13:52] response Department is
[13:53] responsible for operation
[13:55] allies saying these actions
[13:56] and Rauner rather than manage
[13:58] the plan just like a
[14:00] checklist. We worked with
[14:00] commute. Our Community
[14:01] Development Advisory committee
[14:04] to develop a phased approach
[14:04] with actions that are intended
[14:07] to build upon each other to
[14:08] meet those immediate needs and
[14:11] increase our capacity. Our
[14:13] system capacity to generate
[14:13] outcomes and phase one. We
[14:17] built a foundation trying to
[14:18] set clear goals and getting
[14:21] buy-in from departments and
[14:22] partners. Strengthen U.S..
[14:24] Phase 2 will be about
[14:25] strengthening our system
[14:26] performance both internally
[14:29] and externally. And in phase
[14:30] 3, the work is to build a
[14:32] sustainable continually
[14:33] improving system. It's very
[14:39] ambitious. In the first year.
[14:40] And you're familiar with most
[14:41] of these actions, we completed
[14:42] more than half half of the
[14:46] actions in the plan. We
[14:47] expanded. You actually
[14:48] approved the expansion of the
[14:51] set line ordinance approved a
[14:52] budget to expand the homeless
[14:52] outreach team from 68
[14:57] officers. Vested in the
[14:59] downtown clean and safe pilot
[14:59] program or is it 860,000 to
[15:03] expand winter capacity? We
[15:03] completed a housing needs
[15:06] assessment to understand our
[15:06] the gaps in affordable housing
[15:10] in our community. And we
[15:11] identified ongoing operations
[15:14] for expanded coordination and
[15:15] this is important because
[15:16] about one-third of the actions
[15:19] of the plan, our ongoing
[15:21] operational activities such as
[15:22] expanding right of way,
[15:23] cleaning and planning for
[15:28] winter shelter. So we are
[15:29] currently in the expansion
[15:30] phase. And I want to pause
[15:33] here for a couple of minutes
[15:34] because a common question that
[15:38] I get it is what works to
[15:39] reduce homelessness and what
[15:42] community is where are people
[15:47] doing this? Well, and it's
[15:48] easy to look at communities
[15:49] like San Antonio or Austin San
[15:53] Diego, which are beautiful
[15:55] cities to see what's going
[15:58] well. But we see that a lot of
[15:59] what's happening while that's
[16:00] happening in places like
[16:02] Rockford, Illinois, in
[16:03] Chattanooga, Tennessee, and
[16:09] Reno, Nevada. The evidence
[16:11] based practices point to one
[16:14] consistent factor. And that is
[16:15] strong system management and
[16:17] it's about reframing the
[16:18] conversation from how many
[16:19] people are we serving in our
[16:22] system to are we actually
[16:23] reducing homelessness? Are
[16:25] there fewer people
[16:27] experiencing homelessness in
[16:30] our community the best
[16:32] practices include by name data
[16:35] routine case conferencing,
[16:36] shared performance tart. So
[16:37] everybody knows all the
[16:39] partners and the system know
[16:43] what we're aiming for. It's
[16:44] about prevention and diversion
[16:46] to prevent people from
[16:47] entering the system
[16:48] altogether. That is the most
[16:49] effective homelessness
[16:50] response strategy is
[16:54] prevention and diversion. Its
[16:55] housing, focus, shelter and
[16:55] outreach to focus on exits
[16:58] from our system. And it's
[17:01] strong housing navigation
[17:03] because most people
[17:05] experiencing homelessness do
[17:07] not need intense wrap around
[17:08] services. They need housing
[17:11] that they can afford. Housing
[17:13] is very much the service and
[17:14] once people are house will see
[17:15] significant improvements in
[17:15] their health and their
[17:19] functional mental house. And
[17:20] we do this work well in our
[17:22] community with veterans throw
[17:23] built for 0 program by
[17:24] identifying every veteran in
[17:27] our community and then using
[17:28] case conferencing to to
[17:31] connect them to resource, to
[17:32] help them exit the system. And
[17:34] we have seen meaningful
[17:35] reductions in veteran
[17:38] homelessness in our community.
[17:39] So this year and next, we're
[17:40] focused on strengthening our
[17:40] system management through
[17:42] better coordination internally
[17:43] with the homelessness response
[17:46] team, which we'll talk about
[17:48] here depending deepening our
[17:49] partnership with the Pikes
[17:51] Peak continuum of care,
[17:53] improving behavioral health
[17:55] coordination and using better
[17:55] data to track and improve
[17:59] performance. And quite
[18:01] frankly, using better data to
[18:02] reviews, reduce the confusion
[18:03] that there is in this
[18:03] community.
[18:05] >> About how we count using
[18:08] point in time counts and
[18:09] annual reports. So really
[18:12] shifting our practice to more
[18:12] real time data reporting and
[18:16] transparency. And some of our
[18:20] current activities include the
[18:21] homelessness response team.
[18:24] Again, more on that here next.
[18:24] We've strengthened regional
[18:27] coordination through a joint
[18:29] joint leadership of our Pikes
[18:30] Peak can of care with the
[18:31] Pikes Peak United Way. And I
[18:32] think this is really a
[18:34] game-changer in our city
[18:36] because city is now not just a
[18:37] member of our continuum of
[18:41] care, but we're a key partner
[18:41] driving the impact with the
[18:45] Pikes Peak United Way. The
[18:46] Police Department U.S.
[18:48] Operations team which now
[18:49] includes 14 officers and 2
[18:52] sergeants who provide coverage
[18:52] enforcement and coverage 6
[18:56] days per week we invested
[18:57] funding to him to Step
[18:58] Springs, to secure community
[19:01] housing for men and recovery.
[19:02] And they have a accident track
[19:05] record of helping then escape
[19:07] addiction and homelessness in
[19:09] our community. We're testing
[19:10] diversion services for
[19:13] families of children living in
[19:14] their vehicles through
[19:14] Catholic charities and
[19:17] diversion is a best practice
[19:17] for meeting housing.
[19:19] Instability needs without
[19:21] requiring a shelter. Stay so
[19:24] really leans into the strength
[19:25] that families and families
[19:30] with them. We watched a
[19:31] housing action plan which
[19:32] includes planning for
[19:33] supportive housing, which is
[19:34] housing with those wrap-around
[19:38] services and housing for
[19:39] seniors and the military and
[19:40] with council support. We
[19:41] shifted nearly 2 million
[19:43] dollars of federal funding
[19:44] into tenant based rental
[19:45] assistance to support
[19:47] households with expiring
[19:53] emergency housing vouchers.
[19:54] The homelessness response team
[19:54] is a key change in was a
[19:57] highlight in the Mares press
[19:59] briefing on the 12th City
[20:02] Apartments have been meeting
[20:02] for a couple of years to
[20:03] communicate about our
[20:04] activities and to talk about
[20:06] what we're seeing on the
[20:07] ground in the community and
[20:08] how we might best approach
[20:11] those those activities.
[20:12] However, Mary Emmys took this
[20:14] up a level and directed
[20:16] departments to operate through
[20:17] a coordinated.
[20:20] >> Whole of government
[20:20] approach.
[20:21] >> Homelessness is by its
[20:22] nature cross departmental.
[20:24] There isn't a single
[20:25] department that has all the
[20:25] tools or the expertise needed
[20:29] to solve the problem. Housing
[20:29] and homelessness response is
[20:31] the coordinator of this
[20:32] effort. And then we really
[20:33] coordinate the internal
[20:35] expertise and responsibilities
[20:37] so that our decisions will
[20:42] reflect a unified city
[20:43] response and initial
[20:45] priorities identified by this
[20:46] group includes share data so
[20:49] that we all have access to the
[20:51] data we're collecting in the
[20:53] various departments and can
[20:54] use that in defining the
[20:56] problems. And and finding
[20:58] solutions. It's about
[20:59] coordinated outreach and
[21:01] encampment closure to ensure
[21:02] that when wearing clothes
[21:04] encampments, we are doing that
[21:06] permanently. And that means
[21:08] both securing the space and
[21:09] helping people find a better
[21:12] alternative. It's improving
[21:13] our communication both
[21:16] internally and externally
[21:17] because public trust and
[21:17] confidence are really
[21:21] important to this work. We'll
[21:22] start to lean into behavioral
[21:25] health planning. They MAY have
[21:30] a question from council mind.
[21:31] Brought up.
[21:33] >> Yeah, quite quite a bit.
[21:35] That's nice phrase. But what
[21:38] is what it what is that? What
[21:39] it what systems are there?
[21:40] Because everyone on it so is
[21:41] this entire list using the
[21:46] same system? How do week?
[21:47] Because it is a whole team
[21:48] effort. I really like this
[21:49] approach. Yeah. But as
[21:52] everyone on the same page, no.
[21:52] >> I think that is the
[21:55] challenge we have. Mean, we
[21:55] have each department collects
[21:58] their own data. And and what
[21:59] we're trying to do is create
[22:02] some sort of, you know,
[22:02] warehouse or lake where that
[22:03] information can be shared and
[22:07] pulled from. So right now,
[22:09] when we need we want to report
[22:10] on data. We have to reach out
[22:15] to each individual department
[22:16] the measures are not collected
[22:18] consistently across all of our
[22:20] That's one of the efforts will
[22:22] be working on internally is to
[22:23] have a more standardized way
[22:27] of collecting your data. Know
[22:27] there's a lot of different
[22:28] systems that are out there
[22:29] that different organizations
[22:32] are using the rescue mission
[22:32] uses.
[22:33] >> They are. They are
[22:34] participating now. I believe
[22:36] in h m I a s.
[22:39] >> But they also have another
[22:40] system and then there's gelato
[22:44] I heard about and I haven't
[22:44] seen it. But but that's the
[22:47] thing is all these different
[22:48] systems. And yet this, if we
[22:49] talk about a whole team
[22:50] approach and we're all talking
[22:51] a different language. We've
[22:54] got to figure that out.
[22:55] >> Yeah, we have to figure
[22:57] that out. Homeless management
[22:57] information system does not
[23:00] work for the information that
[23:01] we collect. But I was the
[23:03] Coral Springs Fire Department
[23:06] enters information and to my a
[23:09] half and and in their outreach
[23:10] efforts when they're
[23:10] countering somebody in the
[23:11] street, they can identify what
[23:13] other services they MAY be
[23:14] connected to.
[23:15] >> But internally real, you
[23:16] know how many?
[23:20] >> How many tickets the police
[23:21] department writes, it's not
[23:22] going to be something we
[23:23] collect an age. My a#
[23:23] #
[23:24] . It's
[23:25] my is really a longitudinal
[23:28] data base that looks at the
[23:31] client and is how we can track
[23:34] people's movement through the
[23:35] system. Well, that's what
[23:35] works and doesn't sometimes we
[23:36] just look at the numbers like
[23:38] how many do we have?
[23:40] >> Yeah, but how many have
[23:42] made a visit to jail? How many
[23:43] have made a visit to our
[23:46] hospitals emergency rooms
[23:48] right? Mean, all that can be
[23:49] really valuable information.
[23:50] So are we coordinating like
[23:51] it? I don't know if I saw
[23:54] hospitals on here.
[23:56] >> No, you don't spills,
[23:57] honor.
[23:58] >> This is this is our
[24:00] internal homelessness response
[24:01] team. And actually we've made
[24:02] an invitation Colorado Springs
[24:03] utilities to join this team.
[24:04] This is our internal
[24:06] homelessness response team.
[24:07] But all the work we do
[24:09] internally has an external
[24:10] next s.
[24:12] >> And so we have identified,
[24:15] for example, ppr oem in after
[24:16] action report for Winter
[24:18] shelter identified the need
[24:19] for better coordination with
[24:22] our health system. We have
[24:24] identified in the continuum of
[24:26] care from our collaborative
[24:26] application. We report to hide
[24:28] on the performance of arc of
[24:31] our community and our system.
[24:33] They want to use with
[24:33] behavioral health
[24:34] organizations. We have not had
[24:37] those and the past. So those
[24:40] are things that we're working
[24:40] on externally.
[24:43] >> How can counsel help?
[24:47] Because I think you're right.
[24:47] I think data sharing is
[24:48] probably at the top the list.
[24:49] We have to know what we're
[24:52] dealing with right at the
[24:52] individual level. So yeah, how
[24:55] do we get there? So I think
[25:00] that. The what, again, this is
[25:02] part of the theme of this
[25:03] presentation which and is that
[25:06] our biggest asset in the
[25:07] system is the leadership and
[25:08] the coordination that we can
[25:11] bring the entire system. So
[25:14] our ability to take internal
[25:15] work and attached to the
[25:16] external work. And I think
[25:21] that's where we have. We will
[25:21] struggle with the number that
[25:22] staff at Iran are offices that
[25:26] we've. I have an adequate
[25:29] number of people to actually
[25:30] do this work. So we've had to
[25:33] move folks from other critical
[25:34] functions to respond to the
[25:36] homeless. U.S. Response team,
[25:38] which is important. So we are
[25:40] happy to do it. And again, I'm
[25:40] not here to grouse will be
[25:42] plenty of time. Talk about
[25:44] this during the budget
[25:45] hearings. There are plenty of
[25:47] departments in our city that
[25:48] need support. But this does
[25:49] require dedicated
[25:53] coordination.
[25:57] >> And we part of our role and
[25:58] housing homelessness response
[26:00] as a partner in our continuum
[26:00] of care and that collaborative
[26:02] application and that system
[26:03] leadership.
[26:04] >> Is investing. We are
[26:06] providing matching funds to
[26:08] that program and that allows
[26:09] us to monitor and provide some
[26:13] oversight.
[26:13] >> You know what I think about
[26:14] like military operations or
[26:15] anything like that. The number
[26:19] one thing I can turn my feow
[26:19] COUNCILMAN Right here is to
[26:20] know your enemy. I mean, if
[26:22] you do, they do incredible.
[26:27] Amount of funding goes into
[26:28] research done, identifying all
[26:30] the different gaps and this
[26:34] and concerns in this not. We
[26:35] need to be investing in that
[26:36] data data is really important
[26:38] when it comes to operational
[26:39] type things. When you're
[26:42] taking on a large challenge.
[26:44] And I think that that is a
[26:46] very critical issues. So where
[26:46] did I think that will be a
[26:48] lively discussion? We get the
[26:49] budget. Thank Yeah, thank you.
[26:50] And I do want to point out
[26:52] that are senior analyst is
[26:53] retired Army Ranger. He often
[26:56] brings military metaphors.
[26:56] >> 2
[27:00] >> sake, island. I mean,
[27:01] points out there, but he's
[27:02] teaching us all sorts of
[27:02] military concepts in our
[27:04] approach.
[27:08] >> Let's Okay. The activities
[27:14] ahead of us include. Community
[27:15] resource map and its hosting a
[27:17] behavioral health summit to
[27:18] bring folks together around
[27:19] the behavioral health issues.
[27:19] We don't know the details of
[27:20] that yet. We know that there's
[27:25] a need to convene folks
[27:25] improved shelter in crisis
[27:26] response for individuals with
[27:30] deeper needs. Continued work
[27:33] on medical respite and
[27:34] advancing the support of an
[27:36] extremely low income housing
[27:38] strategies in our home.
[27:39] Housing needs assessment. We
[27:41] identified the 30% of the
[27:41] housing need in our community
[27:42] is for people earning 30%
[27:46] area. Median income or less.
[27:48] So that will need strategy is
[27:52] to so that gap. And by 2028,
[27:54] we expect to complete over 90%
[27:54] of the plan and align it with
[27:58] regional planning. Regional
[27:59] planning. We do with our Pikes
[28:02] peak continuum of care. And,
[28:03] you know, let's just be
[28:05] honest, no plan accounts for
[28:07] all the variables when it's
[28:08] created. So recalibration will
[28:11] keep actions aligned with our
[28:12] real-world needs. But the goal
[28:15] here is to develop a system
[28:16] that is continually improving
[28:17] in to build that into the
[28:17] culture of the work that we
[28:24] do. And finally, and this gets
[28:25] more to your question.
[28:27] COUNCILMAN Line Weber. I
[28:30] really like to recognize City
[28:32] council as a key partner in
[28:35] this work and your decisions
[28:36] shape. The response. It shapes
[28:38] through laws and through the
[28:39] approval of funding. You
[28:39] approve the plans we bring
[28:44] forward. You regulate land,
[28:46] use and you bring leadership
[28:46] to a variety of committees.
[28:50] And I want to thank all of you
[28:53] have participated or ask
[28:55] questions are engaged in this
[28:56] issue. It's very, very
[28:58] critical that we have whole of
[29:02] city response that involves
[29:04] our administration and our
[29:08] city council and to support
[29:08] ongoing transparency and
[29:09] public confidence. The
[29:12] homeless. This response team
[29:15] plans to provide quarterly
[29:16] updates to city Council and
[29:16] produce an annual report.
[29:18] Public report tracking
[29:22] progress and challenges and
[29:23] ultimately our success will be
[29:24] measured, not by the number of
[29:26] initiatives that we launched,
[29:27] but by actual reductions and
[29:28] unsheltered homelessness,
[29:30] faster exits from homelessness
[29:33] to stable housing, improved
[29:35] health and employment outcomes
[29:37] and a more coordinated city
[29:39] response. And we're committed
[29:40] to this work alongside the
[29:42] providers and and many in this
[29:44] audience today. Our partners,
[29:45] our residents and volunteers,
[29:46] some of whom are here today
[29:51] funders. And of course, you so
[29:52] thank There are 2 slides here
[29:52] at the end of this that we're
[29:55] in year and next about
[29:56] enforcement. If there are
[29:56] questions about enforcement
[29:59] and of those come up right
[30:00] now, I do have a question from
[30:03] council Hinch and have a thank
[30:05] Thank you. MADAM PRESIDENT and
[30:05] Amy, thank you so much for
[30:07] being here this morning. I do
[30:07] have a couple questions. But
[30:10] before I get to those.
[30:12] >> I want to say I hear really
[30:14] loud and clear what you're
[30:14] saying about the importance of
[30:18] strong system management. I
[30:20] want to actually personally
[30:24] credit you. And your work in
[30:25] this role for the last couple
[30:26] of years since you or is it 2
[30:29] or 3? Now? I I was on your
[30:33] interview team I really credit
[30:37] you in influencing what is now
[30:40] 15 different departments that
[30:42] are listed as collaborating
[30:43] together. And I would
[30:44] challenge a word that you use,
[30:47] which is it's not buy in what
[30:48] you're doing. What I've
[30:49] watched you do is to create a
[30:52] sense of ownership in the city
[30:54] and with the departments and
[30:54] we have many of them here
[30:58] today. Demonstrating the
[30:59] advances. I think you're
[31:04] making. In in how the city
[31:06] approaches such a complex,
[31:07] significant challenge of which
[31:10] we have. Very specific things
[31:12] that we can do and we can't do
[31:15] the entire thing. So I just
[31:16] really I really want to thank
[31:20] you for your leadership. In
[31:22] that. You just deserve to
[31:22] really be noticed and
[31:23] appreciated for what you're
[31:30] doing. Have a question about
[31:34] where things are at with the
[31:38] you know, this body ago or so.
[31:41] An ordinance making it illegal
[31:45] sleep in your car at night. If
[31:46] you are homeless. And I'm just
[31:48] wondering if you can speak a
[31:50] little bit to where that's
[31:53] what kinds of solutions I know
[31:57] part of input from many people
[31:59] who came to testify in support
[32:02] of that ordinance who said we
[32:05] support this because this is
[32:06] creating challenges in our
[32:06] neighborhood. However, we are
[32:07] looking for and want
[32:11] compassionate response is to
[32:12] where these folks can be,
[32:15] especially the families. And
[32:16] my understanding is that
[32:17] family promise has been
[32:18] working on something. But if
[32:19] you could just give us a
[32:22] little bit of an update around
[32:23] efforts on that matter, and
[32:23] then I have a couple of other
[32:27] questions. Please.
[32:28] >> Thank you. Yes, family
[32:30] promise has been most actively
[32:32] working on creating a safe
[32:33] parking program for families
[32:37] with children and and it is
[32:37] actually very challenging to
[32:41] create a self, a safe parking
[32:43] program they originally
[32:43] created program with chilled
[32:46] are with churches really
[32:48] leaning into religious land.
[32:49] Use up because of some of the
[32:51] zoning issues with creating
[32:53] safe parking program and what
[32:55] they found was that it's very
[33:00] difficult to insure. And that
[33:01] is to get liability insurance
[33:05] on on on these properties.
[33:08] It's that would that would
[33:08] require either.
[33:09] >> Fully securing the
[33:12] facility, fencing, for
[33:13] example, we're providing 24
[33:16] and get that.
[33:17] >> I don't say security of the
[33:18] entire time people they're
[33:21] they're not there. 24 7, but
[33:22] they would have to have
[33:25] on-site security. And that's a
[33:26] very expensive. And so they're
[33:31] looking at other models, there
[33:32] are there are challenges with
[33:36] that.
[33:36] >> Primarily the money, in
[33:39] other cities, do have
[33:41] solutions, right? It sounds
[33:41] like they're looking at them.
[33:43] But how much of it is?
[33:47] Funding? How much of it is,
[33:49] you know, our own our own
[33:49] ordinances and requirements
[33:53] around zoning and so forth.
[33:54] >> Some of it is owning
[33:57] related and I can. Yeah. Look
[34:00] over Kevin Walker who we have
[34:01] worked very closely with
[34:03] family promise. Are planners
[34:05] have to try and go through
[34:06] what the zoning requirements
[34:10] are and notice, cetera,
[34:13] >> there are areas where Human
[34:14] Service facility is a
[34:20] permitted use
[34:20] >> has to be the Occupy. The
[34:25] occupancy has to be aligns
[34:26] with that.
[34:26] >> So there are some
[34:30] challenges But a lot of the
[34:32] challenges is financial. I
[34:35] mean, there's a big cost to
[34:38] providing insurance security
[34:39] to ensuring that there are
[34:40] restrooms and facilities
[34:44] available for people
[34:46] >> there is a neighborhood
[34:47] notification generally and
[34:49] getting neighbors to buy. And
[34:51] so I will say that watching
[34:51] Tim Close with family promise
[34:54] to this, all the.
[34:57] >> All the kudos to him for
[34:58] his persistence trying to
[34:59] figure out how to make this a
[35:01] reality for families with
[35:03] children. We have stepped in
[35:06] in our department to test that
[35:07] diversion program was Catholic
[35:11] Charities. We've provided a
[35:13] small contribution to Catholic
[35:13] charities so that when pd
[35:15] encounters a family with
[35:17] children that they can
[35:18] immediately refer them to
[35:20] Catholic Charities for up to 3
[35:21] night. Stay in a motel to get
[35:24] them out of their vehicle. And
[35:26] that assessment and case
[35:27] management to connect them to
[35:30] a better alternative. It's a
[35:30] very limits, very limited in
[35:31] scope, simply because it's
[35:34] limited in dollars. But it's
[35:35] our belief that if we can
[35:37] demonstrate that this is a
[35:39] successful model that we can
[35:40] find more funding for that.
[35:44] Great. Thank you for that. 2
[35:47] other questions has to do with
[35:48] I understand that Hope Cos who
[35:49] I believe is here in the
[35:50] chambers today.
[35:52] >> Is actually seeking to open
[35:56] yet another shelter. And I'm
[35:57] wondering if you can speak a
[35:59] little bit as to where that
[35:59] they are at with that process
[36:06] and why. Opening Hope Cos is
[36:07] important for our city and for
[36:08] folks are experiencing
[36:09] homelessness.
[36:10] >> They are here I will
[36:13] continue to look back to make
[36:14] sure I'm getting this correct.
[36:16] They are. This has been
[36:16] something that hope has been
[36:17] looking at for some time that
[36:19] currently operate in the
[36:21] winter. When we activate
[36:23] winter shelter at the
[36:23] sanctuary church. So they've
[36:27] operated for many years. There
[36:28] you know, we actively winter
[36:32] shelter at 19 degrees and 19
[36:33] degrees is not based on any
[36:35] human sort of physiology or,
[36:36] you know, people just get
[36:37] colder at 19 degrees. 19
[36:40] degrees was based on the
[36:41] resources we had available. So
[36:43] when you look at the history
[36:47] of like weather and a
[36:48] community, we've said we had x
[36:50] amount of dollars. It cost x
[36:51] amount of dollars per day to
[36:52] operate a shelter so we can
[36:54] operate about 60 days. What
[36:58] temperature is that? And that
[37:02] is how we decided on 19
[37:03] degrees. We see that but last
[37:06] year working with ppr, oem, we
[37:08] saw that 3. I believe 3 people
[37:11] died when the temperatures
[37:13] were higher, then 19 degrees.
[37:14] And so we have been looking
[37:15] hope has been looking at what
[37:18] is opportunity to provide just
[37:20] full winter shelter so that
[37:23] when it's cold between OCTOBER
[37:24] 15th in APRIL, 15th that
[37:26] there's a place for people to
[37:27] go. But that has now expanded
[37:31] into. Year-round shelter
[37:36] proposal and that is rooted in
[37:37] the the after action report
[37:38] for the winter shelter
[37:41] indicated a need for a full
[37:44] year full winter shelter. Our
[37:47] point in time, count
[37:48] identified that we did not
[37:49] have sufficient beds for the
[37:51] number of people counted on
[37:52] the night of the count. So
[37:57] we're short about 195
[37:58] year-round beds and there's
[37:59] also a need to sort of
[38:02] differentiate some of the
[38:03] populations hope often serves
[38:06] people who have needs. They do
[38:09] it through a peer base model
[38:14] and with some of the concerns
[38:15] with what we see on the
[38:15] streets, especially in
[38:19] downtown. We hear about very
[38:19] vocally. There is a need to
[38:20] provide a facility for folks
[38:24] who have deeper need. So that
[38:25] very high level of summary of
[38:26] what hope is trying to do. I
[38:30] think one of the really the
[38:33] after action report for our
[38:36] winter shelter. Some of the
[38:37] strengths were scored a
[38:40] nation. The safety at all of
[38:41] our facilities. And so this is
[38:45] a build on that. Well, so you
[38:46] mentioned that they prefer the
[38:48] sort of in a way serve a
[38:49] different aspect of the
[38:50] population and provide a
[38:54] broader set of choices.
[38:54] >> And I think that's really
[38:55] important. And we have all
[38:59] heard of the folks who, for
[39:00] whatever reason, they have
[39:01] many different reasons are not
[39:03] willing to stay at the Springs
[39:05] rescue mission who can't who
[39:06] have themselves. So we can't
[39:07] be the be all and end all for
[39:09] every single person
[39:10] experiencing homelessness.
[39:14] Could you dispel what i
[39:17] believe are some misstatements
[39:17] out there about Hope Cos
[39:18] allowing people to use while
[39:21] they're in the shelter. I
[39:22] understand that. That's not
[39:23] true. And it's if we could set
[39:26] the record straight about how
[39:27] how they differentiate
[39:28] themselves and what's true and
[39:32] what's not true.
[39:34] >> So the city of Coral
[39:35] Springs big Stick has a
[39:36] contract with Hope Cos to help
[39:37] fund some winter shelter
[39:39] operations. Some of that
[39:41] operation. And and so we do
[39:43] monitor and we do have
[39:45] requirements. I will say this
[39:46] that hopes the U.S. Has
[39:51] security. Bags are checked.
[39:51] Drugs and weapons are not
[39:55] allowed in the facility. Folks
[39:57] know that they're not bringing
[39:58] weapons and drugs into the
[40:03] facility are actively using
[40:04] they are hope in their peer
[40:06] support program requires that
[40:07] their employees are the peer
[40:10] support workers be at least 2
[40:10] years sober.
[40:14] >> They are leaders epic.
[40:17] >> Around how how recovery
[40:22] residences are administered
[40:23] >> and so no, they they don't
[40:24] allow. I think a lot of this
[40:24] stems from a really bad
[40:28] experience that happened a few
[40:32] years ago in partnership with
[40:32] the church.
[40:33] >> And was done in an
[40:36] emergency and folks have
[40:37] learned significantly.
[40:38] >> Since then about how to
[40:41] operate a facility safely. One
[40:45] of the one of the key it when
[40:45] we're evaluating one of the
[40:49] key factors in our ppr oem
[40:49] report.
[40:50] >> Is about safety. And that
[40:52] was one of the strengths that
[40:52] we identify. That's not all of
[40:53] the sites.
[40:57] >> We're very safe.
[40:58] >> Thank you. Last thing. And
[40:59] it might be a little bit more
[41:01] of a comment you MAY or MAY
[41:02] not be son. Your earlier
[41:03] statements about will will
[41:03] have a chance to get into
[41:09] budget later I did want say
[41:10] and I I don't know how many of
[41:12] my fellow council members have
[41:14] yet had a meeting with our cfo
[41:17] and chief of staff about the
[41:18] 2027 budget. But I I have and
[41:22] I recall seeing potential
[41:24] position for your office in
[41:27] there and I just am aware of
[41:29] again, if talked about need.
[41:29] There's a lot of stuff you do
[41:31] that you haven't talked about
[41:33] here. Things that you're
[41:35] responsible for it. But I just
[41:38] wanted say that I do hope
[41:39] given that homelessness and
[41:43] homeless response is. Probably
[41:44] at the very tippy top in the
[41:45] top 3 of things that are
[41:48] citizens care about and are
[41:50] concerned about that. We will
[41:51] consider giving you the
[41:52] support that you need for your
[41:53] office. And you're welcome to
[41:56] respond to that. If you.
[41:58] >> Thank you. Yeah, we did
[41:59] request you know, a number of
[42:00] departments have requested
[42:02] additional staff. We requested
[42:05] a dedicated position for
[42:06] homelessness operations. We
[42:07] had this position previously
[42:10] and lost it in the reduction
[42:11] in force. And it's just it's a
[42:14] key. It's a key position. It
[42:17] would allow us to open I you
[42:18] know, I'm currently using
[42:21] staff that could also be
[42:22] deploying some of these other
[42:22] dollars into the communityo
[42:25] do this work. So I think that
[42:27] it will make us more effective
[42:27] in our homelessness response
[42:30] ad and allow us to get more of
[42:31] our money out the door. More
[42:32] quickly on all of those other
[42:35] issues, housing and community
[42:35] development.
[42:36] >> Great. Thank you again in
[42:44] the very much.
[42:47] >> Did you have the 2 other
[42:48] sites are there just from
[42:49] their here? If anybody wanted
[42:51] to talk about enforcement, I
[42:53] added them because there had
[42:53] been some questions about it.
[42:55] So if council, would like to
[42:57] talk about the to enforcement
[43:02] slides. COUNCILMAN Donaldson.
[43:03] >> I was going to have some
[43:04] questions, but I would like to
[43:08] see those slides. Okay. Before
[43:11] >> I just some resources that
[43:12] the list of the common
[43:17] ordinances that we enforce.
[43:18] >> our municipal offenses and
[43:20] how those are handled. And we
[43:22] have members of the pd and
[43:25] city Chen tell is here with
[43:28] prosecution their questions.
[43:33] >> Then then, ma'am.
[43:35] Presidents have a few
[43:35] questions. Mean, when was it?
[43:39] We combined. Housing and
[43:41] homelessness. It wasn't way a
[43:44] few years ago, We how
[43:45] homelessness officer in that
[43:50] house and fell under.
[43:51] >> Yeah, you know, I'm not
[43:53] exactly it's been this way
[43:53] since I've been here in the
[43:54] second time previously. We did
[43:57] this work under I I was
[43:59] previously a community
[44:00] development manager.
[44:01] >> And what was your
[44:02] predecessors name? Forgot
[44:07] Steve Posey. And good housing.
[44:08] But then who was a do homes
[44:13] and the Phelps Phelps? Yeah.
[44:15] And what strikes me is when we
[44:16] put it together like pose.
[44:20] Yes, France. All right. Chief
[44:22] housing and homelessness
[44:23] response officer. It just
[44:24] seems like we think, you know
[44:26] what if we had if we can lower
[44:27] the price of housing than
[44:28] these people living on the
[44:29] streets would go away. And I
[44:31] don't think that will happen.
[44:35] Do you
[44:38] >> Faking mean? There is a a
[44:41] homelessness and housing are
[44:45] deeply related housing There's
[44:46] a struck. There is a
[44:47] structural problem in our
[44:48] community in terms of the
[44:50] availability of affordable
[44:51] housing.
[44:51] >> a certain percentage of
[44:54] people that we see on the
[44:55] street. So I guess we're
[44:57] talking about the un House.
[44:59] Homeless groups un have Begun
[45:00] Suisse com. A certain
[45:02] percentage MAY actually if we
[45:03] could simply get a lower cost
[45:05] housing unit for them, they
[45:07] would go back to work day.
[45:08] That's asking a lot. They
[45:12] would be ok. Aren't there
[45:13] other things that contribute
[45:13] to this other than simply the
[45:16] cost of housing?
[45:16] >> Yeah. Oh, absolutely. There
[45:20] are there's there's mental
[45:21] illness. There's drug
[45:24] addiction. There's trauma.
[45:25] There's
[45:26] >> employment and wages.
[45:28] There's a number of things
[45:28] that contribute.
[45:31] >> I think the challenge we
[45:32] have is that the majority of
[45:34] people who are experiencing
[45:37] homelessness in our community
[45:38] are not those people. You're
[45:39] talking about ask you this.
[45:42] The the majority that are.
[45:43] >> We have a lot of fancy
[45:44] words now weighs com big runs
[45:48] on house homeless. Would you
[45:48] say the majority of them
[45:49] either have drug addiction or
[45:50] mental health problems?
[45:53] >> I would say and there MAY
[45:57] be a nuance here.
[45:58] >> Council member and we might
[45:59] want to have different
[46:00] conversation about this. But
[46:01] what I would say is the
[46:03] majority of people who are
[46:04] considered unhoused are people
[46:05] who are living in shelters for
[46:06] people who are doubled up.
[46:08] Poor people who are couch
[46:09] surfing, people who are living
[46:12] in their vehicles. There are
[46:13] thousands of people on waiting
[46:16] lists for housing. So I think
[46:17] that we have different. We
[46:18] have to have different
[46:20] strategies for people with
[46:21] different needs and not is
[46:26] really the basis for this.
[46:27] >> For the
[46:28] >> Having real-time data and
[46:30] case conferencing. And yes, I
[46:31] cannot say that there are not
[46:32] folks out there who are. You
[46:36] that? The answer is not just
[46:37] to put them into a home and
[46:40] let them be. That is not the
[46:43] answer. But the answers are
[46:46] very individual lives.
[46:48] >> And I don't think you said
[46:49] I cannot say that there are
[46:50] people out there like this is
[46:54] if it's a few, I think it's a
[46:55] whole bunch of the ones that
[46:56] are on the street and the
[46:57] parks and on the creek. It's a
[46:58] whole bunch of them.
[47:03] >> And lowering. Just strikes
[47:05] me that when we have your
[47:05] position is running housing
[47:08] and also doing homelessness.
[47:12] >> That is and it's not all I
[47:13] think it would be better
[47:14] split. The 2 positions out
[47:16] into again have a homelessness
[47:17] response person. That's what
[47:18] they do. And that's all they
[47:19] do. And they focus on this
[47:24] other stuff, too, because it's
[47:26] sort of the create creates
[47:28] this idea that, well, you
[47:29] know, if we just had less
[47:30] expensive housing, this
[47:31] problem be over, I don't think
[47:33] that's even close to true. And
[47:36] when we when we shut down
[47:39] state inpatient, mental health
[47:39] institutions that created a
[47:41] bunch people who can survive
[47:42] on their own no matter what
[47:43] the cost of housing is. And
[47:47] when we legalize marijuana and
[47:49] drugs became more prevalent
[47:50] throughout our society. More
[47:50] people got addicted to
[47:52] different kinds of drugs and
[47:53] it doesn't matter what the
[47:54] cost of housing is. That's a
[47:57] that's its own problem. And if
[47:58] you're going we're going to
[47:59] focus on homelessness. We
[48:01] really need to focus on where
[48:06] do with the these people.
[48:08] >> sorry. I just want you get
[48:09] your view on that. Do you
[48:10] think that your position will
[48:14] be better?
[48:15] >> Splitting the 2 again as it
[48:15] used to be when I came on
[48:18] council is that way?
[48:20] >> I think my position is
[48:21] titled Because of the Way the
[48:23] Housing and Homelessness
[48:27] Response Department is titled
[48:29] What We're asking for is a
[48:29] homeless operations
[48:30] Cordinator, which was the
[48:33] position that was doing the
[48:34] coordination work. It came
[48:35] under housing and
[48:36] homelessness. Response area me
[48:37] that we had a separate
[48:41] position doing that. My job
[48:42] has been largely to oversee
[48:45] all of those those resources
[48:48] that being deployed and help
[48:50] set the strategy for how we
[48:51] get dollars into the community
[48:53] to address community issues.
[48:57] My job has never been entirely
[48:59] homelessness response. And I
[49:01] think that is a
[49:03] misunderstanding. Phelps job
[49:04] was that and I think we need
[49:05] someone with Andy Phelps job
[49:06] again, just focusing on
[49:08] homelessness nothing else.
[49:10] >> That 100%. And that is what
[49:12] we're requesting. That is what
[49:13] we've requested. And we it
[49:14] also need to, I think, stopped
[49:19] the misinformation. And this
[49:21] is just it's just cost of
[49:22] housing problem. If we could
[49:23] just get housing costs, lower
[49:25] everything. Be ok? I think
[49:28] that's just not true. Even the
[49:29] title of your position
[49:32] confuses it. Yeah, want one or
[49:37] 2 more questions. You know,
[49:38] the mayor had his press
[49:40] conference and he rolled out
[49:40] the homeless response team and
[49:42] I don't know who the lady was,
[49:43] but there was someone off
[49:46] camera who asked inconvenient
[49:47] question, well, haven't you
[49:48] been doing this like for the
[49:49] last couple of years? And what
[49:50] was the answer to that
[49:54] question?
[49:55] >> Yeah, I mean, we have been
[49:55] meeting our departments have
[49:57] been convening for a couple of
[49:59] years. It's just a new
[50:00] direction in setting a tone
[50:01] that we are all working
[50:03] together and it gets to your
[50:03] point about homelessness is
[50:05] not just a housing problem.
[50:11] Homelessness is a problem with
[50:11] criminal activity put
[50:12] homelessness a met, a health
[50:14] and behavioral health problem.
[50:18] Homelessness does create trash
[50:19] and then so it's a cleanup
[50:21] program. A problem right?
[50:22] There are a variety of
[50:23] problems. No single position.
[50:28] Even if we have position
[50:29] dedicated to homelessness
[50:30] response. We require all of
[50:32] that expertise to come to the
[50:35] table to identify what those
[50:35] needs are. But we've really
[50:37] been doing this for several
[50:39] years, right? All these groups
[50:40] have been meeting and trying
[50:41] figure out the best way to
[50:45] coordinate.
[50:46] >> We have been meeting to
[50:46] community, if you think of and
[50:48] I don't want to get really
[50:49] nerdy here. But if you think
[50:51] of a call us a spectrum of
[50:53] collaboration, we've done a
[50:54] good job of communicating and
[50:55] talking about some of the
[50:57] shared issues but not setting.
[51:01] >> Our a r.
[51:02] >> Aligning our performance
[51:04] aligning are planning in a
[51:06] meaningful Well, I remembered
[51:09] so watch conference. A press
[51:10] conference and then woman,
[51:11] whoever she was. So what's
[51:11] really going to change? And
[51:15] then the mayor? Wasn't really
[51:16] sure. So we asked you and your
[51:19] example as well. We could when
[51:21] we do try to one of these big
[51:22] campsites we could before the
[51:26] police come, we could have
[51:27] like the social workers come
[51:29] the day before and tell them
[51:29] what's going to happen. So if
[51:35] they want to. You know,
[51:35] received services, they can
[51:36] you can do that. First.
[51:40] Remember that?
[51:44] >> I do remember that
[51:46] encampment, closure strategy
[51:46] Oklahoma City, for example,
[51:49] just in our we had a fellow
[51:50] here spent the summer with us
[51:52] who's now with Oklahoma City
[51:54] and they go out and they just
[51:56] cleared a camp meant. 75 folks
[51:59] put 55 directly into housing
[52:00] 20 Aaron Case management folks
[52:02] have case management for a
[52:03] year and they are permanently
[52:09] closing the site. So those are
[52:10] strategies. Example of that
[52:11] strategy about this. Because
[52:11] what I always notice on the
[52:14] news when we do this, we
[52:17] >> sweep a campsite always the
[52:18] big ones is several people get
[52:21] arrested. Felons get arrested.
[52:22] >> Actually more than more
[52:25] than a couple. So if the
[52:26] social workers go the day
[52:27] before and tell them, you know
[52:27] what, tomorrow police are
[52:30] going to be here. It seems to
[52:30] me the real h#
[52:31] #
[52:31] #
[52:31] #
[52:31] #
[52:31] #
[52:31] #
[52:31] criminals
[52:33] that are in their will pack up
[52:35] and move on, right? Right
[52:37] there. And so will MISS That
[52:40] opportunity to take felons off
[52:43] the off the street. It's so to
[52:44] me, if that was the best
[52:47] example we had, that was an
[52:48] odd example of what would be
[52:50] better. And then just to go
[52:51] back to it because you said
[52:52] this earlier is will close
[52:56] these champs permanently. How
[52:57] how does that really work when
[52:58] sweep by an area on a creek
[53:01] and then we actually clean it
[53:02] up. We get all the garbage
[53:04] out, all the tents and all the
[53:05] c#
[53:05] #
[53:05] #
[53:05] that's accumulated there.
[53:08] How do we permanently closed?
[53:09] >> Well, you can permit closed
[53:12] things through activation
[53:12] through fencing through a
[53:13] hostile architecture. There's
[53:15] a number of things that you
[53:17] can do. I don't have does not
[53:18] sense it or or put up hostile.
[53:20] It does it.
[53:23] >> There are a variety of ways
[53:26] to do this. I do not have the
[53:28] planet is an example of what
[53:30] communities do to try and keep
[53:30] from moving folks around. I
[53:33] think our own team are
[53:34] homeless. U.S. Response team
[53:40] has expressed the concern that
[53:40] enforcement without that
[53:43] making the meaningful
[53:44] connection just moves people
[53:44] to other places. And we see
[53:47] folks circulating in the city
[53:48] and somebody in our within the
[53:51] city described it halves of
[53:52] destruction that get complete,
[53:55] that get created because
[53:55] people know that we are a
[53:58] community that enforces and so
[53:59] they will just pick up and
[54:01] leave when that when a campus
[54:04] side so we can look at other
[54:06] best. This bringing that up
[54:08] our entire all of our
[54:09] departments together to figure
[54:11] out how do we solve this
[54:14] problem? How do we solve the
[54:15] problem? And that I don't have
[54:18] the planet. Is it? This is a
[54:19] plan that would need to be
[54:21] created by this team. But it
[54:22] is an example of what cities
[54:28] do. It is an example.
[54:28] >> My impression from that
[54:30] press conference was that
[54:30] essentially this has been
[54:32] happening for the last couple
[54:34] years. The mayor, the mayor
[54:34] himself so well, we'll just
[54:35] make it more formal now, as we
[54:38] said, he said, will it's
[54:40] official now. So to me, it was
[54:41] a pr stunt is will come out
[54:45] and will announce this. We'll
[54:45] call will give it a name and
[54:46] we'll just we'll do what we've
[54:48] been doing and disappointing
[54:51] for me. He just didn't seem
[54:52] like there is anything new
[54:56] there. And if we're going to
[54:57] say like we're going to
[54:59] permanently close the sites.
[55:00] Tell me, you know, tell me how
[55:01] you're going to do that. And I
[55:04] don't. I don't think you
[55:06] really can. Unless it's
[55:07] underneath the bridge, a new
[55:08] fence it off or put rocks
[55:10] under there. But that's not
[55:12] where the big campsites are
[55:13] anyway there in the trees
[55:22] along the creek. So I think I
[55:23] think things are being
[55:25] suggested will be able to do
[55:26] these things. And you really
[55:27] won't be able to do those
[55:28] things. You're not gonna be
[55:30] able to close down the creek
[55:31] beds. We're going to have to
[55:34] have a level of enforcement
[55:36] that as soon as begins, it is
[55:39] it is stopped.
[55:41] >> I have ideas on that. But
[55:43] I'm not going to go. Dry
[55:47] tonight. Believe time.
[55:48] >> enforcement is key
[55:51] component of that. As we have
[55:53] created urban trail Ranger
[55:54] programs and given the
[55:56] authority post and those sorts
[55:57] of things.
[55:58] >> But again, we don't solve
[55:59] these problems if we're not
[56:03] solving them together. If if
[56:05] one department.
[56:06] >> I think that what I heard
[56:07] is that we've been working
[56:09] together for 2 years. That and
[56:11] the mayor, I heard him say all
[56:12] this. He came into office. He
[56:15] said, hey, do we meet
[56:16] together? And then people
[56:17] said, well, we can do that.
[56:18] And then we started doing a
[56:19] pretty early on in his 4
[56:21] years, which would make sense.
[56:22] You shouldn't wait till 3 and
[56:24] a half years to asked that
[56:27] question. And so now we give
[56:28] it an official title. We call
[56:31] it the whatever it's called.
[56:33] But we have essentially
[56:33] continue to do what we've been
[56:37] doing. It and some things have
[56:37] change of only got one more
[56:38] quick the final thing I'd like
[56:40] to hear about is. And I guess
[56:42] this would be from pd is how?
[56:46] >> Or
[56:46] >> prosecutors.
[56:50] >> When when we passed the you
[56:50] can't live in your car
[56:54] ordinance in our city. We were
[56:55] warned that we were going to
[56:56] cause the overflowing of our
[57:00] of our jail. Mothers and
[57:02] children would now be
[57:03] wandering the streets because
[57:05] kick them out of the we heard
[57:07] about this. So I'd like to
[57:08] hear a little about the
[57:10] enforcement. How many actual
[57:11] times that citations been
[57:12] written. Things like that.
[57:16] Thank you.
[57:17] >> Good morning, ladies and
[57:17] gentlemen of right, Ted Lilly,
[57:20] 10 of our homeless operations
[57:21] team. That law went into
[57:22] effect. I believe it was MARCH
[57:24] 24th through 26th of this
[57:26] year. And so we've been in
[57:27] effect enforcing that for the
[57:30] last 5 months. The numbers
[57:31] that we have so far, the
[57:32] number of vehicle camps that
[57:35] we have contacted his 335 5
[57:35] and a half months in the
[57:39] number of people cited is 28
[57:40] it's a very anecdotal took of
[57:41] my team to say, hey, how many
[57:45] of those people have been
[57:46] families with young kids? None
[57:48] of them happened. Usually been
[57:50] single adults. We have some
[57:52] that are multiple offenders
[57:53] and that for us as we
[57:54] individual, we contacted the
[57:55] second. We contact him in his
[57:55] vehicle. He jumps out in the
[57:59] fight is on. And so it's not
[57:59] that we're contacting families
[58:02] with young kids all the time.
[58:03] It's rarely even with that
[58:04] officers still have discretion
[58:06] on whether or not they want to
[58:07] say and individual, depending
[58:08] on the circumstances that they
[58:13] come into.
[58:13] >> And is that lieutenant to
[58:16] please that ordinance been
[58:17] useful when you go to a
[58:17] neighborhood on that
[58:18] complaint, which you're
[58:20] receiving before that
[58:21] someone's living in front of
[58:24] my house or next to the park.
[58:26] Is this ordinance useful and
[58:27] in addressing that and
[58:28] bringing a sense of order back
[58:30] to the neighborhood?
[58:31] >> Yes, we've I've gotten
[58:34] specific feedback directly
[58:36] from citizens whenhey've
[58:36] placed ago Cos complaints or
[58:38] requests are called us
[58:40] directly asking for that
[58:40] enforcement piece for us to go
[58:41] out and initially contact
[58:43] those individuals. First, the
[58:44] law requires that we give a
[58:45] warning to them first before
[58:49] they can be cited at least
[58:49] once. And so that warning
[58:50] usually helps. And then the
[58:51] leave that area and we don't
[58:53] hear from them again.
[58:55] >> And the goal, I'll speak
[58:56] for myself on that was to this
[58:59] needs to be like. Carrots and
[59:02] sticks like we want you to
[59:03] come and receive help in
[59:04] getting out of this situation
[59:08] that you find yourself in. If
[59:10] you don't, we're not going
[59:11] allow you to live in your car.
[59:13] You're going to get cited. You
[59:14] could even potentially,
[59:15] although unlikely get sent to
[59:17] jail for 10 days.
[59:22] >> Has has it. You MAY not
[59:24] know this but firsthand, but
[59:25] has it been useful in getting
[59:30] people out of the cars
[59:31] >> into
[59:32] >> Some kind of a living
[59:32] situation is different.
[59:34] Whether it's Springs rescue
[59:35] mission, Catholic Charities,
[59:38] whatever it is.
[59:40] >> I don't have that data.
[59:42] It's a serving release ticket.
[59:42] Always. So any time we come
[59:44] into contact with somebody,
[59:45] it's a server least ticket
[59:46] like somebody would get on a
[59:48] traffic stop. And then we go
[59:49] on our way on to the next
[59:49] thing. So we're not conducting
[59:51] follow-up with that individual
[59:53] later. We do offer outreach
[59:55] resources to individuals were
[59:55] in contact with them. Whether
[59:57] or not they take advantage of
[59:58] those is up to them. We can't
[1:00:00] force that issue, but we do
[1:00:03] offer those resources contact
[1:00:04] with them.
[1:00:05] >> Has there only been the one
[1:00:05] that you mentioned? It's been
[1:00:08] cited more than once.
[1:00:10] >> believe so. I know of one
[1:00:11] for sure that we cited
[1:00:13] multiple times.
[1:00:17] >> And I don't know if
[1:00:18] attorneys office would have
[1:00:19] any anything you could add.
[1:00:23] >> Just about if.
[1:00:24] >> We were also warned this
[1:00:24] would be overwhelmed the court
[1:00:28] system.
[1:00:30] >> It would be too much if we
[1:00:31] tried this. The continuing
[1:00:34] over on the court system. How
[1:00:34] is that?
[1:00:35] >> Worked Good Morning Council
[1:00:38] Chantal Withrow Division chief
[1:00:39] for prosecution,
[1:00:40] unfortunately, are still a
[1:00:42] little early in the data
[1:00:42] because after pd issues, a
[1:00:43] citation is about a month away
[1:00:45] before the coming to court. We
[1:00:46] have to offer the ability to
[1:00:47] get attorneys, that kind of
[1:00:50] thing. So I can't say much
[1:00:51] about the results of these
[1:00:52] cases, but it has not been a
[1:00:54] significant number that is
[1:00:54] overpowered the ability of us
[1:00:57] to do our job.
[1:00:58] >> Location tell. Thank you.
[1:00:59] Again, it's always important
[1:01:02] to say this every time
[1:01:03] confiscation of the vehicle is
[1:01:05] not a part of the ordinance.
[1:01:05] Correct?
[1:01:06] >> No, it would have to
[1:01:08] violate some other or or some
[1:01:09] other provision of law.
[1:01:15] >> Okay. Ok, thank That's it
[1:01:16] for me. MADAM PRESIDENT, thank
[1:01:21] you, COUNCILMAN. My number.
[1:01:21] >> a trying put some numbers
[1:01:25] to all this to kind of help
[1:01:25] people kind of understand this
[1:01:26] housing piece a little bit. So
[1:01:29] if someone unable to work,
[1:01:29] okay, that last job, whatever
[1:01:34] it might be and they start
[1:01:35] applying for funds. I'm going
[1:01:36] throw a number like the $1240
[1:01:40] is what they can get a month.
[1:01:41] From somebody in the average
[1:01:45] cost of like a one bedroom
[1:01:47] home. A one-bedroom apartment
[1:01:48] is probably around that
[1:01:50] amount. So that doesn't leave
[1:01:52] any money for food, medical
[1:01:54] expenses or anything else.
[1:01:58] there seems to be. There are
[1:01:59] other programs they can. They
[1:02:03] can apply for a list of other
[1:02:05] programs. Stapp, for example,
[1:02:06] leaking they can go there's
[1:02:09] some disability act stuff.
[1:02:16] Medicaid, of course s I d I
[1:02:17] which I wasn't familiar with
[1:02:18] that. Something that's just
[1:02:22] just realized. And then ssi.
[1:02:25] So and with those. It's
[1:02:29] complicated. Yeah. And so one
[1:02:32] of my questions is, do we have
[1:02:33] enough caseworkers who are
[1:02:39] trained? With sore? What I
[1:02:40] understand that that's kind of
[1:02:41] a combination of those
[1:02:42] understandings of those
[1:02:43] different things. Do have
[1:02:44] enough of those in our county
[1:02:46] right now.
[1:02:48] >> You notice or has been a a
[1:02:50] blitzer. But the best practice
[1:02:53] program.
[1:02:55] >> At No, I think one of the
[1:02:56] things that providers have
[1:02:59] said to us in our convening Ys
[1:03:05] is that? 3 of the 3 top
[1:03:05] priorities that came out of a
[1:03:09] convening where data we don't
[1:03:10] have adequate data to solve
[1:03:11] the problem. We don't know
[1:03:12] what's working and what's not
[1:03:16] working at a system level.
[1:03:17] >> don't have system
[1:03:20] leadership. So somebody who's
[1:03:21] actually
[1:03:23] >> leading we have tackle that
[1:03:23] with our continuum of care. In
[1:03:27] fact, I think this city work
[1:03:27] to talk about the data and the
[1:03:28] system leadership with our
[1:03:29] partnership with the Pikes
[1:03:30] Peak United Way. And the 3rd
[1:03:34] one was case management.
[1:03:35] They're just did not. There's
[1:03:36] not sufficient resources to
[1:03:38] provide case management to
[1:03:39] support the pop. The number of
[1:03:40] people experiencing
[1:03:42] homelessness in our community.
[1:03:43] So I mean, I would have to go
[1:03:46] back. I don't have a list of
[1:03:47] how many sore trained case
[1:03:49] workers there are in our
[1:03:50] community. But so is has been
[1:03:54] a best practice to help people
[1:03:55] navigate the systems which are
[1:03:56] really complex. It's not about
[1:03:57] just going out an application,
[1:03:58] those applications take.
[1:04:01] >> Multiple if to fill them
[1:04:03] out multiple before you
[1:04:06] successful.
[1:04:08] >> On top of that, what
[1:04:12] they're possibility of housing
[1:04:12] vouchers. But we've had
[1:04:13] housing vouchers for helping
[1:04:15] cut correctly and soul. Now
[1:04:19] they're harder to get. And so
[1:04:22] a lot of individuals that MAY
[1:04:23] be have been dependent upon
[1:04:24] those housing vouchers to help
[1:04:25] fill that gap because I just
[1:04:26] pointed it out. If they can
[1:04:30] get 1000, what are they safe
[1:04:35] 1000
[1:04:35] >> Yet yeah. They're just
[1:04:39] there are $290. That's rent.
[1:04:45] >> There About 3,003 1000
[1:04:46] people just under 3,000,
[1:04:47] people on the waitlist for
[1:04:50] housing choice vouchers in our
[1:04:50] community, which is what many
[1:04:51] think folks with. No, it's
[1:04:55] actually.
[1:04:56] >> There are over 400 people
[1:04:59] on our coordinated entry
[1:05:00] waiting list who are people
[1:05:00] who are experiencing
[1:05:02] homelessness, who are actively
[1:05:03] seeking housing. So there's
[1:05:06] over 400 people on that list
[1:05:07] and the kids confidence to a
[1:05:11] handful of units every month.
[1:05:14] The housing need in our Again,
[1:05:17] 30% of the gap is for folks
[1:05:18] earning 30% of the area,
[1:05:21] median income or less.
[1:05:26] >> And so it is housing. It is
[1:05:31] a challenge in our community.
[1:05:33] >> It's complicated. All
[1:05:34] right. I mean, any of us
[1:05:37] anyone in this room? That
[1:05:38] might be in that situation
[1:05:41] would have to go pretty
[1:05:42] extensive filling out for this
[1:05:43] is what homeless people are
[1:05:44] doing every single day. And
[1:05:44] they did. So they just do it
[1:05:46] on their computer. Always But
[1:05:50] they go to a library right? So
[1:05:50] they could access a library to
[1:05:53] get some help. There. And and
[1:05:58] so but it's still they have to
[1:06:00] figure out how to do this. And
[1:06:01] if they're not holding down a
[1:06:04] job and they don't have.
[1:06:04] There's some challenges with
[1:06:08] all of that. Okay. That leads
[1:06:10] me into the next question. And
[1:06:12] this is where I want to send.
[1:06:15] Send. Tell back up
[1:06:23] So we cite people for illegal
[1:06:24] camp things because we don't
[1:06:28] have a lot of other choices.
[1:06:29] We can't just tell someone to
[1:06:32] move on. We have to say it's
[1:06:34] illegal. You can't camp here.
[1:06:35] And then when they don't move
[1:06:38] on. Our only response is a
[1:06:42] citation. Mostly Campion
[1:06:44] citations that we have are not
[1:06:46] jail bull offenses, though
[1:06:48] they're usually finds. Is that
[1:06:49] correct?
[1:06:50] >> So it does have a maximum
[1:06:52] potential penalty of up to 10
[1:06:55] days in jail or $2500 fine.
[1:06:56] That is the absolute maximum.
[1:06:57] Not something that we see
[1:06:59] regular regularly, though.
[1:06:59] >> So there is a component
[1:07:01] with camping, but that's
[1:07:05] probably not something da. It
[1:07:07] would to sell for first
[1:07:08] something along those lines,
[1:07:09] right? What will get give us a
[1:07:10] picture of what that looks
[1:07:12] like. I want to understand
[1:07:13] like what what are they
[1:07:14] dealing with when they get
[1:07:14] this can't be a violation
[1:07:18] ticket. What are likely going
[1:07:20] to get?
[1:07:20] >> Right. And really depends.
[1:07:21] And I know I hate canceling.
[1:07:22] That is a lawyer because we
[1:07:24] say it all the time. But it
[1:07:26] depends a lot on the actual
[1:07:27] fence itself. Whether or not
[1:07:29] you're on private property,
[1:07:30] public property, but received
[1:07:34] one citation or 15, whether
[1:07:35] you have a criminal history
[1:07:36] that includes other things
[1:07:39] that makes it more of an
[1:07:40] aggravated case. So we look at
[1:07:40] all of the factors together
[1:07:44] before we come up with
[1:07:45] >> we do have our fire
[1:07:47] department partners that work
[1:07:48] with us as well. So if there's
[1:07:49] somebody that's willing to
[1:07:51] accept resources, sometimes we
[1:07:52] do what's called a diversion
[1:07:54] or positive case, give them an
[1:07:55] opportunity to.
[1:07:56] >> Kind of put their there
[1:07:59] actions to their words.
[1:08:00] >> And so we can decide to
[1:08:01] dismiss cases of people are
[1:08:03] actively working with our
[1:08:04] resources.
[1:08:05] >> But sometimes it does come
[1:08:06] down to jail. And it just
[1:08:09] depends on all that right? If
[1:08:10] actors.
[1:08:11] >> So this is where it becomes
[1:08:16] a problem for there's lots of
[1:08:17] these individuals that have a
[1:08:24] cute. Drug addiction behavior,
[1:08:24] health, mental illness, and et
[1:08:30] cetera. How are they going to
[1:08:31] fill out the forms and
[1:08:31] everything to get the income
[1:08:34] in order to get housing? How
[1:08:35] are they going to navigate the
[1:08:39] system? Is there a place for
[1:08:42] people who are not capable of
[1:08:44] doing it the way that we have
[1:08:50] set They end up just given up
[1:08:51] because they they don't know
[1:08:52] how to feel. They don't know
[1:08:54] how access some of these
[1:08:56] resources. And so they just
[1:08:57] continually get citations and
[1:09:00] get sent to you over and over.
[1:09:02] I mean, I've seen one
[1:09:03] individual that had over 200
[1:09:07] citations and he's still on
[1:09:08] the street. So there's we seem
[1:09:11] to be we have this one issue
[1:09:12] where if they're not capable
[1:09:15] of taking care of themselves.
[1:09:18] How do you respond to that?
[1:09:19] >> And you put up on the most
[1:09:22] complicated part of my job.
[1:09:23] They're different legal
[1:09:24] standards as well. So if
[1:09:26] you're not competent mean, you
[1:09:28] can't understand yourself the
[1:09:30] ability to understand the
[1:09:30] system and a sister defense
[1:09:33] attorney in in your case that
[1:09:33] we can't prosecute you. So it
[1:09:37] goes to a different world.
[1:09:39] There's another to take care
[1:09:40] of yourself and not be a
[1:09:41] danger to yourself or others
[1:09:42] to be commitd Sibley, which
[1:09:45] is a very high standard to
[1:09:46] meet. And there's a standard
[1:09:48] of people that you just stated
[1:09:49] that just can't get together
[1:09:49] enough to fill out the forms
[1:09:53] or don't understand them as
[1:09:54] the court we do have or show
[1:09:57] or show up at court for
[1:09:58] Correct.
[1:09:58] >> So we do have the ability
[1:09:59] to have a court appointed
[1:10:00] attorneys appointed to some of
[1:10:03] these cases that can assist.
[1:10:04] >> We do have our fire
[1:10:06] partners that can help people
[1:10:06] in as long as people are
[1:10:07] willing to sit there and work
[1:10:10] with them. A lot of the hard
[1:10:11] work calls upon them to do the
[1:10:13] actual paperwork and that kind
[1:10:14] of stuff. But you have hit
[1:10:15] upon one of the biggest
[1:10:17] problems we have with repeat
[1:10:21] offenders is how to make that
[1:10:21] behavior change and whether or
[1:10:22] not they're capable of doing
[1:10:24] it sometimes is a challenge.
[1:10:26] >> Because of trying like
[1:10:28] what's what's the motivation
[1:10:29] when they just don't
[1:10:30] understand or can't figure out
[1:10:33] how to fill out the forms
[1:10:34] right? That's where it gets
[1:10:37] kind of problematic. And
[1:10:39] that's where your job becomes
[1:10:40] really difficult because
[1:10:42] you're trying to deal with an
[1:10:43] individual that is violated
[1:10:46] the law over and over again
[1:10:49] here we're trying to because
[1:10:50] we are so limited and the
[1:10:52] tools that we have because of
[1:10:54] competency laws complications
[1:10:57] right? Because a lot of these
[1:10:58] individuals you just know,
[1:10:59] they're just not right. I
[1:11:02] mean, the I mean, they need
[1:11:03] >> our society needs to do a
[1:11:06] better job. Denver needs to do
[1:11:10] a better job of of working on
[1:11:11] a competency laws that really
[1:11:12] help us deal with this instead
[1:11:17] of having to cite a or use
[1:11:17] local laws to try to control
[1:11:18] it. But we don't have any
[1:11:19] other choices, right? We're
[1:11:20] kind of we're kind of caught
[1:11:23] in this place.
[1:11:23] >> I would agree with that. We
[1:11:24] are bound in a lot of ways by
[1:11:27] the state legislation that
[1:11:28] defines competency defines
[1:11:31] when you can help somebody in
[1:11:32] to a facility for their mental
[1:11:33] health or their drug
[1:11:35] addictions. And so
[1:11:36] unfortunately, the municipal
[1:11:37] level can't do anything but
[1:11:39] follow the state laws in those
[1:11:41] areas. You pointed out one of
[1:11:42] the areas that I we struggle
[1:11:43] with and we have to
[1:11:45] individually evaluated person.
[1:11:46] >> I think it's one of the
[1:11:47] biggest gaps that we have
[1:11:49] because we have some programs
[1:11:50] that aren't some are quite
[1:11:51] sufficient enough. They can be
[1:11:53] better. But we do have
[1:11:54] programs. But these these
[1:11:56] folks, they don't apply for
[1:11:59] them because they just. They
[1:12:01] don't have the cap capability
[1:12:03] to do right? You know, the
[1:12:05] capability to show up to
[1:12:08] court.
[1:12:09] >> And so these are the
[1:12:12] individuals that are our
[1:12:12] police and fire are dealing
[1:12:15] with every single day. And
[1:12:16] they're just repeat offenders.
[1:12:19] You know, I heard the rescue
[1:12:20] mission celebrated an
[1:12:21] individual who had been at the
[1:12:24] rescue mission for 20 years
[1:12:25] and he just finally was able
[1:12:26] to get to a place where it
[1:12:29] could have his own That's
[1:12:33] incredible. I mean, one that's
[1:12:34] amazing that this individual,
[1:12:35] you know, got a place after 20
[1:12:39] years.
[1:12:44] >> But it And that's not
[1:12:45] movement.
[1:12:45] >> I mean, you see on saying
[1:12:48] that's not movement. And so
[1:12:49] with the system, isil is the
[1:12:52] system is fundamentally. Not
[1:12:53] capable of doing the job. We
[1:12:56] need to do efficiently. That's
[1:12:57] one of our issues. So we need
[1:12:58] to kind of address his
[1:13:00] competency laws, issues as
[1:13:03] you've kind of rates right?
[1:13:04] >> Yeah, I would agree with
[1:13:05] you on. Fortunately again,
[1:13:06] that is with the state
[1:13:06] legislation. But we have to
[1:13:09] work with any and her team to
[1:13:10] create bigger groups for for
[1:13:11] some of those become super
[1:13:14] utilize ERs. We did can
[1:13:14] determine if there are other
[1:13:17] avenues that we can proceed.
[1:13:18] Even if competency is an issue
[1:13:19] to it.
[1:13:21] >> And just to kind of
[1:13:24] reiterate and make sure this
[1:13:27] is clear, is there anything
[1:13:31] that we at city Council around
[1:13:31] this issue?
[1:13:33] >> Or is this just 100% a
[1:13:33] state issue like we just can't
[1:13:38] even go there?
[1:13:38] >> It comes on the little bit
[1:13:39] of funding as well as having
[1:13:42] people that can focus on the
[1:13:43] problem, working with our
[1:13:44] partners apd. And as Amy has
[1:13:45] said, it's it's about getting
[1:13:46] the people that can understand
[1:13:47] the problem and develop their
[1:13:50] focus to it. You know, smart
[1:13:53] as a prosecutor in my role is
[1:13:53] very limited because I'm an on
[1:13:57] one side of the situation. But
[1:13:58] getting to know the people
[1:13:59] that you could reach out to in
[1:14:00] the city and outside the city
[1:14:03] in the community refer people
[1:14:04] to is important and has
[1:14:07] helped.
[1:14:09] >> My last question is I hear
[1:14:10] all the time that you'll bring
[1:14:12] down a verdict for them to be
[1:14:13] in jail for 10 days or
[1:14:16] whatever it might be. And then
[1:14:17] they go to the jail and the
[1:14:20] jail releases them in like 2
[1:14:23] hours how does that happen?
[1:14:24] What's going on? But I want to
[1:14:25] understand what that what's
[1:14:27] the loop hole there.
[1:14:29] >> So there might be 2 things
[1:14:29] you're talking about. One
[1:14:32] might be what we call truth in
[1:14:33] sentencing. And there are
[1:14:33] state laws that basically say
[1:14:35] if you get a sentence,
[1:14:36] sometimes the sheriff can
[1:14:37] reduce that based on good time
[1:14:39] good behavior was in the jail.
[1:14:40] >> Again, that's outside of
[1:14:42] the municipal courts.
[1:14:44] Providence. The other thing is
[1:14:46] bond, which again is a state
[1:14:48] issue and mandate upon us. We
[1:14:49] have to release people with
[1:14:50] certain low-level offenses,
[1:14:51] including most of our
[1:14:53] municipal fences. So even if
[1:14:54] you're picked up on failing to
[1:14:55] appear on most of the time, he
[1:14:58] will be granted a bond
[1:14:58] relatively quickly in in be
[1:15:01] released from that facility.
[1:15:05] >> it just sounds so. To good
[1:15:09] things. I guess that's where
[1:15:12] kind of like stuck at. I think
[1:15:14] we need to be looking at other
[1:15:17] state officials to say, hey,
[1:15:17] this issue needs to be
[1:15:19] addressed its costs team
[1:15:21] municipality, some real
[1:15:24] dollars. And we just not it's
[1:15:27] making our jobs much more hard
[1:15:28] work. The taxpayers paying a
[1:15:32] lot. Because of some issues
[1:15:33] that aren't being addressed at
[1:15:35] the state level.
[1:15:37] >> can understand that
[1:15:38] sentiment Councilmember.
[1:15:39] >> All right. Thank you very
[1:15:41] much. Councilmember I I think
[1:15:42] this is again, one of the
[1:15:44] strengths that we can bring
[1:15:45] with the homelessness response
[1:15:49] team, which is really getting
[1:15:50] the date around this. The the
[1:15:52] stories for the advocacy to do
[1:15:55] this work.
[1:15:57] >> I agree with you because
[1:15:59] that's how you tell the story.
[1:16:00] Right? We can go forth and go
[1:16:02] to our representatives and
[1:16:02] say, hey, look at this. This
[1:16:06] is the costs. So there's
[1:16:09] there's a bill that's coming
[1:16:09] forward that indirectly
[1:16:12] related to this around all.
[1:16:13] And it's 0 tolerance, kind of
[1:16:14] bill that will be voting on
[1:16:20] the ballot. And it's mandatory
[1:16:21] 8 to 32 years. If you're
[1:16:24] caught with a real more than a
[1:16:27] single use dose because you'll
[1:16:31] be construed tribute or
[1:16:32] >> it's going be an
[1:16:34] interesting thing. If that
[1:16:35] passes.
[1:16:37] >> And I unfortunately, I
[1:16:41] think as we've discussed here,
[1:16:42] one of the best tools we have
[1:16:45] is law enforcement.
[1:16:47] >> I wish it was something
[1:16:51] different. Yeah. Our we are
[1:16:53] very well trained response of
[1:16:55] law enforcement work very
[1:16:56] closely with providers and our
[1:16:59] fire department they're doing
[1:16:59] great. But I will tell you
[1:17:01] that I think you've sort of
[1:17:02] wrap this up, I think for us,
[1:17:06] which is that, you know, we're
[1:17:07] looking at not only it, you
[1:17:09] you have to have support to
[1:17:09] people to complete all the
[1:17:11] various forms and get on the
[1:17:11] waiting list. And then there
[1:17:13] has to be places for people to
[1:17:14] be. And I think that's what we
[1:17:16] heard with, you know, things
[1:17:19] like safe parking or hopes to
[1:17:21] bring to the community as well
[1:17:22] to support the great work
[1:17:23] that's already happening at
[1:17:27] the Springs Rescue mission. So
[1:17:29] when we think in terms there's
[1:17:31] a maximum quality management
[1:17:31] that is that a bad system will
[1:17:34] be a good person every day.
[1:17:35] And the system requires more
[1:17:38] than just people to help Trump
[1:17:39] the paperwork. There has to be
[1:17:39] a bridge place for people to
[1:17:42] be. Then that connection to
[1:17:45] that exit. And that's what
[1:17:46] we're really working as the
[1:17:48] system is. How do we fill
[1:17:48] those gaps? We can't be
[1:17:50] everywhere. Do everything, you
[1:17:52] know, everywhere. All at once.
[1:17:55] But I do feel 2 COUNCILMAN
[1:17:57] Henson's comments that we are
[1:18:01] beginning to see that how we
[1:18:01] manage the system and how we
[1:18:04] move people through that
[1:18:05] system. It is very important
[1:18:06] and to councilmember
[1:18:08] Donaldson's comment, it won't
[1:18:10] work for everybody. It won't
[1:18:15] work for everybody. That, you
[1:18:16] know, that becomes the issue
[1:18:22] of law enforcement and a
[1:18:23] prosecution sloss.
[1:18:24] >> you know, Bill Floss the
[1:18:28] carrot and stick right. It's
[1:18:28] it's just the reality of the
[1:18:29] human condition. You have to
[1:18:33] kind of bring forth a either
[1:18:35] award or, you know, the stick.
[1:18:39] It's it's been that way for.
[1:18:41] Forever. So thank you very
[1:18:42] much. I think I got most like,
[1:18:43] no, I don't have all my
[1:18:47] questions is this is not a
[1:18:48] it's open-ended question
[1:18:49] because I think we have to
[1:18:50] keep kind of pushing and
[1:18:52] lenient on this and asking
[1:18:53] questions over and over again
[1:18:57] about the realities harnesses.
[1:18:57] Thank you. And diversion is
[1:19:01] the best. Let me go back to
[1:19:04] that. The version is the Yeah.
[1:19:05] >> Yeah. Yeah. Lots of
[1:19:09] success. That diversion.
[1:19:10] COUNCILMAN Donaldson.
[1:19:11] >> Yeah, thanks, John.
[1:19:13] PRESIDENT On and just like to
[1:19:14] ask intent to play a couple
[1:19:16] questions again.
[1:19:23] Good morning. Never did say
[1:19:27] good morning to Good morning,
[1:19:28] When when team contacts,
[1:19:31] people who over living on the
[1:19:37] on the street in the parks.
[1:19:38] >> You're
[1:19:39] >> you're really once you
[1:19:40] there's you know, a crime that
[1:19:40] you are called. Therefore, you
[1:19:42] have to investigate But tell
[1:19:45] us 2 is your. And when you're
[1:19:46] first things that you want to
[1:19:47] do with this person is try to
[1:19:51] inform them about. Resources
[1:19:51] that are out there spring
[1:19:55] rescue mission at center.
[1:19:57] >> Guess we always we always
[1:20:00] give information on We are
[1:20:02] actually we recently entered 3
[1:20:04] families with 3 of our outside
[1:20:05] agency partners with one
[1:20:06] additional pending actually
[1:20:09] with hopesthe less. And so we
[1:20:09] do work with them closely. And
[1:20:11] we do offer those resources.
[1:20:13] However, our pieces
[1:20:15] enforcement. And so we have a
[1:20:15] responsibility to the citizens
[1:20:16] that are calling and
[1:20:18] complaining have concerns
[1:20:19] about people camping in their
[1:20:21] alleyways or whatever to go
[1:20:23] and investigate those. And
[1:20:25] then and then either site or
[1:20:26] give warnings again, there's
[1:20:29] discretion there to a point.
[1:20:30] But we are that enforcement
[1:20:32] piece with a certain really
[1:20:32] stick. It.
[1:20:33] >> And I believe in Forsman is
[1:20:37] a huge part of the of solving
[1:20:38] this problem.
[1:20:39] >> But what I want to make
[1:20:41] clear is that specially the
[1:20:44] hot team officers cspd the
[1:20:45] goal is and go, hey, we get to
[1:20:46] go out in sight. Give someone
[1:20:47] a ticket. Boy, this is great.
[1:20:50] Let's go site. This guy.
[1:20:51] >> Oracle question. But is it
[1:20:55] is that the goal?
[1:20:55] >> I wouldn't say the goal is
[1:20:58] to say I would say the goal is
[1:21:00] to we're trying to keep
[1:21:01] community safe the law. So our
[1:21:03] goal is to enforce the law
[1:21:04] that can look differently.
[1:21:05] Sometimes we are coming into
[1:21:07] contact with people with
[1:21:09] felony And so that is a piece
[1:21:11] of it. The other big piece
[1:21:12] that we deal with as we work
[1:21:14] with public works very, very
[1:21:16] closely every day with regard
[1:21:18] to camp cleanups. And so I'm
[1:21:19] not going to speak to what
[1:21:20] they do and that they have
[1:21:21] their own numbers. And how
[1:21:21] much how many tons of trash
[1:21:25] they pick up and in a given
[1:21:26] month. But it's significant.
[1:21:28] The hope the people living
[1:21:28] out.
[1:21:30] >> On the street that you
[1:21:32] contact are many of them
[1:21:35] unaware of the springs rescue
[1:21:36] mission or a or a Catholic
[1:21:37] charities. Are they not aware
[1:21:37] of those things? I would say
[1:21:42] most are aware. Okay, where in
[1:21:44] so this is what I fly here
[1:21:44] over the last couple minutes
[1:21:48] as we've had this discussion
[1:21:49] is its it's not well, they
[1:21:51] just don't know the people
[1:21:52] living on the street. If we
[1:21:56] could just what inform them
[1:21:57] they're making a choice. I
[1:21:58] don't want to do that. I don't
[1:21:59] want to go to the springs
[1:22:00] rescue mission. I don't want
[1:22:02] this kind of I'm doing this
[1:22:05] today. In my opinion. That's
[1:22:10] because they're weighing the
[1:22:12] benefits and the costs what's
[1:22:13] the cost for me living in this
[1:22:14] park. What that thing is going
[1:22:16] to happen to me. If I do that
[1:22:18] versus do I really want to go
[1:22:20] and try to get off drugs and
[1:22:23] get a boring job. It at
[1:22:24] McDonald's or Home Depot and
[1:22:25] have to get up every morning
[1:22:26] and go to work.
[1:22:27] >> I hate that stuff. It's
[1:22:28] boring.
[1:22:34] >> So we can't allow people
[1:22:36] who make a decision like that.
[1:22:38] A choice like that to destroy
[1:22:38] the quality of life for the
[1:22:40] citizens of Colorado Springs.
[1:22:45] >> And if it is, you know,
[1:22:47] takes jail time to get them to
[1:22:48] realize, you know what? I've
[1:22:49] got a straight my life out.
[1:22:52] The Sox. I don't like this.
[1:22:54] Good for jail. I mean, that's
[1:22:55] good. We're helping them. I
[1:22:59] remember a woman who is at the
[1:23:00] Love Cheney's retirement.
[1:23:01] Actually, she wasn't there.
[1:23:02] They read a letter she had
[1:23:04] sent in that he had saved her
[1:23:06] life when she got sent to jail
[1:23:07] because she would have died on
[1:23:08] the streets because she was
[1:23:10] addicted to drugs and she know
[1:23:11] she would have died and she
[1:23:12] was a prostitute. Point. And
[1:23:15] so it helped her. Maybe this
[1:23:17] is amusing to some people, but
[1:23:18] it was a very touching letter
[1:23:23] that she had sent in. We
[1:23:24] think, well, you know, jail
[1:23:27] always bad. We should never do
[1:23:28] that. So sometimes it helps
[1:23:31] both society and the person
[1:23:35] who. Receives units, something
[1:23:37] which they knew it could
[1:23:38] happen. They received a
[1:23:42] punishment for their actions.
[1:23:43] Is there anything else you can
[1:23:44] share with us about that
[1:23:48] ordinance that we did pass the
[1:23:49] one you know, car camping or
[1:23:53] live in. Our there any any
[1:23:54] insights that you have about
[1:23:56] that Lieutenant lessons
[1:23:58] learned since we've started
[1:23:58] enforce it.
[1:23:59] >> I think that one of the
[1:24:02] things that we've that has
[1:24:03] been a positive thing that
[1:24:04] came out of that and any touch
[1:24:04] a little bit is that we're
[1:24:06] working more closely with
[1:24:07] Catholic Charities with that
[1:24:09] program. If we do come into
[1:24:10] contact with individuals with
[1:24:12] families and young kids that
[1:24:13] we actually just worked on the
[1:24:14] script and they're putting out
[1:24:15] a video that we're going to
[1:24:16] send out to all of our patrol
[1:24:18] officers so that they have
[1:24:19] that information if they come
[1:24:20] into contact with a family who
[1:24:22] is in their vehicle, Catholic
[1:24:23] charities has resources and we
[1:24:25] can get them immediately in
[1:24:26] direct contact with them to
[1:24:29] get them help. And so I think
[1:24:30] that's a definitely a positive
[1:24:33] thing with regard to
[1:24:34] enforcement. It has not been
[1:24:35] overwhelming our system. We're
[1:24:38] not seeing it every day. We do
[1:24:39] about the contact about 65
[1:24:41] camps. A month in vehicle
[1:24:44] camps and then the number of
[1:24:44] citations is about less than
[1:24:48] 10% of the people context.
[1:24:49] >> Okay. Thank. Thank you. It
[1:24:50] has a plea and MADAM
[1:24:51] PRESIDENT, I wish the problem
[1:24:52] was just that people did not
[1:24:54] fill out some forms. And if we
[1:24:56] can, so that would be okay. I
[1:24:56] just think it's much bigger
[1:25:02] than that. Strong enforcement
[1:25:03] is a big part of the answer.
[1:25:09] Thank
[1:25:10] >> Amy, I don't see any more
[1:25:13] questions at this time. Thank
[1:25:15] you for your presentation this
[1:25:16] morning. It was very good for
[1:25:17] us to see what that press
[1:25:17] conference was all about. We
[1:25:19] really do appreciate he
[1:25:20] putting this all together for
[1:25:21] us this morning. Thank you.
[1:25:25] MADAM PRESIDENT. Next we have
[1:25:25] item 7 be will the clerk
[1:25:27] please read item 7 be into the
[1:25:30] record agenda. Plan review.
[1:25:31] Does anyone have any questions
[1:25:32] on the up and coming edge and
[1:25:34] a planner
[1:25:35] >> has been a PRESIDENT Do a
[1:25:37] couple.
[1:25:43] >> Page 2. Number 3.
[1:25:46] >> It's a resolution of this
[1:25:47] city of Colorado Springs
[1:25:47] approving the request to
[1:25:49] accept the designation as the
[1:25:50] approving authority of the
[1:25:51] southern Colorado railyard
[1:25:52] metro districts. Number one
[1:25:53] through 3. What does that
[1:26:00] mean? It's a resolution to
[1:26:01] accept the designation as the
[1:26:05] approving authority.
[1:26:06] >> council coming Walker
[1:26:10] seaplane director. The
[1:26:11] districts that were formed at
[1:26:13] the railyard were formed under
[1:26:15] county jurisdiction when they
[1:26:15] get entirely annexed to the
[1:26:16] city of Colorado Springs. And
[1:26:18] we should be managing
[1:26:20] authority under that. And
[1:26:22] that's what we're basically
[1:26:23] passing a resolution to take
[1:26:26] over. The county's position
[1:26:29] and those metro districts.
[1:26:30] >> Okay. Originally they were
[1:26:32] created under the county. They
[1:26:33] were it with our comment. We
[1:26:35] we make sure that we commented
[1:26:36] on those things. Perfect in
[1:26:37] this one. This next one, Kevin
[1:26:38] would be for you to. That's
[1:26:41] just the very next one. This
[1:26:41] is Joe with the zone change
[1:26:43] consisting of 203 acres known
[1:26:46] as portions of You Valley Park
[1:26:47] and a good some of that goes
[1:26:48] from residential, this
[1:26:51] residential that and some
[1:26:52] other stuff. What is that?
[1:26:53] Exactly? It's cleaning up some
[1:26:57] of the zoning that has
[1:26:58] resulted from some gifts of
[1:27:02] land and purchase of land.
[1:27:02] That were not zone pk. So that
[1:27:04] I think that's what that is
[1:27:04] all about.
[1:27:05] >> And that will be heard by
[1:27:05] the planning Commission
[1:27:07] shortly.
[1:27:10] >> Okay. But this is on our.
[1:27:17] Calendar for SEPTEMBER. 21st.
[1:27:18] Okay. But here out. I'm sorry.
[1:27:19] I think planning is already
[1:27:19] her planning. Commissions are
[1:27:24] ready that. Ok? He spoke. My
[1:27:27] my apologies.
[1:27:36] >> Moving on to item 8 a will
[1:27:39] the clerk please read item 8 a
[1:27:41] into the record. A resolution
[1:27:43] authorizing the mayor to
[1:27:43] execute a memorandum of
[1:27:44] agreement with U.S. Army Corps
[1:27:45] of Engineers for site
[1:27:46] protection requirements. So
[1:27:49] she would permitted Permittee
[1:27:51] responsible mitigation under
[1:27:51] Department of Army Permits.
[1:27:55] Good morning, Erin. Good
[1:27:56] Morning City Council PRESIDENT
[1:27:56] Craig person. My name is Erin
[1:27:57] Powers and the stormwater
[1:28:00] enterprise manager City. I'm
[1:28:01] presenting a resolution
[1:28:04] authorizing the execution of
[1:28:05] the Memorandum of Agreement
[1:28:06] with United States Army Corps
[1:28:06] of Engineers for Wetland
[1:28:10] Protection. So one of the
[1:28:11] biggest focus areas for the
[1:28:14] stormwater enterprise is our
[1:28:15] waterways to many, larger open
[1:28:15] channel projects. And these
[1:28:18] larger projects require 404
[1:28:20] permits prior to performing
[1:28:22] construction in Waters of the
[1:28:24] United States. So these
[1:28:25] permits are met managed by the
[1:28:26] United States Army Corps of
[1:28:27] Engineers, and they require
[1:28:28] mitigation for wetland
[1:28:30] impacts, which is typically
[1:28:31] performed on site, which means
[1:28:31] we're putting the wetlands
[1:28:36] back in our waterways. So
[1:28:37] under federal regulation
[1:28:39] applicants conducting
[1:28:40] permitting responsible
[1:28:40] mitigation must establish a
[1:28:41] site protection instrument to
[1:28:43] establish long-term
[1:28:44] preservation of pretty
[1:28:45] responsible mitigation areas,
[1:28:45] which is what these are
[1:28:49] called. In the past. The Army
[1:28:51] Corps has accepted our
[1:28:52] language on wetland protection
[1:28:52] that that's city code and also
[1:28:55] our drainage manual. But
[1:28:57] recently they are now
[1:28:58] requiring memorandums of
[1:29:01] agreement for each wetland,
[1:29:03] mitigation area and so rather
[1:29:03] than executing a single and
[1:29:05] the way for channel project
[1:29:09] that we do in the city. This
[1:29:11] single memorandum of agreement
[1:29:12] with would cover the entire
[1:29:12] city. All future for of her
[1:29:16] permits that we apply So with
[1:29:17] that, be happy to answer any
[1:29:20] questions. COUNCILMAN
[1:29:27] Williams. Today explain why.
[1:29:28] >> Why the transition, why
[1:29:30] they feel that this is
[1:29:31] necessary. Appreciate the fact
[1:29:34] that you're not going to do
[1:29:37] 1000 of these, did they stain
[1:29:38] why we want to go from what we
[1:29:41] were doing to this?
[1:29:42] >> we we met with him several
[1:29:46] times to try to, you know, go
[1:29:48] back to the old
[1:29:49] interpretation. But there were
[1:29:49] some upper level staffing
[1:29:52] changes over there. And
[1:29:53] they're the new interpretation
[1:29:57] of this just might follow.
[1:29:59] >> Sounds like you're working
[1:29:59] with the around People do
[1:30:06] rules. Okay. Thank I don't see
[1:30:08] of the questions at this time.
[1:30:11] Thanks. Thanks, Erin.
[1:30:13] >> Next up, we have item 8 b,
[1:30:15] will the please read item 8 b
[1:30:18] into the record in ordinance
[1:30:19] certifying delinquent
[1:30:19] stormwater So sorry, we just
[1:30:21] did that.
[1:30:26] >> it's the second Okay.
[1:30:27] Sorry. Sorry, an ordinance or
[1:30:28] to find a link with storm eta
[1:30:29] fees and charges to the Paso
[1:30:29] County treasurer for
[1:30:34] collection. Still you. That's
[1:30:37] what happened
[1:30:43] >> So city Code Code. Section
[1:30:44] 14, 8, 1, 0, 9, states that
[1:30:45] non payment of storm water
[1:30:45] fees creates a property lean
[1:30:46] upon the property to which the
[1:30:49] fee is assessed. And so is
[1:30:50] some background for all of
[1:30:53] these accounts. A notice of
[1:30:55] intent to Lima sent by
[1:30:56] certified mail in JULY to
[1:30:57] customers with invoices, 90
[1:30:58] days or more past due and
[1:30:59] where the dollar amount
[1:31:03] exceeded $200. So notice
[1:31:04] indicated the storm water
[1:31:05] enterprise will place a lien
[1:31:05] on the property if you count
[1:31:07] is not brought current. And
[1:31:08] then if payment is not
[1:31:10] received, the customers are
[1:31:11] subject to lean and their
[1:31:12] accounts will be sent to Pasco
[1:31:13] County Treasurer for
[1:31:17] collection. So has of JULY
[1:31:19] 31st. 2026 you there 181
[1:31:23] accounts that total $116,000.
[1:31:24] $222. That follow-up phone
[1:31:27] within the current guidelines
[1:31:28] and just update as of the end
[1:31:28] of AUGUST. 23 of those have
[1:31:30] paid. So they're 150 8
[1:31:32] accounts remaining. If the
[1:31:35] payment is not received after
[1:31:40] certification the county, the
[1:31:42] total amount to be paid added
[1:31:42] to the property tax owners
[1:31:45] statement in JANUARY 2027. And
[1:31:46] then if that property tax bill
[1:31:49] is not paid in full, the
[1:31:50] remaining unpaid balances
[1:31:52] falling to the provisions for
[1:31:53] by the tax lien sale by the
[1:31:55] treasure. Happy. Happy to
[1:32:02] answer any questions.
[1:32:03] COUNCILMAN Casey.
[1:32:04] >> Thank you. MADAM PRESIDENT,
[1:32:06] just a quick question. On the
[1:32:07] $200.90 days is that something
[1:32:09] this internal polls? Here's a
[1:32:11] written kotler.
[1:32:11] >> That's an internal policy,
[1:32:13] the $200. And that's just
[1:32:16] because their fees associated
[1:32:17] with this whole process and
[1:32:20] then also staff time. And so
[1:32:23] there was an analysis done to
[1:32:24] where where it was worth
[1:32:24] proceeding where we would
[1:32:30] losing thanks. COUNCILMAN
[1:32:31] >> Thank you, MADAM PRESIDENT,
[1:32:31] I don't really have any
[1:32:32] questions on either of these
[1:32:34] items, but just did you want
[1:32:35] either of these to be on
[1:32:37] consent run? Yes, thank you.
[1:32:40] And I'm supportive both Inc.
[1:32:41] Can they get a thumbs up for
[1:32:44] both of these items on
[1:32:47] consent? He got too.
[1:32:49] >> Moving on to item 8. See
[1:32:54] where the clerk please read
[1:32:54] item.
[1:32:59] >> ac and 8 d into the record.
[1:33:00] >> It sees an ordinance
[1:33:01] amending multiple sections of
[1:33:02] Article 3, a ton of ethics of
[1:33:04] Chapter one administration,
[1:33:05] personal finance, the code of
[1:33:06] the city of colors rings 2001
[1:33:07] as amended pertaining to the
[1:33:11] code of ethics. That's why
[1:33:12] they're there. The they're not
[1:33:14] the same old Reed d can. I
[1:33:14] just have been marked as the
[1:33:15] same high. Caitlin, how Good
[1:33:19] morning. I'm going up.
[1:33:19] >> a city attorney's office
[1:33:20] here go over. The proposed
[1:33:24] changes to the ethics code. So
[1:33:25] for each side, the setup is
[1:33:27] the same and carried the whole
[1:33:28] thing. But you can see the
[1:33:30] specific changes from code.
[1:33:31] All right there at the bottom
[1:33:32] of the site, a brief overview
[1:33:32] is listed at the top. So just
[1:33:33] read the top. But stop me. If
[1:33:37] you have any questions. The
[1:33:38] first change is that we're
[1:33:39] discussing. The advisory
[1:33:42] opinions are clarified to be.
[1:33:44] Only for the requester for
[1:33:45] your contemplated action trait
[1:33:46] can ask for another member of
[1:33:50] council. Next. We've removed
[1:33:52] the independent contractor
[1:33:54] lead made language were
[1:33:55] specific to say that
[1:33:56] specifically those individuals
[1:33:57] receiving a 10 99 from the
[1:33:58] city. So are saying that is
[1:33:59] who the ethics code applies
[1:34:06] to. We've added the option for
[1:34:07] the independent Ethics
[1:34:07] Commission to dismiss the
[1:34:08] complaint for failure to
[1:34:09] comply with the requirements
[1:34:12] within city code. Previously,
[1:34:13] it just said their rules of
[1:34:14] procedure. There are
[1:34:14] procedural requirements. Codes
[1:34:19] were clean that up. We've
[1:34:19] increased said the gift except
[1:34:23] to limit to $75. It does
[1:34:23] update as the state updates
[1:34:24] that were make as today is
[1:34:32] possible in code. In the gift
[1:34:32] section. And we have removed
[1:34:33] requirement that family
[1:34:35] members of covered individuals
[1:34:38] only accepted free. All right.
[1:34:39] Just kind of a ticket if it
[1:34:41] end with the covered person
[1:34:42] and then we've also clarified
[1:34:43] that if you're accepting free
[1:34:46] or discounted tickets, the
[1:34:48] value of the gift that we need
[1:34:50] to make sure is under $7 in
[1:34:51] the aggregate. So one $50
[1:34:52] ticket. Great to. That's 100.
[1:34:58] That's a no. We've removed
[1:34:58] redundant language discussing
[1:35:01] events and multiple sections
[1:35:02] gifts in the gives section
[1:35:05] events was again, listen, few
[1:35:05] sections we've address
[1:35:06] specifically the events. We
[1:35:07] want to those 2, 2 being
[1:35:12] removed. We've removed
[1:35:13] requirement that certain gifts
[1:35:14] must be documented in order
[1:35:16] qualify as exception to get
[1:35:17] probation so that were just
[1:35:23] Rick struck in a few places.
[1:35:24] In this section. Section doe
[1:35:27] a few things. It's about
[1:35:32] specific related only to
[1:35:32] elected officials, but we've
[1:35:32] added that elected officials
[1:35:32] MAY designate a person to go
[1:35:35] to an event in their stead. We
[1:35:38] removed redundant language. So
[1:35:39] there's language at the end of
[1:35:40] 15 there that says does not
[1:35:41] affect a direct official
[1:35:43] action. Kelly, which is
[1:35:43] already at the top of
[1:35:44] accepting any coded does need
[1:35:47] to be there again. Then again,
[1:35:48] that gift is documented.
[1:35:49] Ready, discuss that. We're
[1:35:50] really the documentation
[1:35:52] requirement altogether. The
[1:35:55] other you that is 16 that
[1:35:59] Boulder language is all new 15
[1:35:59] covers of a ticket. So that
[1:36:00] gets in the door. We didn't
[1:36:01] have anything addressing
[1:36:02] activities at the event. Once
[1:36:04] you get in the door. So it
[1:36:05] added a section saying you can
[1:36:07] go to these activities in
[1:36:10] certain cases where there are
[1:36:10] events. But it's monster
[1:36:12] hosted whole or part the city
[1:36:14] or sponsor hosted by another
[1:36:15] governmental entity.
[1:36:21] Pertaining to official duties.
[1:36:21] We've removed redundant
[1:36:22] language. This is the final
[1:36:24] section of the gifts section.
[1:36:25] We've already discussed gifts
[1:36:27] obviously throughout the gives
[1:36:28] section. We don't need this
[1:36:32] language start to repurpose.
[1:36:32] We've added there into a
[1:36:36] conflict interest. We've added
[1:36:39] in exception. So if you are
[1:36:40] attending ceremonial events
[1:36:41] that wouldn't be a conflict of
[1:36:42] interest that is prohibited.
[1:36:42] Those are things that ground
[1:36:43] breakings, grand openings
[1:36:44] ribbon, cutting things really
[1:36:46] celebrating the city. That
[1:36:47] would be an endorsement of the
[1:36:48] business having the ceremonial
[1:36:53] it. We've replaced unclear
[1:36:56] language that participate term
[1:36:58] so face not return. We replace
[1:36:59] that with direct official
[1:37:02] action. So we know clearly
[1:37:03] what behaviors you can kind of
[1:37:09] gauge. Again, we've removed
[1:37:10] redundant language. This is
[1:37:11] talking about conflict with
[1:37:12] his or bushel duties and
[1:37:13] responsibilities. Our
[1:37:16] fiduciary duty, the city. This
[1:37:17] isn't a conflict of interest
[1:37:18] section. So all of these
[1:37:19] specific behaviors that we
[1:37:21] want covered, those are
[1:37:22] specifically enumerated this
[1:37:25] again, doesn't add anything.
[1:37:29] And then lastly, we've added
[1:37:29] an exception in the conflict
[1:37:32] of interest provision. So if
[1:37:33] as an elected official, you
[1:37:34] can serve on a 5, a one c 3
[1:37:37] board of directors so long as
[1:37:39] you or if immediate family
[1:37:40] member does not otherwise have
[1:37:41] a substantial interest in the
[1:37:49] 5, one c 3. He
[1:37:51] >> MADAM PRESIDENT, the
[1:37:52] question on that point right
[1:37:53] there, you've always been able
[1:37:55] to serve on a 5, a one c 3.
[1:37:57] This changes it to allow you
[1:37:59] to vote on issues that pertain
[1:38:01] to that 5, a one c 3 right
[1:38:02] >> I should have been more
[1:38:04] clear So if it and item came
[1:38:05] in front of you and you were
[1:38:07] other a serving on the board
[1:38:09] rate. Currently you have to
[1:38:10] recuse yourself. This change
[1:38:12] would allow you to take that
[1:38:14] vote again. Otherwise a less
[1:38:15] other rights. You have a
[1:38:21] substantial interest
[1:38:22] >> maybe you can help me
[1:38:24] understand what? Why couldn't
[1:38:25] that councilmember just
[1:38:26] abstain from the vote under
[1:38:28] the old rules, they simply
[1:38:28] would have abstained from the
[1:38:29] vote. It's one c 3 is probably
[1:38:34] going to. Have a strong
[1:38:35] support anyway. And that would
[1:38:36] remove the appearance of a
[1:38:37] conflict of interest.
[1:38:38] >> Yeah, sure. And so camp
[1:38:40] this would not prohibit a
[1:38:41] councilmember Trump recusing
[1:38:42] themselves for that appearance
[1:38:48] of impropriety.
[1:38:52] >> But why are we adding I
[1:38:53] mean, currently our rules
[1:38:53] essentially, my understanding
[1:38:54] would say if you're on the
[1:38:59] board. Yeah. On the board of a
[1:39:01] 501, c 3. And there's a matter
[1:39:02] that comes before council. You
[1:39:04] should recuse yourself.
[1:39:06] >> This is saying that you
[1:39:10] don't need to recuse yourself.
[1:39:12] You can, but but you you don't
[1:39:14] have to.
[1:39:14] >> Yeah. This specific changes
[1:39:15] or request from council. So
[1:39:17] that's why this one it okay.
[1:39:19] >> So this is one that I'm not
[1:39:22] sure I support this change
[1:39:22] just because and I will I will
[1:39:26] like to ask you. Can work like
[1:39:31] council is loosening.
[1:39:33] Restraints, ethical restraints
[1:39:37] here on ourselves. What else
[1:39:38] in do you think might give
[1:39:39] that appearance that we are
[1:39:42] lowering the bar? For
[1:39:43] ourselves as far as there
[1:39:44] shouldn't even be their
[1:39:45] parents that we're doing
[1:39:49] something. To benefits
[1:39:49] ourselves or friends. The
[1:39:52] group were apart.
[1:39:55] >> I think, you know, all
[1:39:56] these are.
[1:39:57] >> It changes our office can
[1:39:58] support. So, you know,
[1:39:59] politically how they come up.
[1:40:00] I don't know that I can answer
[1:40:01] that question. But otherwise,
[1:40:03] you know, legally our office
[1:40:05] can come to parties. But of
[1:40:06] course, you are the
[1:40:07] legislative body. And so if
[1:40:08] you want to change anything,
[1:40:10] these are just proposed
[1:40:10] changes. We make changes to
[1:40:12] the proposed ordinance.
[1:40:17] >> For just for my colleagues
[1:40:18] knowledge one makes me a
[1:40:19] little uncomfortable. I don't
[1:40:20] see why we would change our
[1:40:23] current standard on thanks.
[1:40:24] >> Caitlin, can you clarify
[1:40:26] why? It's just the 5, a one c
[1:40:29] 3 when we know there's many
[1:40:30] different. There's 4 of their
[1:40:31] 6 wheels on different boards
[1:40:32] and this community. Why
[1:40:32] specifically are you calling
[1:40:33] out the 3?
[1:40:39] >> Yeah, that's a great I
[1:40:40] worked with an attorney who is
[1:40:42] no longer with the city and
[1:40:42] she was the one that requested
[1:40:45] only 5, one c threes. So if
[1:40:46] the board with if council
[1:40:48] would like need to take a look
[1:40:49] at opening it up to other
[1:40:50] nonprofit part. I'm happy to
[1:40:52] do that.
[1:40:55] >> COUNCILMAN Casey.
[1:40:56] >> Thank you. Members of euro
[1:41:02] slide 12 s. Can explain that
[1:41:03] again? Why that why the change
[1:41:07] there? The guest?
[1:41:09] >> So the previously or
[1:41:10] currently writing code, it
[1:41:11] says no covid person shall
[1:41:11] directly or indirectly
[1:41:14] participate in the problem was
[1:41:15] what is participate, right?
[1:41:18] That can be a very bride
[1:41:21] statement, right? That's a
[1:41:22] broad term. So you on to
[1:41:22] council. How are you supposed
[1:41:23] to know what actions you can
[1:41:24] or cannot take bipartisan? And
[1:41:27] it's find term dinner. What
[1:41:29] about sex? And really it was
[1:41:31] supposed to be getting direct
[1:41:31] official action director
[1:41:33] official action is that
[1:41:34] largely defined term within
[1:41:37] our code of ethics. And so now
[1:41:38] taking a look at this. You
[1:41:38] know what actions u can
[1:41:40] participate in or not, because
[1:41:45] it direct official action.
[1:41:47] >> I wonder about the word
[1:41:47] influence with that
[1:41:48] encompasses that that would be
[1:41:48] different to them.
[1:41:52] Participate.
[1:41:53] >> In Bloomington, I would
[1:41:53] interpret influence as
[1:41:55] different from participate,
[1:41:58] right? I think influence is
[1:42:00] more like you having a
[1:42:01] conversation with your fellow
[1:42:01] council member in trying to
[1:42:03] sway their direct official
[1:42:04] auction, something like that
[1:42:06] rate that that's really on the
[1:42:06] of influence. All right. Thank
[1:42:08] you.
[1:42:17] >> Question. Thank you. Can
[1:42:18] you go to the slide that talks
[1:42:23] about? A spouse was not
[1:42:24] accompanying someone. I forget
[1:42:37] which side that is.
[1:42:42] >> Mary, to actually.
[1:42:46] >> I understand. Is
[1:42:49] accompanying. Someone covered
[1:42:54] by the code. What I want to
[1:42:55] clarify is whether the scope
[1:42:57] reports to govern. Individuals
[1:43:01] who receive. Something not
[1:43:02] because they're a spouse, but
[1:43:05] because of an independent
[1:43:06] action. For example, my wife
[1:43:06] Holly is a county
[1:43:09] commissioner. Wife happens to
[1:43:12] be the head of ppo. So
[1:43:13] someone's extending an
[1:43:17] invitation. In that capacity
[1:43:19] and not because the individual
[1:43:23] is a spouse of. A city covered
[1:43:26] person. Does the scope report
[1:43:30] too? Regulate what a county
[1:43:35] commissioner or the ppo.
[1:43:35] >> So our code of ethics only
[1:43:36] applies right to the city and
[1:43:40] people who are covered persons
[1:43:41] so it wouldn't necessarily
[1:43:42] apply to a county commissioner
[1:43:43] or other members. Other bought
[1:43:46] boards and bodies. What would
[1:43:46] say, those here example is
[1:43:47] starting to get facts
[1:43:48] specific. And so that's what I
[1:43:49] would say. You could get an
[1:43:51] advisory opinion from our
[1:43:53] office. As to whether you can
[1:43:56] accept that certain.
[1:43:57] >> Item, I just wanted to
[1:43:59] clarify that. It's not
[1:43:59] intended to govern. Water
[1:44:04] spouts can do capacity.
[1:44:08] >> COUNCILMAN, my number. I
[1:44:09] just wanted to clarify that.
[1:44:13] Also hear a little bit because
[1:44:15] there are some we are invited
[1:44:20] to his honor and our spouses
[1:44:22] included and that event, that
[1:44:23] ticket price for that event
[1:44:26] might be 80 bucks. So
[1:44:27] combined. That's 160. So that
[1:44:29] would put us over the 175
[1:44:30] point.
[1:44:31] >> So as an elected official,
[1:44:32] that's where we get into those
[1:44:35] other changes case. Which is
[1:44:39] here. The 15 under the gift
[1:44:43] section, which is so so that
[1:44:44] one is the reasonable cost
[1:44:45] frequency of those meals and
[1:44:46] event. Tickets. And that is
[1:44:49] where your example, Atlanta,
[1:44:49] okay.
[1:44:50] >> So still so I can go the
[1:44:53] Christmas Party.
[1:44:59] >> good base.
[1:44:59] >> I don't see any other
[1:45:02] questions at this time. We'll
[1:45:03] just look for you getting back
[1:45:06] to questions and council
[1:45:11] Dawson had. Thank you moving
[1:45:14] on to item well, the clerk
[1:45:14] please read item 10, 8 into
[1:45:21] the record. Ad. Resolution
[1:45:22] adopting the internal audit
[1:45:24] 100 the office city auditor,
[1:45:25] city of current students
[1:45:26] affected 20 SEPTEMBER 22nd
[1:45:34] 2026.
[1:45:35] >> Good morning. PRESIDENT
[1:45:37] Grover son Pro Tem Roseland
[1:45:37] members of City Council Ali
[1:45:43] level. The otter. And today
[1:45:44] I'm going to cover our
[1:45:46] mission, vision and values
[1:45:49] that covered. Tilt do briefly
[1:45:52] a little bit about our office
[1:45:54] structure. Purpose.
[1:45:55] >> The city Auditor authority,
[1:45:56] some unique considerations as
[1:45:58] it relates to this internal
[1:45:59] audit. Charter our Audit
[1:46:02] Committee ordinance changes
[1:46:03] that you MAY as a council wish
[1:46:05] to consider next year and then
[1:46:11] talk about next steps. The
[1:46:12] purpose of the office of the
[1:46:13] city auditor is to provide
[1:46:15] independent risk based advice,
[1:46:18] insight and foresight to
[1:46:19] objective assurance and
[1:46:21] advisory services design to
[1:46:23] add value and improve the city
[1:46:25] and its enterprise is
[1:46:26] operations. The officer, the
[1:46:27] city auditor provides 2
[1:46:30] distinct types of work
[1:46:32] assurant work commonly called
[1:46:35] audit work and advisory often
[1:46:36] called consulting our audit
[1:46:39] services involves an objective
[1:46:40] examination of evidence to
[1:46:41] provide an independent
[1:46:42] assessment of the
[1:46:43] organization's governance
[1:46:46] risks and controls consulting
[1:46:47] services, which the scope is
[1:46:49] often agreed to with the
[1:46:51] involved parties provides
[1:46:52] advice without taking on
[1:46:54] management responsibilities.
[1:46:55] Our mission is to encourage
[1:46:57] responsible stewardship and
[1:46:59] accountability for public
[1:47:00] resources through independent
[1:47:04] and unbiased audits. We
[1:47:05] served. We seek to be trusted
[1:47:08] advisors who drive positive
[1:47:09] organizational change through
[1:47:10] the independent insight,
[1:47:11] integrity and solutions that
[1:47:13] strengthen public trust
[1:47:14] confidence and address
[1:47:14] emerging risks for the benefit
[1:47:19] for the community. And we hold
[1:47:20] accountability, principle
[1:47:20] behavior service to the
[1:47:22] community continuous
[1:47:23] improvement and people as our
[1:47:30] values. I'm here today to
[1:47:32] review and present to you an
[1:47:34] updated internal audit charter
[1:47:36] which aligns our office with
[1:47:37] the 2024 global internal audit
[1:47:39] standards. The internal audit
[1:47:41] charter documents mandates
[1:47:43] that are already defined in
[1:47:45] city charter and city code
[1:47:47] that helps to further define
[1:47:48] the roles and responsibilities
[1:47:49] of the city auditor sometimes
[1:47:51] called the chief audit
[1:47:51] executive in our Red Global
[1:47:55] Standards. It defines major
[1:47:56] deliverables to counsel to the
[1:47:58] audit committee and senior
[1:47:59] management. But most
[1:48:01] importantly, it reaffirms our
[1:48:03] support, your support and
[1:48:04] senior management support for
[1:48:07] independence and objectivity.
[1:48:08] And I will point out that this
[1:48:11] is a major key deliverable to
[1:48:13] getting us prepared for our
[1:48:15] peer review, an external
[1:48:15] quality assessment next year,
[1:48:16] which we shared with you
[1:48:17] during planning process a few
[1:48:22] months ago. The authority of
[1:48:23] the city auditor is largely
[1:48:26] driven from the city code and
[1:48:27] the city charter the city
[1:48:31] charter section 3.10, e
[1:48:32] appoints direction. Supervises
[1:48:32] the city auditor that set
[1:48:36] forth by City Council doing
[1:48:37] those roles and then many
[1:48:38] sections of the city code. I
[1:48:39] won't go through all of those
[1:48:43] details here, but that defines
[1:48:44] our independence. Our access
[1:48:45] or responsibilities. And those
[1:48:50] mandated audits. These
[1:48:51] provisions the legal mandate
[1:48:54] for the internal audit and we
[1:48:55] could stop there. But really
[1:48:56] the standards envision a lot
[1:48:59] more. And so that is really
[1:49:00] why we're here in front of
[1:49:03] you. The global 24 internal
[1:49:04] audit standards place,
[1:49:05] additional responsibilities on
[1:49:08] both the chief audit executive
[1:49:09] and the governing body. You
[1:49:11] sitting a city council
[1:49:13] standard. 6.1 requires the
[1:49:15] auditor to provide the board
[1:49:17] in our case City Council with
[1:49:18] all information necessary to
[1:49:19] establish internal audit
[1:49:20] mandate. Much of that mandate.
[1:49:23] As I mentioned, is already
[1:49:24] embedded in the city, charter
[1:49:26] and city code. But this
[1:49:27] document summarizes that for
[1:49:31] you. Standard. 6.2 goes
[1:49:32] further and requires the
[1:49:33] internal audit function to
[1:49:34] have a formal board approved
[1:49:37] internal audit charter and
[1:49:38] that at a minimum, it defines
[1:49:39] the purpose of internal
[1:49:41] auditing our commitment to a
[1:49:43] hearing to the global internal
[1:49:45] audit standards. Our mandate,
[1:49:46] which includes our authority,
[1:49:49] our scope and our service
[1:49:50] types. Your board
[1:49:52] responsibilities and our
[1:49:52] organizational position and
[1:49:54] reporting relationship. And
[1:49:56] then further standard 6.3
[1:49:59] requires that I provide to our
[1:50:00] board and to senior
[1:50:01] management, the information
[1:50:03] necessary to support and
[1:50:04] promote the recognition of the
[1:50:07] internal audit office. So
[1:50:08] while the city charter and the
[1:50:11] city code to find that
[1:50:12] mandate, document takes that a
[1:50:14] step further and helps us to
[1:50:14] define roles and
[1:50:15] responsibilities for each of
[1:50:20] those parties. There are some
[1:50:22] unique considerations with
[1:50:23] this internal audit charter.
[1:50:23] Now the Red Book or the Global
[1:50:26] Internal Audit Standards in
[1:50:28] Visions, a type of internal
[1:50:30] audit function in a MAY be
[1:50:33] executive session. Executives
[1:50:35] setting versus where we are,
[1:50:36] which is reporting to an
[1:50:37] elected body. A strong mayor
[1:50:41] form of government. Within
[1:50:42] this. I think it's helpful to
[1:50:46] set the standard that that the
[1:50:47] charter and the code and the
[1:50:48] Audit Committee ordinance,
[1:50:49] which we're going to talk
[1:50:51] about here in a minute are
[1:50:54] really kind of the foundation
[1:50:55] internal audit charter is not
[1:50:55] intended to change any of
[1:50:56] those. The none of the code.
[1:50:57] None of the charter. But it is
[1:51:01] to further define what those
[1:51:04] standards trying to achieve
[1:51:06] and the other thing and just
[1:51:07] as I mentioned it right off
[1:51:09] the requirements for you all
[1:51:10] as a board for Standard 6.1,
[1:51:13] 6.2 6.3. There are the
[1:51:15] equivalent of those 4 senior
[1:51:17] management. It would not be
[1:51:19] appropriate in this case for
[1:51:19] City Council. You think of
[1:51:21] this audit charter more like a
[1:51:21] contract between me as the
[1:51:23] city auditor and you as my
[1:51:26] board to put any requirements
[1:51:26] for senior management and
[1:51:27] chart you don't have the
[1:51:28] authority to do that. And so
[1:51:32] what I will propose to you is
[1:51:33] that after we get this
[1:51:35] internal audit charter through
[1:51:37] through a resolution with you
[1:51:38] all that I will be
[1:51:42] coordinating with the
[1:51:42] administrative side both
[1:51:44] utilities, the airport, other
[1:51:45] enterprises, the city of
[1:51:47] Springs proper with
[1:51:48] intergovernmental agreements
[1:51:49] or service level agreements
[1:51:50] that help solidify those same
[1:51:51] requirements that we have with
[1:51:53] the senior management. So much
[1:51:53] what I'm doing with you all
[1:51:58] today. In that same vein,
[1:52:01] there is also an audit
[1:52:01] committee ordinance that is
[1:52:03] very specific on the set up of
[1:52:05] audit committee. And that is
[1:52:07] aboard or a committee that
[1:52:08] respond to reports directly to
[1:52:09] city council. And so it would
[1:52:12] not be appropriate. 2 also at
[1:52:15] any changes in this charter
[1:52:16] that would govern that audit
[1:52:16] committee that should be done
[1:52:17] through ordinance changes. And
[1:52:19] mention a few of those that we
[1:52:20] MAY want to consider in the
[1:52:22] future.
[1:52:27] In terms of roles and
[1:52:30] responsibilities, which is
[1:52:31] really what this document
[1:52:32] helps to solidify beyond
[1:52:34] what's in the city code and
[1:52:36] city charter. And that is that
[1:52:37] City Council has the
[1:52:41] responsibility of approving
[1:52:43] the internal audit, charter
[1:52:43] review and supporting audit
[1:52:44] resource plans receiving
[1:52:46] required annual communications
[1:52:47] and resolving disagreements
[1:52:48] between the management. And so
[1:52:53] the auditor. There are some
[1:52:54] other key things starting on
[1:52:55] Page 7. The response. Well,
[1:52:57] these are the city auditor per
[1:52:59] the 24 global internal audit
[1:53:01] standards. These range from
[1:53:03] developing key deliverables to
[1:53:05] require communications and
[1:53:06] council has already observe
[1:53:07] Dupree implementation, if you
[1:53:10] will, of this charter over the
[1:53:12] last year council received a
[1:53:12] very early draft of this
[1:53:15] charter back in OCTOBER of 25.
[1:53:17] And we have loosely been
[1:53:19] trying to implement this
[1:53:19] charter to look for any gaps
[1:53:20] that we MAY find. So one
[1:53:22] example of that is not
[1:53:24] quarterly status update that
[1:53:24] you all have been receiving
[1:53:27] every quarter this year. And
[1:53:28] that's been helpful to just
[1:53:29] make sure that we haven't
[1:53:30] missed any major deliverables
[1:53:34] or anything in charter. And we
[1:53:35] we have a question for council
[1:53:36] intention. Thank you, MADAM
[1:53:37] PRESIDENT. Natalie, thank you
[1:53:39] for presenting this morning
[1:53:40] regarding the audit committee.
[1:53:43] Can you remind me?
[1:53:45] >> We have 2 citizen seats.
[1:53:46] That correct? 3 get the
[1:53:48] committee is made of 5 members
[1:53:49] to our council members and 3
[1:53:51] citizens. And then any
[1:53:52] alternates that the council
[1:53:53] MAY wish to okay in the
[1:53:53] citizen seats.
[1:53:56] >> What are the
[1:53:59] >> I guess in that charter or
[1:54:02] what is the charter for that
[1:54:03] committee of how long those
[1:54:05] members can sit in those
[1:54:06] seats.
[1:54:08] >> When it was created, it was
[1:54:09] started on a staggering. So
[1:54:10] the first member had only one
[1:54:12] year and then the second
[1:54:13] member had 2 years and that
[1:54:14] we're only replacing one
[1:54:16] citizen member every year. But
[1:54:18] once that's in place, it's I
[1:54:21] believe a three-year term. And
[1:54:21] I could.
[1:54:22] >> Double check that here.
[1:54:25] Real quickly, just forgive
[1:54:25] you.
[1:54:26] >> And additional three-year
[1:54:27] term. So their term limited
[1:54:28] for 2 three-year terms to 3
[1:54:30] terms.
[1:54:32] >> right. And just for
[1:54:32] reference in case you're
[1:54:33] looking ordinance, 13 dash,
[1:54:42] 32. Great Page 13. It starts
[1:54:43] to highlight City Council's
[1:54:45] oversight. I covered some of
[1:54:46] that in in those references to
[1:54:50] standard 6.1, 6.2 6.3, but me
[1:54:53] me, this is to remind Council
[1:54:54] of the role it plays is in
[1:54:55] ensuring the auditors office
[1:54:59] has the authority. It needs as
[1:55:00] and helps us all stay aligned
[1:55:01] to what the purpose of the
[1:55:03] internal audit function And
[1:55:05] then Page 14 highlights the
[1:55:09] audit committee's role only in
[1:55:09] so far as how it relates to
[1:55:11] the office receiving
[1:55:12] deliverables or communication
[1:55:17] with the city auditor oversee.
[1:55:19] And this is a very abbreviated
[1:55:21] summation of the deliverables
[1:55:22] and the reporting cadence that
[1:55:24] is found in that internal
[1:55:25] audit Charter and Exhibit b,
[1:55:29] it goes into a lot more detail
[1:55:30] looking for the action, the
[1:55:31] council to take the roles and
[1:55:32] responsibilities of the audit
[1:55:35] committee helping to really
[1:55:36] define what everybody's rules
[1:55:37] and responsibilities are to
[1:55:39] those major deliverables for
[1:55:44] office. And as I mentioned,
[1:55:46] going through this process, we
[1:55:50] did identify a handful of
[1:55:51] potential changes that this
[1:55:53] council MAY wish to consider
[1:55:57] in terms of changing audit
[1:55:59] committee structure.
[1:55:59] Administratively things and
[1:56:02] some of those examples came up
[1:56:02] in the last 2 years. I've
[1:56:03] spent a lot of time meeting
[1:56:04] with the citizen members of
[1:56:07] the audit committee so that
[1:56:10] they could advise this board
[1:56:11] and part of the ordinance
[1:56:12] requires that a council member
[1:56:15] be present in order to have a
[1:56:16] qorum. Maybe one consideration
[1:56:17] might be to allow the city
[1:56:21] auditor to meet with those
[1:56:22] citizens with and audit
[1:56:23] committee are and council
[1:56:25] member present, for example,
[1:56:26] it does address the frequency
[1:56:29] of meetings. But maybe we want
[1:56:33] to be more specific about
[1:56:34] those frequencies. Another
[1:56:35] consideration would be
[1:56:36] specific areas of expertise
[1:56:37] for the audit committee. So it
[1:56:40] might make sense for us to
[1:56:41] spend some time over the next
[1:56:42] year is an audit committee
[1:56:44] going through potential
[1:56:46] changes? Always a good time to
[1:56:48] look at it. It's been since
[1:56:49] 2013 when this ordinance was
[1:56:50] created. It's probably time
[1:56:51] for a refresh to make sure
[1:56:52] that this committee is doing
[1:56:53] still what this council
[1:56:57] wishes. I would propose if
[1:56:58] there is an interest in this
[1:57:02] that I bring suggested changes
[1:57:04] potential ordinance language
[1:57:04] to the sport sometime next
[1:57:11] year. And just a recap of our
[1:57:13] stakeholder process. I
[1:57:14] mentioned to you all that this
[1:57:15] council received a very early
[1:57:17] draft of this charter in their
[1:57:18] required annual communications
[1:57:21] back in OCTOBER of 2025. And
[1:57:22] then an updated version in
[1:57:25] MARCH of 2026. And my
[1:57:26] quarterly briefing to you And
[1:57:27] then the audit committee
[1:57:30] received a draft version of
[1:57:33] draft internal audit charter
[1:57:36] in JUNE of 26, we held a
[1:57:38] dedicated workshop with them
[1:57:41] on JULY 9th and then asked for
[1:57:41] a motion for their
[1:57:43] recommendation to this council
[1:57:44] for approval at the AUGUST
[1:57:45] meeting. And so they did
[1:57:49] provide that recommendation.
[1:57:52] And so looking at next if
[1:57:54] council wishes we would like
[1:57:56] to. I have this on the consent
[1:57:57] agenda for next regular
[1:58:01] council session of SEPTEMBER
[1:58:02] 22nd and where you'll
[1:58:03] considering a resolution for
[1:58:06] approving the internal and
[1:58:08] then again, council desires
[1:58:09] and 27. The city auditor to
[1:58:10] work with the Council audit
[1:58:11] committee to recommend
[1:58:12] changes. If any, to the
[1:58:15] structure administration.
[1:58:16] Relook at the ordinance that
[1:58:19] established U.S.. And then I
[1:58:21] would be remiss not pointing
[1:58:23] out that we also administer
[1:58:24] the city's fraud, waste and
[1:58:27] abuse hotline. And so for
[1:58:28] anybody who's interested there
[1:58:29] is the contact information for
[1:58:30] us and they can take any
[1:58:35] questions you might have.
[1:58:40] COUNCILMAN Williams. Thank
[1:58:43] PRESIDENT. Somewhere in there
[1:58:44] you had disagreements between
[1:58:46] management and the auditor.
[1:58:50] >> What is the definition
[1:58:50] >> Yes, that's that's a great
[1:58:51] question. And that's required
[1:58:53] by our code. It's escalation
[1:58:54] process that we have are that
[1:58:56] we're required to have and so
[1:58:59] an example of that might be
[1:59:00] risk base. Let's say that we
[1:59:03] go through an audit process
[1:59:04] and we control that needs to
[1:59:06] be fixed. That we make a
[1:59:07] recommendation and management
[1:59:08] comes back and says to us know
[1:59:12] if we cannot implement that or
[1:59:13] we refuse I MAY work with them
[1:59:16] to say that risk is still too
[1:59:18] great. Let's say we All right.
[1:59:18] Recommendation that works.
[1:59:20] That's where we would come
[1:59:21] before this council to the
[1:59:22] definition of management is
[1:59:24] whoever you're auditing.
[1:59:26] That's correct. So that that's
[1:59:29] a very broad term in our
[1:59:30] standards. Management is be on
[1:59:31] just what you would think of
[1:59:32] as an executive us that
[1:59:37] anybody that packed. Have it
[1:59:41] is in place with us.
[1:59:42] >> That's why you're proposing
[1:59:44] them as do. I understand
[1:59:45] correctly. That is correct. We
[1:59:46] do not currently have them in
[1:59:46] place and it could be
[1:59:47] something as simple as
[1:59:49] administratively. When we
[1:59:51] >> issue an audit at the
[1:59:53] conclusion we asked for
[1:59:54] management responses. We would
[1:59:56] like for them to return. Those
[1:59:56] management responses in a
[1:59:59] timely fashion and we also
[2:00:00] then commit to getting them to
[2:00:02] them in a timely fashion. Some
[2:00:02] looking to put a little more
[2:00:06] structure around that going
[2:00:09] forward. And I'm look at the
[2:00:09] attorney, but I'm not sure how
[2:00:13] we have an ig with ourselves
[2:00:13] because we're at the seam
[2:00:14] government. So maybe ammo.
[2:00:18] Might be some sort of
[2:00:20] agreement that, you know,
[2:00:21] really solidifies management's
[2:00:22] commitment to supporting our
[2:00:24] office so that we can rule and
[2:00:32] Okay, thank you. Seen of the
[2:00:33] questions. Can I separate
[2:00:36] them? Consent.
[2:00:37] >> We've got that on consent
[2:00:42] for the 22nd. Thank you.
[2:00:43] >> Moving on to item will the
[2:00:44] clerk please read item 10:00am
[2:00:48] to the record.
[2:00:48] >> a position about a state
[2:00:51] travels for Councilmembers
[2:00:52] Council goal.
[2:00:53] >> Thank you, MADAM PRESIDENT,
[2:00:57] requesting authorization for
[2:00:58] out of state travel for and
[2:00:59] I'll see NOVEMBER NOVEMBER
[2:01:00] 19th 21019th, both
[2:01:02] councilmember Remy and I have
[2:01:04] a desire to attend. And yeah,
[2:01:08] that's it.
[2:01:09] >> So you're asking for
[2:01:10] yourself or and COUNCILMAN
[2:01:13] Draining. Are you also asking
[2:01:17] >> Could you ask us?
[2:01:19] >> Yes, cause rainy requesting
[2:01:20] permission from this council
[2:01:22] to attend the Nlc. The 19 to
[2:01:27] the 21st. COUNCILMAN Drizzly.
[2:01:28] I'm just curious what the cost
[2:01:33] of that is.
[2:01:34] >> believe the cause currently
[2:01:37] was somewhere around the $3400
[2:01:41] mark and that includes travel
[2:01:41] lodging. Yeah, registration
[2:01:45] airline hotel or dm at the to
[2:01:46] be around. 34 the lowest
[2:01:51] around. 28. Thanks.
[2:01:55] >> The council and also.
[2:01:56] >> Yeah, thanks, MADAM
[2:01:56] PRESIDENT. I guess I should
[2:02:00] add in here that. I guess I
[2:02:01] need permission to go to
[2:02:01] Huntsville for with chamber
[2:02:10] trip down there.
[2:02:11] >> to have a crack requests
[2:02:13] from and Allison to travel to
[2:02:13] Huntsville with the Chamber
[2:02:14] edc in the fall. And
[2:02:18] COUNCILMAN. Rainy and cold for
[2:02:20] some conference. It's a thumbs
[2:02:20] up.
[2:02:25] >> If you are in support. It
[2:02:26] looks like he will be
[2:02:30] traveling.
[2:02:30] >> That concludes MADAM
[2:02:34] PRESIDENT. I'll just add that.
[2:02:35] >> What is our source type in
[2:02:35] that we get to use for this
[2:02:38] kind of trips, a forgotten.
[2:02:41] >> Around a council member.
[2:02:42] >> You know, I went out for
[2:02:42] that American defense
[2:02:46] communities thing in dc. And I
[2:02:47] went up Colorado Municipal
[2:02:52] League in Denver. So I don't
[2:02:53] have money from plane tickets,
[2:02:54] but I'm going to buy him out
[2:02:55] of my own pocket unless
[2:02:56] there's a kind person sitting
[2:02:59] up here at the Dias who wants
[2:03:01] to basically give me a little
[2:03:02] piece of their stipend to
[2:03:04] cover my plane ticket.
[2:03:06] >> So if you can convince a
[2:03:07] councilmember to do that, they
[2:03:09] just need to send me an e-mail
[2:03:10] requesting that they are
[2:03:10] giving you some money out of
[2:03:11] their bucket and
[2:03:14] >> we will then.
[2:03:15] >> The forward with ok,
[2:03:19] appreciate it. Thank you.
[2:03:20] >> This does conclude our work
[2:03:23] session meeting for today. We