2004-820-Minutes for Meeting May 12,2004 Recorded 5/26/2004COUNTY OFFICIAL
TES
NANCYUBLANKENSHIP, COUNTY CLERKDS CJ NONE
COMMISSIONERS' JOURNAL
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2004-820
DESCHUTES COUNTY CLERK
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Deschutes County Board of Commissioners
1130 NW Harriman St., Bend, OR 97701-1947
(541) 388-6570 - Fax (541) 388-4752 - www.deschutes.org
MINUTES OF PUBLIC INFORMATIONAL MEETING
ON
PROPOSED USES OF REGIONAL WORK CENTER
WEDNESDAY, MAY 121, 2004
Regional Work Center — 63360 Britta St., Bend
The purpose of this informational meeting was to provide additional details on
proposed uses of the now -vacant Regional Work Center. It follows a previous
public information meeting held on April 21, 2004.
The two separate and distinct uses of the Center as proposed are:
■ Bethlehem Inn housing for the homeless; and
■ Transitional housing for prisoners who have been released from custody.
Present were Commissioner Tom De Wolf,• Becky Jackson, Director of Parole &
Probation; Parole & Probation Officers Pat Tabor, Tanner Wark and Charity
Hobold; and Elaine Mikkelborg, Parole & Probation Supervisor; and Anna
Johnson, County Communications Specialist. Also in attendance were Scott
Morgan, President of the Bethlehem Inn Board of Directors; Liz Hitt, Acting
Director of the Inn; Scott Morgan, President of the Bethlehem Inn Board of
Directors; Captain Kevin Sawyer of Bend Police Department; media
representative Barney Lerten of bend com and The Bugle; and approximately
twenty-five other citizens.
Becky Jackson opened the meeting at S: 40 p. m. She asked that anyone who wished
to speak or who might have a question to please sign in and be sure to use a
microphone. (A copy of the sign -in sheet is attached as Exhibit A.)
Becky Jackson thanked everyone for attending, and introduced the representatives
of the County and Bethlehem Inn. She also explained the reasons for holding the
meeting in the Work Center were to make it more convenient for nearby residents
to attend, and to give those people present an opportunity to see the facilities.
Minutes of Public Informational Meeting Wednesday, May 12, 2004
Proposed Uses of Regional Work Center Page 1 of 18 Pages
She said that employees of Parole & Probation and Bethlehem Inn attending the
meeting would be happy to answer questions or address any concerns later in the
meeting.
Commissioner Tom DeWolf said that he had to leave shortly, but wanted to thank
everyone for their input and participation. He added that Commissioner Luke had
another meeting to attend, and Commissioner Daly was participating in a candidate
forum at the Sheriffs Office.
Ms. Jackson stated that she planned to start out by going over some of the facts
regarding the proposed uses. (A copy of the agenda is attached as Exhibit B.) She
said that one of the things they took away from the meeting a few weeks ago was
that there seemed to be a lot of confusion between the two programs. She then
briefly went over the fact sheet regarding transitional housing. (A copy is attached
as Exhibit C.)
Liz Hitt then gave an overview of the fact sheet regarding Bethlehem Inn. (A copy
is attached as Exhibit D.) She added that many of their guests are veterans, and
sometimes are pregnant women or single mothers who have been forced out of
their homes for a variety of reasons. At times, guests could be a family whose car
has broken down, and they stay a couple of nights while they make arrangements.
She also said that Bethlehem Inn believes the road to recovery is paved with
bumps, and everyone has stubbed his or her toes in life.
Ms. Jackson then went over transitional housing issues that were raised at the last
public meeting. (A copy is attached as Exhibit E.) She said that after the last
meeting, the group sat down and brainstormed solutions. She then gave an
overview of the concerns and proposed responses.
She added that there are fifteen Parole & Probation Officers, whose offices are
upstairs in the facility. On any given day of the week they drive to and from the
facility to do home visits, to go to court, and so on. They will be asked to go
straight at Britta and drive through the neighborhood. They also come in on the
weekends.
In regard to the question regarding what problems other counties might have
experienced with transitional housing, she provided a handout with e-mail
messages from representatives of Benton County, Lane County, Washington
County, and Baker County. (A copy is attached as Exhibit F.)
Minutes of Public Informational Meeting Wednesday, May 12, 2004
Proposed Uses of Regional Work Center Page 2 of 18 Pages
Regarding locking down offenders, Ms. Jackson pointed out that some individuals
who previously worked for the Regional Work Center said the inmates departed 24
hours a day because of different work shifts. Federal inmates were also housed at
that time, and they were allowed by federal rules to go work out at the gym.
The offenders who will live in the regional work center will have completed their
sentences, and could live anywhere. The Parole Officers will be dropping in on the
facility on a random basis as well, to keep the residents on their toes.
Liz Hitt then gave an overview of some of the issues that were raised at the
previous meeting regarding Bethlehem Inn, and how those issues would be
addressed. (A copy is attached as Exhibit G.)
She said that she talked to a representative at the school district's transportation
headquarters to talk about the location of school bus stops. There are a couple of
options. There is a bus stop at Hardy and Lava Crest that can be used if a resident
has concerns about the stop at Britta and Poe Sholes. Also, the school district
could consider moving the bus stop, but this change would have to be parent -
initiated.
Ms. Jackson introduced Captain Kevin Sawyer, who was previously a uniform
officer.
SAWYER:
From our standpoint, from my research I've found that Bethlehem Inn has been in a
variety of locations throughout the city, although not for extended periods of time.
The only contacts we have had were through warrants that we had to address. We
haven't been able to link any criminal activity directly to any of the participants of
the Bethlehem Inn. In fact, two years ago I went down on Christmas Day and
helped serve meals. They are actually as described, people in transition. A lot of
them are down on their luck or have had problems, have gone through bankruptcy,
and don't have a place to go. Most of them are not criminal in nature. We have not
had any other dealings with criminal activity stemming from their participation.
Ms. Jackson then opened the meeting up for questions from the audience.
JAMIE EVANS:
I live on Lava Crest. Is there any kind of detox or any kind of place where you can
put these folks for consequences?
Minutes of Public Informational Meeting Wednesday, May 12, 2004
Proposed Uses of Regional Work Center Page 3 of 18 Pages
Let me just say this, okay. I am familiar with the 12 -step programs. I understand
these guys wanting to get their lives together; I actually worked with a fellow who
was from here. I don't know entirely what he went through, but I accepted him for
what he was. Eventually he just became honest. If they're willing and you keep
pushing the 12 -step programs, you got it going on. There has to be a detox or
some kind of consequence. This is my opinion, that they really need to be tested.
There has to be some kind of consequence for pulling a dirty UA. What are you
going to do about that? Are you going to take away the weekend furlough or
something? Do you have something set up for that?
JACKSON:
I think that's a two-part question. It depends on whether you are talking about the
offenders who will be here in transitional housing, or the Bethlehem Inn. Let me
speak to the issue of the offenders. If they are under our supervision and finished
their jail sentences, and are just staying here because they have nowhere else to go,
if they return to the facility intoxicated or under the influence of drugs, or if they
fail a urine test, which we will be doing on a regular basis, there would definitely
be consequences for that. There always is if they are under supervision, as this is a
violation of the condition of their supervision.
HITT:
It is not part of our current program to perform a urinalysis, mainly because we've
been in the rotating mode of operation. This is the first time we've even had a
building where we could set up a program like that. We would like to see that
happen. We'll have a small medical aid station in the facility. Our population for
the first time in about five years is going to get a chance to have a health
professional here. Yes, we will be performing urinalysis. How we will conduct
that, whether it is random or in some other manner, we haven't decided. We have
been working with Becky on this. There are a couple of ways we can handle this.
SCOTT MORGAN:
I think you arrived here after Liz had explained a little bit about Bethlehem Inn.
It's going to be a two-part scenario. One is an emergency shelter, which will allow
people to stay for no longer than seven days unless they enroll in the Next Step
program, which requires accountability. If there is a drug or alcohol problem that
they can't control, they won't be staying here. We're not a detox center. We are
offering NA and AA help if they want to attend as part of their rehabilitation to get
out of homelessness. If they can't stay on that program, they won't be staying here.
Minutes of Public Informational Meeting Wednesday, May 12, 2004
Proposed Uses of Regional Work Center Page 4 of 18 Pages
LYNN MILLER:
If someone shows up intoxicated, what are the consequences at that time?
HITT:
For that night they are going to stay here. We don't want to release them into the
general area if they show up intoxicated. It gets cold here in the winter. This will
be a great opportunity for a lot of people to finally change their lives. It's going to
be a good deal. They are not going to want to blow it. If someone comes here
intoxicated and is evicted the next day from the program, that is going to be a very
serious consequence. If we do a urinalysis and they come up positive and are
evicted from the program, it would be for a minimum of thirty days. That means
they have no place to stay.
It has been our experience that most folks take it pretty seriously. Do some folks
still abuse the rules to some degree? Sure. But we will only keep them for that
night and the next day we will process them. Some might be evicted for 48 hours.
If they spend a couple of days out in the cold, that might be enough to straighten
them up a bit. If it is more serious, it could be for thirty days.
ELAINE MIKKELBORG:
For the last six years I've been a volunteer at Bethlehem Inn through the Nativity
Lutheran Church. It has been my experience that when someone came in and we
identified the fact that they had been drinking, there was kind of an assessment
done. If we could just feed them and put them to bed, that was mostly what we
did. If it looked like it was going to get a little bit more serious, I remember
several times the director called to get them a motel and took them downtown to
sleep it off away from the program. Everybody is aware, and the people who are
volunteering try to be aware and many of them are trained to recognize these
problems.
HEATHER CARLSON:
I have had a couple of concerns. It sounds like the people who will be staying here
will be relatively well monitored, and I see a notation that visitors won't be
allowed. Who is going to enforce that? That these people won't be allowed here
and won't be roaming our neighborhood or waiting down the street for these people
to come out to go to work or whatever. How will that be enforced?
Minutes of Public Informational Meeting Wednesday, May 12, 2004
Proposed Uses of Regional Work Center Page 5 of 18 Pages
JACKSON:
Well, if someone is coming here to pick up a person or is waiting for them, I'm not
aware of any law that would allow us or the police to tell them they can't drive
down the street and wait at the corner for their friend. For the people who live in
the facility, either in the transitional housing or at the Bethlehem Inn portion of the
program, that will be enforced by the fact that we have staff in this building every
work day from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. We're having interns supervise the transitional
housing dormitory during the hours after our staff goes home.
It's a very simple case of saying, you can't come in this building. If the person tries
to do that, it is trespassing. Our P.O.'s would have the ability to arrest anyone who
is under their supervision. They can't arrest John Q. Citizen for trespassing, but
that is what law enforcement is for. In terms of Bethlehem Inn, they have either
staff or volunteers in the facility from 6 p.m. to 7 a.m. every day of the week.
Those responsible people are to enforce the rules that no visitors are allowed.
CARLSON:
The other question I have I brought up last time. Everyone is saying there is this
curfew and they have to here at a specific time and can't leave. At the same time,
they are free people and can come and go as they please. When those people say
they don't want to stay, are you going to be responsible to take that person
somewhere else away from here? How does that work?
HITT:
If an intoxicated person arrived at the facility and got a little out of hand, we call
the authorities and they come right down. Bend P.D. has always been there when
we need them. We put that in their hands and step out of the picture.
JACKSON:
If they are offenders, if they wanted to leave and were intoxicated, the Bethlehem
Inn staff will have all of the Parole & Probation Officers' home phone numbers and
pager numbers if it's after hours. They would be alerted and someone from our
office would respond to that situation. If they are intoxicated and they are
behaving in an aggressive, belligerent manner, they would go to jail.
CARLSON:
In the Bethlehem Inn, there are going to be a variety of ages, with families in the
same building with offenders and guys who have been in trouble. How are you
separating these people out so that the kids aren't in jeopardy?
Minutes of Public Informational Meeting Wednesday, May 12, 2004
Proposed Uses of Regional Work Center Page 6 of 18 Pages
JACKSON:
The transitional housing dormitory is the last one on the south end and is
completely separate from the others, with its own entrance. Meals will be taken to
the dorm for them, and they have separate bathroom facilities. They won't be able
to go into the other areas, as they are physically separated.
MILLER:
You discussed the fact that they have a curfew, the offenders. You're saying you
are transporting them from the facility in the morning, but you haven't said how
they get back here.
JACKSON:
That's a good point. Unfortunately, we don't have the resources to drive to each of
the ten offenders' workplaces to pick them up. They will either have bicycles, their
employers or friends will be transporting them, or they will have to walk to the
building —just like the 1,400 offenders that we supervise on parole and probation
who have to check with us once a month. The juvenile kids who have to check in
next door also ride their bikes, walk, or get a ride. Absolutely not. I don't want to
suggest that we're going to be picking them up after work and bringing them back
here. We simply don't have the resources to do that.
CARLSON:
One of the concerns I have, and I just noticed in my own driving around every day,
is that it looks like the juvenile kids are able to smoke close to the building that
they are supposed to be checking into. Are there going to be some rules where
your people don't have to go out of the parking lot to smoke?
JACKSON:
I can't answer your question about the juveniles. I don't know what their rules are
about kids smoking. People will be able to stand right outside of our building and
smoke if they wish to. We have employees who do that. We certainly can't tell
offenders or Bethlehem Inn guests that they can't. There are ash cans out there for
that reason.
HITT:
We are very strict with smokers. If they leave a mess, they lose their smoking
privileges, and it's a serious thing to them. We don't want our area to be messy
with cigarette butts on the ground.
Minutes of Public Informational Meeting Wednesday, May 12, 2004
Proposed Uses of Regional Work Center Page 7 of 18 Pages
JOHN COOK:
I'm in the neighborhood here. I think mainly we have a concern about the safety of
our community. We understand that these people have paid their commitment to
society and they need a place to stay and all that. That's really good.
The only concern I have in talking with some of my neighbors is, how do you
handle loitering situations? It says here, "surrounding the facility". They can't
loiter around here; but can they loiter around our community? How would you
handle the situation if someone from the facility were sort of hanging around a
certain area in our neighborhood, for whatever reason. Can you legally tell them to
move on?
SAWYER:
They have the same rights as anyone else in society. Loitering can be an issue all
across anywhere, in any neighborhood, even the downtown area. We have a lot of
concerns from businesses about people, especially kids, loitering until 3 or 4 a.m.
What we have to do is monitor that. We can't tell them they can't be there. We
have to respect their rights. I understand your concerns. But I would just like to
point out that from our standpoint, when this was a release center, they had a lot
more people coming and going from here. We didn't have any problems with that.
Please bear that in mind if you would.
If you have concerns about somebody being in the neighborhood, all you have to
do is call and we would respond and check them out to see what is going on.
We're not going to violate their rights and won't force them to do anything, but we
sure can see who they are and ask what's going on and what they're doing.
MAGGIE GEE:
I have something to say here this evening. I've been in prison and jails for
approximately thirty years. I've been an intravenous drug user for over thirty. And
until I had somebody help me with transition and a place to stay, I had a hard time
making it. I'm making it now. The people I live with now, we are doing
everything we can to have a new life. These people are making it possible.
Without transitional housing, we've got people out on the street who are either
having to sell drugs or their bodies, or steal to be able to get a place to sleep or
something to eat. Places like this that are trying to get going to operate are giving
us a chance to have a place where we can shower and get up and get dressed to go
to work.
Minutes of Public Informational Meeting Wednesday, May 12, 2004
Proposed Uses of Regional Work Center Page 8 of 18 Pages
There are so many people out there who have been in prison who keep doing it
over and over, because it's so hard when you don't have a place to live, to shower,
or nothing to eat for days. How do you go look for work? How do you get a
house? How do you get yourself back together? You can't. I don't have to do that
anymore. I have a place to live, as long as it doesn't get thrown out because of the
community. The ladies who I live with right now wouldn't do anything to interrupt
the neighborhoods. We'd be there to help you if you needed it. Please get to know
some of us. We're no different than you guys, we really aren't. Thank you.
CARLSON:
I'd like to comment. I work at the hospital, so I see everyone from the wealthiest in
town to the very poorest. I don't think we we're trying to say that we don't want
people to get back into society; just maybe not in our neighborhood. This is a
neighborhood with a lot of kids, and I think when there are adult males who have
been in prison, which isn't necessarily the healthiest place for these people to have
been. I think it's a concern that having them here would be a detriment.
JAKE ELLIOTT:
Part of our concern, and I don't know if it was raised at the previous meeting or
today, goes beyond the Bethlehem Inn and the transitional housing. Obviously
when we moved here we knew there was a jail here. Compound that with the
transitional housing and the Bethlehem Inn, along with the potential for six private
halfway houses in the neighborhood. There are two here, and four or more
possibly on the way.
At what point does this little community right here say "no". We are willing to put
up with a little bit, but that's pretty overwhelming. As a follow-up to that, has the
City of Bend made a decision as to whether they are going to require a conditional
use permit for the County?
JACKSON:
First of all, I think it's important for you to know that we are not adding to
something. The entire first floor of this building was used for the first six years of
its existence, and it was built to be used, as a regional work center. There were
eighty jail inmates housed where you are right now. They came and went all day
long on work release, along with federal inmates. The Sheriff, due to budget cuts,
closed this facility a year ago and it's been sitting empty.
Minutes of Public Informational Meeting Wednesday, May 12, 2004
Proposed Uses of Regional Work Center Page 9 of 18 Pages
So we're not adding to anything. The County Jail is nearby and it has about 200
inmates in it. Again, what we are doing is trading what this building was used for
— eighty jail inmates going out on work release — and instead of letting this facility
sit here empty, we're simply replacing its use with the Bethlehem Inn and
transitional housing offenders.
In terms of land use, an application has been filed to allow for land use. It's a 120 -
day process and there is an appeals process that goes on within the City. You
might want to check with the City. Nothing will be decided for some time.
ELLIOTT:
So, that process has begun?
JACKSON:
Yes. The County filed the necessary documents so that the facility could be used
as a homeless shelter. Regarding the halfway houses, I don't know about any being
planned. I'm only aware of the facility where Maggie is living. I don't have any
knowledge of any others. What I can tell you is that our department doesn't have
any plans for this. We don't have the funds for that.
CARLSON:
Who runs the halfway houses? I guess my feeling is in hearing about them
wanting to do this also, here's Salem, and the offenders have to go back to the
place they came from. But they're going to throw all of them back into our
neighborhood? That's another compounded concern.
JACKSON:
I honestly don't know about the halfway houses. I can tell you that in various parts
of Bend there are a number of residences called Oxford Houses that are for people
recovering from substance abuse problems. Some have criminal histories and
some don't. I don't know what all the state guidelines are in terms of opening
halfway houses. Deschutes County Parole and Probation doesn't have any. The
State of Oregon Department of Corrections doesn't have any. But I think
individuals and groups can start those.
MIKKELBORG:
One thing I can tell you about halfway houses is that if we have offenders at those
houses, there are Parole and Probation Officers out there all the time. We don't call
and say we're coming.
Minutes of Public Informational Meeting Wednesday, May 12, 2004
Proposed Uses of Regional Work Center Page 10 of 18 Pages
JACKSON:
One thing I wanted to say in terms of us monitoring the neighborhood by driving
around, so that we can do home visits without our clients knowing that we're
coming, the County vehicles that we use you probably won't know. We have a
number of Jeeps, we have some Crown Vics, and they all have just regular license
plates. You won't be able to identify us, but we'll be coming and going all day
long.
CARLSON:
I appreciate that.
EVANS:
I want to tell you how much I appreciate what you said. Rehabilitation in jail
doesn't work. I understand the twelve -step program, and have met several people
on it. I'm guilty as well, so I don't judge. I'm more concerned about the juveniles
than I am some of the adults; and am concerned about the sex offenders and
whether they are taking meds for that. Again, we do have lots of kids here. I'm
fearful of that.
I have worked with teens, and it's tough to keep them focused and stabilized. I'd
like to know about the sex offenders. The really bad ones — are they on
medication?
CHARITY HOBOLD:
There is a statute that requires certain sex offenders to take Depo-Provera, which is
for chemical castration. That's based on an evaluation that is done before they are
released from prison. In my twelve years of supervising sex offenders, we've had
one here. I believe he is off of it now because he's doing well and has made
progress in treatment. We polygraph him and he's passing. Depo-Provera is a very
harmful drug, so a doctor won't allow them to stay on for a long time.
With sex offenders, it's in their head, rather than being about a body part. It's about
whether they can regulate how they think about people and whether they have
empathy, and whether they want power and control in their lives. Eliminating a
body part or chemical treatment really doesn't change the thinking process. What
we do with sex offenders is change the thinking process, which requires long term
treatment.
Minutes of Public Informational Meeting Wednesday, May 12, 2004
Proposed Uses of Regional Work Center Page 11 of 18 Pages
CHAD CARLSON:
I live on Lava Crest. I'm very disturbed about what the County is doing with
transitional housing and the shelter. I pay property taxes every year, and so does
everybody in here. I think the County has its obligations wrong. Their obligations
should be to me and my neighborhood, as we pay taxes; not homeless people who
have no jobs, and not transitional housing for guys who just got out of jail and have
no jobs. If they get a job, they are going to pay taxes but not property taxes. That's
my frustration with this whole thing.
SAWYER:
I'd like to respond to that. I don't want to argue the point with you, but these
people are going to be in your neighborhood no matter what. If there is not a place
for them to be, they'll be sleeping under bridges or under a tree in your back yard.
I say that because I've been in the business for twenty-five years. During that time
I've seen a lot of difficulties and problems, and a lot of solutions.
We used to have detox centers; we don't have them available now. Without those
things, those people are out there. They are still going to be there. We are just
trying to find a suitable place to put them. This justice center was built many years
ago, and there have been a lot of people coming and going from here during that
time.
There have been relatively few problems. You'll see them walking when they are
released from the jail at night; when they get released they either walk or get rides.
I think these folks are trying to do their best to monitor the situation and deal with
it, and trying to get them out of your area by using buses or whatever means.
KRISTIN SMITH:
I was reading through the statement here; is there a video camera outside?
JACKSON:
No, there are no video cameras. We discussed this with our legal counsel, and
there are issues with peoples' constitutional rights. This isn't going to be used as a
jail. These individuals have finished their sentences.
COOK:
I just have one more question. If this thing goes through, what do you anticipate
the figures to be, and the percentages, of these people finding jobs? What if they
don't get jobs; then what? They won't be able to pay to stay here.
Minutes of Public Informational Meeting Wednesday, May 12, 2004
Proposed Uses of Regional Work Center Page 12 of 18 Pages
JACKSON:
In terms of finding employment, I think quite frankly that the odds are a little more
difficult for somebody who has a felony conviction on their record. Any job
application I've ever seen asks whether you have a conviction. Although there are
a lot of employers in town who are willing to give people chances, there are also
many who aren't. All of our offenders are required to be employed. For some of
them it's a struggle because they don't have skills, they may have mental health or
substance abuse issues. I can't really give you any statistics in terms of —
COOK:
What about the flow through here? Do you have a number?
JACKSON:
Yes. The one dormitory that we will be using for transitional housing has twenty
beds in it. The transitional housing dormitory will be one dormitory only, and the
capacity is twenty; but based on having provided some transitional housing years
ago, we anticipate a maximum of probably ten at any given time. The rest of the
facility is about 72 beds, which Bethlehem Inn will have.
MIKKELBORG:
If you walk in the front door here any workday of the week, the first person you'll
meet is Ken Morgan. He is our job search coordinator. The statistics he turned in
to me last month show that he had seventeen people on job search. Of those,
fourteen got jobs and three went to jail.
EVANS:
I haven't heard an answer to the question about this neighborhood having to hold
so many not very good things. You've got halfway houses, you've got a transitional
house, a juvenile jail, and an adult jail all in one neighborhood. This was
originally rural property to be incorporated into the City as residential, and when
they put in Britta they just arbitrarily decided residential and light industrial.
That's a huge problem. It's becoming an attractive nuisance to the residential. I
don't think that anyone is thinking about how much the neighborhood can hold.
The other thing is, if the police department can make rounds from 6 to 9, extra
patrol here, that would be helpful.
Minutes of Public Informational Meeting Wednesday, May 12, 2004
Proposed Uses of Regional Work Center Page 13 of 18 Pages
JACKSON:
I can't answer your question about extra patrols. In terms of how much this area
can hold, regarding the Deschutes County Public Safety Campus, there were public
hearings before construction began. In any event, the capacity of this building is
eighty beds. The intent is to use it to its fullest extent so as not to be wasteful.
GEE:
I want to say, having been a prisoner myself in the past, the first thing you want to
do is get as far away from here as you can. You are actually in a safer
neighborhood, because there are rules here. People can rent anywhere and there
could be all kinds of activities going on. In this kind of place, we have to be on our
toes. We have to keep our act together.
DAN KIESOW:
Becky knows that I am generally supportive of the concept, with some
reservations. I own property across the street and also live a few blocks away.
The Millers have been here long enough to know what occurred when this was
sited here. I'm glad this came up. I rent to a person who works in the Juvenile
facility, and understand some of the attitudes.
My concern is this. We start off with great intentions, but things can begin to slip.
The promises the County makes goes out the window. It starts with attitude. The
attitude I hear from the Juvenile facility is, "we were here first. You built your
units across the street from us; sorry that the kids loiter and smoke in front of them,
and you lose tenants." I hear there was an altercation while I was out of town,
between one of the juveniles and a new resident over here. So, these are
legitimate concerns.
If this facility is run and supervised properly, funded properly and people take
them out and haul them away, okay. But if someone is sick today and hangs out
and decides to walk around the neighborhood, and runs into somebody's daughter
over here playing on the street, or accosts some kid or gets into trouble, those are
the concerns.
I never thought this neighborhood would be in the city, let alone be developed like
I have developed lots here. I'm guilty of that. The point is that if this is going to
be done, it's going to be on the head and shoulders of Becky, the County, and
Jenny Scanlon next door, and it needs to start with the right attitude. We do want a
good neighbor policy, not "we were here first, we're the County".
Minutes of Public Informational Meeting Wednesday, May 12, 2004
Proposed Uses of Regional Work Center Page 14 of 18 Pages
I've heard comments that it is a done deal; isn't it? I can't say this enough times.
The public hearings on the j ail — they had one public hearing. They decided there
weren't enough people interested. So instead they did a text amendment to change
things. Now I've heard the County is deannexing this because they want to put a
courtroom here, a Justice Court. So now the City Police won't be called, it will be
the Sheriffs Department. If we don't pass their budget, will they be able to
respond at all?
With the Bethlehem Inn, I would be concerned for you folks. You're going to be
providing meals to these people. Do you have enough volunteers to do that? What
about the supervision of inmates who have been released?
Anyway, the point is that after 11 at night there won't be County personnel here.
When this was a work release center, there were County personnel on site at all
times.
To me, these are legitimate concerns and there are a lot of loose ends. It could
work if it is supervised properly. I get lower rents because of the location of my
places, lower values and lower sales prices. I was let down by the County in the
initial phase when the jail went in. As the next group moves in, new issues come
UP.
We get a new set of Commissioners who make different promises. Too bad for us.
It used to be "we, the people", and now it's "we, the government against the
people". My point is, do it and do it right, and uphold your promises and your
commitment. Look first at and consider the residents.
JACKSON:
Dan, I'm sorry you feel you had a bad experience. I worked for Parole and
Probation before we moved out here, but not as Director and I wasn't a part of any
of those hearings. I thought there was more than one.
I appreciate what you said. You're right, the programs are only going to be as good
as the people who are running them and the rules that have to be followed. I don't
feel like "we were here first, tough luck." In fact, there was no requirement
whatsoever for us to hold a public meetings in regard to changing the use of the
building. We wanted to do it because we want to be good neighbors.
My feeling is that it's much more desirable to have ten offenders who have
completed their prison term here than eighty inmates who are going out each day
Minutes of Public Informational Meeting Wednesday, May 12, 2004
Proposed Uses of Regional Work Center Page 15 of 18 Pages
on work release. I understand if your view is different than that. My belief is that
both programs need to be run very strictly. There is no room in the corrections
business to be sloppy. You have to be on your toes all the time, and you don't let
things get lax.
I report to the Commissioners. The hot line phone for business hours rings
upstairs. You're welcome to call anytime. If you don't get a satisfactory response
from me, you can contact the Commissioners. The Sheriff doesn't have anything to
do with me or the Parole and Probation Department.
HITT:
Bethlehem Inn has been operating since 1999. We were founded by a retired
Lutheran pastor, Milton Hunt. He saw a great need here.
We have been doing this long enough to know that you have to be very strict. We
have policies in place and for six years we have adhered to them. We've seen that
they were in place. As we move in here we are only adding more rules. We hope
that this shows you that if you have a concern we will give it great weight and
work to come up with a possible solution.
We're not a public entity like the City or County. We've all been frustrated at some
point with government. But this is a partnership, and we both want to be good
neighbors. We've been in lots of neighborhoods, including yours. It's always our
intention to be good neighbors.
BARNEY LERTEN:
They call this an interim step. They are not publicly accountable; they are a
private group. They want a permanent facility. If this doesn't work well, no one
will give them a spot or money for a permanent facility. They have all sorts of
reasons beyond what the County does. The difference is, the other neighborhoods
where there are those Oxford Houses and things, those residents don't know. So,
they need to make it work here for it to survive.
HITT:
This is Phase 2 of a three-phase plan. The goal is to have a campus some day to
build our own shelter. We are faced with an enormous amount of accountability.
You are our stakeholders and partners, and we want your feedback. We want to
address your concerns.
Minutes of Public Informational Meeting Wednesday, May 12, 2004
Proposed Uses of Regional Work Center Page 16 of 18 Pages
The homeless face isn't what you think; it could be anyone sitting here. The largest
growing segment is children. These people need an opportunity to move on with
their lives with stable housing so they can be successful. Come visit, volunteer or
mentor. I think you'll find they look just like you and me.
JAKE ELLIOTT:
I actually worked with Bethlehem Inn at my church, and the concept makes sense.
From an impact standpoint, though, it's one thing to have the shelter move around
or to be in one place all the time.
HITT:
That's part of why Bethlehem Inn emphasizes that there were eighty convicted
felons here. They weren't provided with a bus and they moved in and out of your
neighborhood. A stable location will help to move our guests out of homelessness.
It's too hard when it's just a place to stay for the night. They need to be able to take
showers and use the laundry.
My godchildren live in this neighborhood, and they are ages 3 and 5. But I want to
point out that it won't be eighty felons; it will be people who want to change their
lives. I think most people feel this is a better scenario. During the winter months
we anticipate being full, but not during the summer months. We just don't know
yet.
JACKSON:
It is the Commissioners' intention, not withstanding the land use issue, provided
there weren't any additional serious concerns mentioned, to move forward. One of
the things that I pledge to you is to have a follow-up meeting after we have been
open for a few months. Bethlehem Inn does not intend to have guests here right
away. The land use issue has to be resolved, which takes some time. Even if there
wasn't that process, they still don't intend to allow guests until this fall.
We are ready to go with our transitional housing, and we can do that because the
current land use allows that to happen. However, we have not yet hired the staff
who will supervise the dormitory. I don't know when we will have them on board;
we need five before we move offenders in here. We have three at this point. I
would guess it will be another month or so.
Minutes of Public Informational Meeting Wednesday, May 12, 2004
Proposed Uses of Regional Work Center Page 17 of 18 Pages
My pledge to you is that after three or four months of having offenders in here, we
will again invite you to another meeting. We will do the same thing we did for the
second meeting, which was to mail notices to property owners and also to put
flyers on everyone's doors locally. That's how serious we are about wanting your
input. If there are new concerns, or if there are things we think we've resolved but
you think we haven't, we will talk about those, work on coming up with solutions
and take whatever action is necessary.
At this time, tours of the dormitory, kitchen and nurse's station were given to
those people who were interested.
Being no further questions or discussion, the formal meeting adjourned at
7: 20 p. m.
DATED this 12th Day of May 2004.
Recording Secretary
Attachment:
Exhibit A:
Sign -in Sheet to testify (1 page)
Exhibit B:
Meeting Agenda (1 page)
Exhibit C:
Transitional Housing Fact Sheet (I page)
Exhibit D:
Bethlehem Inn Fact Sheet (2 pages)
Exhibit E:
Copy of e-mail messages from other counties (2 pages)
Exhibit F:
Transitional Housing Issues (1 page)
Exhibit G:
Bethlehem Inn Issues (I page)
Minutes of Public Informational Meeting Wednesday, May 12, 2004
Proposed Uses of Regional Work Center Page 18 of 18 Pages
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Deschutes County Adult Parole & Probation
63360 Britta St. Building Two
(541) 385-3246 - www.deschutes.or
TRANSITIONAL HOUSING AND BETHLEHEM INN
PUBLIC MEETING AGENDA
MAY 123 2004, 5:30 PM
• Welcome and Introductions
• Transitional Housing Fact Sheet
• Bethlehem Inn Fact Sheet
• Transitional Housing Issues
• Bethlehem Inn Issues
• Questions
• Adj ourn
Exhibit (�
Page I of
Deschutes County Adult Parole & Probation
63360 Britta St. Building Two
(541) 385-3246 - www.deschutes.or
TRANSITIONAL HOUSING FACT SHEET
WHO CAN STAY AT WORK CENTER?
Adult, male offenders only.
WHY DO THEY STAY AT WORK CENTER?
Offenders have completed their county jail or prison term, are mandated by law to return
to Deschutes County and have no other housing resources.
HOW LONG CAN THEY STAY?
Offenders will be allowed to remain in the Transitional Housing Dormitory for up to 90
days. At that time, they must either move or begin paying for the housing service
provided.
RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THE CENTER?
9:00 pm curfew will be required unless the offender has secured employment and is
required to work after that time.
No visitors of any kind.
No weapons, drugs or alcohol.
No contact with neighbors and no loitering in area surrounding the facility.
Drug and alcohol testing done on a random basis.
CONSEQUENCES FOR NON COMPLIANCE?
Depending on the nature of the rules violation, offenders will either be removed from the
facility and/or lodged in the county jail.
SAFEGUARDS & SECURITY?
Facility supervised 24/7 by Parole and Probation staff and Bethlehem Inn.
HOTLINE
Monday – Thursday (business hours) 385-3246 All Other Times 322-8768
Exhibit 0—
Page I of I
THE BETHLEHEM INN FACT SHEET
WHO CAN STAY AT BETHLEHEM INN?
Adults (both males and females) and children. During the past year, guests ranged in age
from 2 months to 68 years.
WHY DO THEY STAY AT BETHLEHEM INN?
Reasons for the homeless seeking shelter at The Bethlehem Inn are many and varied.
Clients may include single moms who have lost their employment and, therefore,
housing; single men that have been discharged from the military and are experiencing
difficulties readjusting to society; pregnant women who have been told to leave home,
but are not able to support themselves; adult males with a history of making poor
decisions and are in need of a second chance; families in need of temporary housing until
they can locate a stable home.
HOW LONG CAN THEY STAY?
A one-week (7 day) stay will be offered on an emergency basis. Clients in emergency
housing will be transported out of the facility every morning and will not be allowed re-
entry until 6:00 pm. After 1 week of emergency housing, clients will be required to leave
or enter into the Next Steps program.
The Next Steps program is designed for long term clients who will be staying at the
shelter until they locate stable housing. These clients will be required to look for work,
attend meetings, and attend life skills classes. These clients will be staying at the shelter
approximately six months.
RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THE INN?
6:30 pm curfew. If clients cannot arrive prior to 6:30 pm, they must call the facility prior
to curfew for a later check-in time. Once checked in, clients are not allowed to exit the
facility unless departing for work, church or other excused absence.
No visitors allowed unless on official business (probation officer, minister, health care
worker, counselor, etc.)
No weapons, drugs or alcohol.
No unsolicited contact with neighbors and no loitering in area surrounding the facility.
Drug and alcohol testing done on a random basis.
Exhibit
Page i of Z _
CONSEQUENCES FOR NON-COMPLIANCE?
Depending on the nature of the violation, clients will be sanctioned according to
established shelter protocol.
Example:
Intoxicated (1" Offense) = 24 Hour Eviction
Intoxicated (2nd Offense) = 72 Hour Eviction
Intoxicated (3`d Offense) = Program Eviction for 30 Days.
*Evicted clients will be transported from the facility to the downtown Bend area the
following morning*
The Bethlehem Inn believes that the road to recovery is sometimes paved with bumps
that impede steady progress. Our philosophy is forgiveness with consequences, thereby
making the client responsible for his/her own progress in the program.
The above examples do not include aggravating circumstances such as clients being
belligerent in addition to being intoxicated. This type of behavior would result in law
enforcement notification and eviction. Abuse of staff, volunteers, and/or other clients
will not be tolerated and will result in immediate eviction for a minimum of 30 days.
After that time period, application back into the program may be considered.
Facility supervised 24/7 by Parole and Probation staff and Bethlehem Inn.
HOTLINE NUMBERS
Monday - Thursday (business hours) 385-3246 All Other Times 322-8768
Exhibit T
Page Z of 2
Becky Jackson
From: NEWMAN Gail [Gail.NEWMAN@Co.Benton.OR.US]
Sent: Friday, April 23, 2004 2:59 PM
To: Becky Jackson; VanArtsdalen Thom; Belanger Rhonda
Subject: RE: Transitional Housing
In Benton County, our Transition Center is located in the downtown area. While it is next
to a county -owned apartment complex, it is not in a neighborhood setting. We have never
had a complaint of criminal activity in the area linked to a Transition Center resident.
I would argue the area is probably safer because we have staff there until 11:30pm 7
nights per week. There is a video camera monitored by the jail after hours, so we know if
someone leaves after staff go home. I just checked with the business owner who rents
space in the same building; he reports that he has no complaints about the Transition
Center or TC residents. He would be happy to speak to someone as a "neighbor" of the TC.
(Originally this person complained about cigarette butts tossed on the sidewalk by TC
residents. We quickly resolved the issue and he has been very supportive of our program.)
Becky Jackson
From: VanArtsdalen Thom [Thom.VanArtsdalen@cc.doc.state.or.us]
Sent: Saturday, April 24, 2004 9:10 AM
To: Becky Jackson; NEWMAN Gail; Belanger Rhonda
Subject: RE: Transitional Housing
Becky,
The Baker County trans house sits on County property adjacent to the Baker County Jail and
100 yards from the Powder River Correctional Facility. And though there are a lot of
criminals in the area the crime rate is extremely low.
Becky Jackson
From: EATON Linda M [Linda.EATON@co.lane.or.us]
Sent: Monday, May 03, 2004 3:19 PM
To: Becky Jackson
Cc: CHASE Ron (SMTP)
Subject: RE: Transitional Housing
Becky, thanks for the heads up. I have not heard from Ms. Carlson, and I don't have any
direct information about increased criminal activities in neighborhoods where transitional
housing is located. I'm not aware of that kind of problem, however. Ron Chase, who runs
our transitional housing for
offenders through Sponsors, may want to respond. My inclination would be
to say that it depends on how well the housing is staffed and managed. I
think there would actually be less criminal activity in a neighborhood where offenders are
in a well -monitored housing program, compared to a neighborhood where offenders lived on
their own, without the structure of a program.
Exhibit .
Page ' ./ of
v
Becky Jackson
From: John Hartner [John_Hartner@co.washington.or.us]
Sent: Thursday, April 29, 2004 3:16 PM
To: Becky Jackson
Subject: RE: Transitional Housing
Becky, I do not believe the sitting of our facility in downtown Hillsboro has resulted in
any increase of crime in the surrounding area. In fact, we believe our transition
facility has had the opposite effect, reducing crime overall in our community. Last only
1% of the residents in this program were arrested (most for misd. drug and driving
offences), and these arrests took place all over Washington County. If these same
residents where just released to the community without the benefit of programming or
employment I am sure many more of our citizens would not only be victims but all would be
paying additional taxes for processing their new crimes. John H
Becky Jackson
From: EATON Linda M [Linda. EATON@co.lane.or.us]
Sent: Thursday, May 06, 2004 2:12 PM
To: Becky Jackson
Subject: RE: Transitional Housing
Becky, I have a little more input on this from Ron Chase. He said you (or
a community member) may be able to get police reports from a particular location to see
what the history of problems has been in that particular
area. I'm not sure how applicable that is to your situation. He also
stated that in the 3 years their main facility has been in their current location, they
have only had one criminal incident committed by the 3,000 or so offenders housed during
that time. (That one offense was by a very closely monitored, but compulsive sex offender
who would probably have offended no matter where he lived.)
Ron said he would be glad to talk with you if you want. He has been in the
offender housing business for many years, and has had a lot of experience
with neighborhoods. He is well-respected in the local criminal justice
system. His number is 541 485-8341.
Exhibit
Page of d-
TRANSITIONAL HOUSING ISSUES
CONCERN?
Offenders unsupervised in the neighborhood.
RESPONSE
Offenders transported from facility in a.m.
9:00 pm curfew.
Offenders prohibited from loitering in the area surrounding facility.
PO's to drive through neighborhood when entering/exiting Deschutes County Public
Safety Campus.
CONCERN?
What problems have other counties with transitional housing experienced?
RESPONSE
Please see attached sheet containing information provided by Parole and Probation
Directors in other counties offering transitional housing.
CONCERN?
Offenders will not be "locked down" in the evening hours as inmates were when the
Facility was used as Regional Work Center.
RESPONSE
When prisoners were housed in the facility, they entered/departed 24 hours per day
due to differing work schedules.
Federal inmates were allowed to leave the facility in the evening to work out at local
fitness centers.
Offenders to be housed in the facility have completed their jaiVorison sentence and
are not prisoners.
9:00 pm curfew will be in place with exceptions for work schedules.
Facility will be supervised 24 hours per day, 7 days per week.
Parole and Probation Officers supervising offenders in transitional housing dormitory
will be stopping in randomly during evenings and weekends.
Exhibit
Page f of I
THE BETHLEHEM INN ISSUES
CONCERN?
What happens when a Bethlehem Inn guest arrives at the facility intoxicated?
RESPONSE
Historically, a guest arriving at the Inn would be turned away for being intoxicated (a
violation of Inn policy). Due to community concern, when the Inn reopens during fall
2004, guests who appear intoxicated will be housed for the evening. An incident report
will be prepared and the violation will be dealt with in accordance with policy and
procedure the following morning.
CONCERN?
How are guests transported out of the area in the morning?
RESPONSE
The Inn owns a bus which will be used to transport guests to the downtown Bend area. A
bicycle rack will be fitted to the bus, for those guests with bikes.
CONCERN?
Can background checks be run on guests?
RESPONSE
Warrant checks will be run on guests by Parole and Probation. Warrant information will
be accessed through LEDS (Law $nforcement Data System). LEDS policies and
procedures prohibit running criminal history checks.
CONCERN?
School bus stop is located adjacent to facility.
Students may board bus at alternate site located at Hardy and Lava Crest.
Exhibit --G
Page t of