 |
CITY OF FORT PIERCE CRA ADVISORY COMMITTEE |
|
CRA Advisory Committee Minutes
OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE FORT PIERCE CITY CRA ADVISORY COMMITTEE HELD ON WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 16, 2017, IN FORT PIERCE 2ND FLOOR CONFERENCE ROOM, 100 NORTH US HIGHWAY 1, FORT PIERCE, FLORIDA.
1.
CALL TO ORDER
2.
ROLL CALL
- Present:
- Kristina Gibbons; Allan Reed; Al Johnson; Plythe Freedman; Cindi O'Connell; Hoyt Murphy, Jr.; Junette Raymond; Chair Charlie Frank Matthews
- Absent:
- Michael Brown, Jr.
- Staff Present:
-
- Libby Woodruff, Manager, Grants Administration Division
- Vennis Gilmore, Planning Analyst
- Alicia Rosenthal, Executive Assistant
3.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
a.
Minutes from the July 19, 2017 meeting
Motion was made by Junette Raymond, and seconded by Cindi O'Connell to approve the minutes from the July 19, 2017 meeting.
- AYE:
- Cindi O'Connell, Hoyt Murphy, Jr., Junette Raymond, Kristina Gibbons, Allan Reed, Al Johnson, Plythe Freedman, Chair Charlie Frank Matthews
Passed
4.
CHAIRMAN VIEWPOINTS
Chairman Matthews stated his viewpoints.
Chairman Matthews stated his viewpoints.
5.
OLD BUSINESS
6.
NEW BUSINESS
a.
Update from Officer Maldonado
Officer Maldonado and Sergeant Schramm gave an update on the homeless situation in downtown. Officer Maldonado stated he has identified where the homeless are located and he has created a homeless database. He explained he has eliminated the homeless from washing clothes at the waterfront and from sleeping at the library and around the waterfront. Officer Maldonado stated he has stopped the homeless from residing at the shuffleboard courts and he has asked the homeless to keep the areas clean where ever they are staying. Officer Maldonado said he is working with agencies to find out places for homeless to go and he has also identified agencies that are feeding the homeless.
Sergeant Schramm stated there are two sides to the homeless issue; people who support the homeless and the people that don't want the homeless in the area. Sergeant Schramm explained when restaurants hand out food the homeless keep coming back. He also said some agencies hire homeless for cash and they think they are helping, but they are actually hurting, because when that person needs cash they keep coming back. Sergeant Schramm stated the downtown needs to be educated and the handouts need to stop. He said if citizens are going to assist the homeless they need to assist them in the right way by providing training, services, food and clothing in an area that is not the hub of tourism in Ft. Pierce. Sergeant Schramm explained law enforcement needs something they can bite there teeth into, possibly an homeless ordinance, a homeless shelter and state rules being enforced for residents providing homeless food from there kitchen.
Officer Maldonado and Sergeant Schramm gave an update on the homeless situation in downtown. Officer Maldonado stated he has identified where the homeless are located and he has created a homeless database. He explained he has eliminated the homeless from washing clothes at the waterfront and from sleeping at the library and around the waterfront. Officer Maldonado stated he has stopped the homeless from residing at the shuffleboard courts and he has asked the homeless to keep the areas clean where ever they are staying. Officer Maldonado said he is working with agencies to find out places for homeless to go and he has also identified agencies that are feeding the homeless.
Sergeant Schramm stated there are two sides to the homeless issue; people who support the homeless and the people that don't want the homeless in the area. Sergeant Schramm explained when restaurants hand out food the homeless keep coming back. He also said some agencies hire homeless for cash and they think they are helping, but they are actually hurting, because when that person needs cash they keep coming back. Sergeant Schramm stated the downtown needs to be educated and the handouts need to stop. He said if citizens are going to assist the homeless they need to assist them in the right way by providing training, services, food and clothing in an area that is not the hub of tourism in Ft. Pierce. Sergeant Schramm explained law enforcement needs something they can bite there teeth into, possibly an homeless ordinance, a homeless shelter and state rules being enforced for residents providing homeless food from there kitchen.
b.
Homeless Demographics Presentation - Libby Woodruff
Ms. Woodruff gave a presentation on homeless demographics and provided the CRA Board with a "Homelessness Fact Sheet" for St. Lucie County as well as a handout showing the "Chronic Homeless Prevalence" in the State of Florida.
Ms. Woodruff gave a presentation on homeless demographics and provided the CRA Board with a "Homelessness Fact Sheet" for St. Lucie County as well as a handout showing the "Chronic Homeless Prevalence" in the State of Florida.
c.
Plan Round Table Event
The Board discussed creating a homeless committee and having a special meeting to write a homeless ordinance. Chairman Matthews explained that the Board needs to invite leaders from the church, school system, housing authority and police department.
Chairman Matthews stated at the regular meeting on September 20, 2017, he would like to invite Cathy Mourning from Graceway Village, Louise Hubbard from Treasure Coast Coalition, Hazel Hoylman from Image of Christ, and David Long from Angels of Hope to speak.
Chairman Matthews stated the Donald King building on 7th Street and Avenue H is a vacant building that could be put to good use and Mr. King should be invited to the October 2017 CRA meeting.
The Board discussed creating a homeless committee and having a special meeting to write a homeless ordinance. Chairman Matthews explained that the Board needs to invite leaders from the church, school system, housing authority and police department.
Chairman Matthews stated at the regular meeting on September 20, 2017, he would like to invite Cathy Mourning from Graceway Village, Louise Hubbard from Treasure Coast Coalition, Hazel Hoylman from Image of Christ, and David Long from Angels of Hope to speak.
Chairman Matthews stated the Donald King building on 7th Street and Avenue H is a vacant building that could be put to good use and Mr. King should be invited to the October 2017 CRA meeting.
Motion was made by Cindi O'Connell, and seconded by Hoyt Murphy, Jr. to approve a Special CRA Meeting on September 6, 2017 at 2 PM.
- AYE:
- Allan Reed, Al Johnson, Plythe Freedman, Cindi O'Connell, Hoyt Murphy, Jr., Junette Raymond, Kristina Gibbons, Chair Charlie Frank Matthews
Passed
7.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Mike Broderick, downtown Anytime Fitness owner, stated over the last 6 months his business has seen a dramatic increase in members being approached by homeless 24 hours a day. Mr. Broderick said it is not a matter of when or if, it is a matter of when an issue is going to take place.
Daleyne Esteban, local resident, spoke about how Atlantic City handled there homeless problem. She stated that Atlantic City had a huge problem overnight because the police in Baltimore and in Philadelphia were buying one way tickets and shipping the homeless to Atlantic City. Ms. Esteban explained the ministry purchased a huge building and provided the homeless with a meal, a cot, a blanket and a clean towel, so the homeless could take a shower and go to the bathroom and also be ministered if they needed psychiatric help.
Monty Corbitt, local resident, suggested to contact Connie at New Horizons because she is trying to get the homeless off the streets.
Denese Rudisol, local resident, stated for almost 3 years, she has gone to the yacht club every morning to eat and read the bible with the homeless. She said her church sends a bus to the library to pick up the homeless every Wednesday at 5 PM to have dinner and bible study. Ms Rudisol explained she cuts the homeless hair, shaves their faces, and provides clean clothes so they don't look homeless and therefore don't scare the tourist. Ms. Rudisol went on to say that because the "bridge club" homeless get the things they need, they do not panhandle; they are given hope, unconditional love, they get jobs, they get sober, and they get clean.
Mike Broderick, downtown Anytime Fitness owner, stated over the last 6 months his business has seen a dramatic increase in members being approached by homeless 24 hours a day. Mr. Broderick said it is not a matter of when or if, it is a matter of when an issue is going to take place.
Daleyne Esteban, local resident, spoke about how Atlantic City handled there homeless problem. She stated that Atlantic City had a huge problem overnight because the police in Baltimore and in Philadelphia were buying one way tickets and shipping the homeless to Atlantic City. Ms. Esteban explained the ministry purchased a huge building and provided the homeless with a meal, a cot, a blanket and a clean towel, so the homeless could take a shower and go to the bathroom and also be ministered if they needed psychiatric help.
Monty Corbitt, local resident, suggested to contact Connie at New Horizons because she is trying to get the homeless off the streets.
Denese Rudisol, local resident, stated for almost 3 years, she has gone to the yacht club every morning to eat and read the bible with the homeless. She said her church sends a bus to the library to pick up the homeless every Wednesday at 5 PM to have dinner and bible study. Ms Rudisol explained she cuts the homeless hair, shaves their faces, and provides clean clothes so they don't look homeless and therefore don't scare the tourist. Ms. Rudisol went on to say that because the "bridge club" homeless get the things they need, they do not panhandle; they are given hope, unconditional love, they get jobs, they get sober, and they get clean.
8.
STAFF AND COMMITTEE MEMBER COMMENTS
9.
ADJOURNMENT