HomeMy WebLinkAboutMemo - Mail Packet - 11/17/2020 - Memorandum From Marcy Yoder Re: Library Park Neighborhood Updates
Planning, Development & Transportation
Community Development & Neighborhood Services
281 N. College Ave.
PO Box 580
Fort Collins, CO 80522
970.416.2350
970.224.6134 FAX
www.fcgov.com
MEMORANDUM
DATE: November 10, 2020
TO: Mayor Troxell and City Council Members
THRU: Darin Atteberry, City Manager
Kelly DiMartino, Deputy City Manager
Caryn Champine, PDT Director
Paul Sizemore, Interim CDNS Director
FROM: Marcy Yoder, Neighborhood Services Manager
RE: Library Park Neighborhood Updates
Purpose: This memo will provide a semi-monthly summary to strategies to
compassionately manage and address issues impacting the Library Park Neighborhood,
including recent trends and communication efforts.
Updates from taskforce members:
Fort Collins Police Services receives regular reports about camping,
disturbances and other criminal activity in the Library Park n eighborhood.
Officers respond and address the problems through verbal warnings,
citations and arrests. The responding officers frequently find evidence of
drug use and suspects with arrest warrants. Officers provide extra
patrolling in this area every day to reduce disruptive behaviors and other
criminal activity.
Code Compliance has observed a decrease of activity at 300 Oak Street
over the last 2 weeks. There has not been accumulation of trash or
rubbish noted.
Outreach Fort Collins (OFC) has not observed disturbances recently and
has not received calls for the Library Park neighborhood. A few people
have been observed camping in the last two weeks. OFC is messaging
the availability of the indoor shelter at 1301 Blue Spruce Dr., as well as the
potential increase in consequences from police services for people
camping outdoors now that alternative shelter sites are available. The
team has also updated handouts to reflect the new shelter locations,
hours, and winter weather day shelter options at Westminster, Murphy
Center, Catholic Charities, etc.
DocuSign Envelope ID: 7213CFD4-15CD-4749-8FD0-F00BB2844779
Social Sustainability supported the opening of the temporary overnight
shelter at 1301 Blue Spruce Dr. and Catholic Charities, effective
November 2nd. The inclement weather day shelter at Westminster
Presbyterian is ready to go when needed.
o Blue Spruce hours of operation - 5:30 p.m. – 7:00 a.m., seven days
per week (all meals provided, hot breakfast and dinner, sack lunch)
o Communications – information sent out on Nextdoor as well as
some direct mailing to very close/adjacent businesses occurred last
week
o Murphy Center continues to provide outdoor day shelter during
non-inclement weather days (8 a.m. – 5 p.m., 7 days per week).
The taskforce expects that additional options for shelter and limited Old Town Library
access will continue to decrease the amount of activity in the Library Park area (similar
to the decrease experienced while Northside Aztlan Community Center was open as a
temporary shelter).
Background:
A City task force is coordinating across departments to share updates and advance
strategies to compassionately manage and address issues impacting the Library Park
neighborhood. The task force includes staff from Police Services, Neighborhood
Services/Code Compliance, Social Sustainability, City Attorney’s Office, and the City
Manager’s Office. It also includes Outreach Fort Collins, a community partner
offering support for people experiencing homelessness.
CC: Honore Depew, Interim Policy and Project Manager
Beth Sowder, Social Sustainability Director
Jacqueline Kozak-Thiel, Chief Sustainability Officer
Jeff Swoboda, Chief of Police
Tim Doran, Police Assistant Chief
Jerry Schiager, Police Lieutenant
Ingrid Decker, Senior Assistant City Attorney
Nick Verni-Lau, Outreach Fort Collins Program Director
DocuSign Envelope ID: 7213CFD4-15CD-4749-8FD0-F00BB2844779