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HomeMy WebLinkAboutJACOB FAMILY SERVICES REDWOOD CENTER - 56 93 - CORRESPONDENCE - CITIZEN COMMUNICATION (8)Page 2 Here is a list of specific action items that the Jacob Center has agreed to ao far: 1. The Jacob center will provide a "policy and Procedures Manual" for the new establishment that we can look aver prior to the public zoning meeting, 2. At least one member of the night staff will be a professionally trained security agent, preferably with several years experience on the job, 3. A ocamwnity review board will be farmed consisting of membership from the Jacob center, Social services, Local law enforcement and one member from each of the four nearby neighborhoods. This board will oversee operations at the center, including candidate selection, 4. The Jacob center will cooperate with any neighborhood watch procedures including a "phone tree" alert system should a resident walk -off. There more several other minor items agreed to, but these were the main points. I have furnished the city Planner with a list of names and addresses for the Greenbrier subdivision and asked that each household receive mailings an any and all future actions in regard to the Jacob center. Regarding my overall impressions of the Jacob center. Right now, I feel that they've dealt quickly and effectively with problems as they've occurred in other places that they operate. They have also responded favorably to the concerns expressed by the neighborhoods and have agreed to mechaaisme whereby current ariQ future problems can be addressed in a swift manner. I believe that Chair purpose is a necessary and positive one for the community, and that their staff (as it is currently outlined) is capable of carrying it out. I would welcoms any questions that any of you might have, since there is perhaps still a chance to get information to them or the the City Planner before the Planning and zoning meeting. On another -- but directly related topic. Sow would everyone feel about our creating a formal Same owners association. We have no common areas to worry about caring for, so I don't sea any need for dues. However, it would be nice to have a mechanism in place to deal with neighborhood questions when they come up. You should have seen how officiont Lindenwood subdivision was when I invited them to send a representative to the working group meeting! Their go& communicated the entire scenario to root kay residents within a few hours. everyone was mado aware ... oommeats were gathered ... and their president, vico-president, and security officer were at the meeting a few days later with the subdivisions thoughts in hand. Please give me your thoughts and idean about a game Owners Amen. aver the next couple of months and I'll help get it going if that seems like a good idea to most (say 406 or more). Please phone if you'd like (but not after 10 or before 7). G�J6��S�drn�e John P. �IFs. 907 Grouse Cirir. F Y pbns 224-2334 Dear Greenbrier Reaidental I'm writing this note to provide you with an update on the Jacob Family Placement Center coning request. First, a brief far those of you not familiar with the proposal Briefly stated, the nabob center, Inc. proposes to open a 4043sd, teenage placement venter (half -way house) in the former New Horizons building located at the intersection of Redwood and conifer strests. The facility would house juveniles selected by the state and county as being candidates for integration into society by going first through the halfway house then to a foster hams where they would remain as long as they satisfied the conditions of their •parole• (it's not really a parole, but you get the idea). The candidates tuclude juveniles from broken or diefunational homes, as well as those oonvioted of crimes. Crimes might include drug offenses, gang activity or felonies such as shoplifting, robbery, etc. No our convicted of extremely serious offenses (such as murder or sax criman ) would be accepted. Many of us from areembriar attended the first public meeting on this issue on August 11th at the New Horizon building. There were also many in attendance from other asighbashaods in the area. Tor those of you who didn't make it let me summarize by saying that over a 2 1/2 hour period a lengthy list of cancer= and fears was generated. In fact, Kiraten Whetstone, (city Planner) was the chair for the mating and has a transcript which includes 52 separate items. Following that msstiug, Siraten got in touch with me to suggest that she would be willing to chair a small working group, with a couple of membere from each neighborhood wah had expressed particular interest, to try to formalise acme of the concerns as possible "action items" for the Jacob Center's zoning plan. I agreed, and spent the next week making sure that each neighborhood was represented, and gathering further information on the Jacob Center. This included visiting two neighborhoods where the Jacob Center already has houses. I went with Tom Cushman who is the represeutative from the zvergrasn subdivision just south of us. Here, in summary, is what we learned from our research and what vas discussed at the working group meeting on August 24th. rirst, are have learned that the Jacob cantor seems to be very responsive to problems that crop up as a result of their activity. They had quite a bit of trouble on smith St. when they first openedt but as noon as the neighborhood made them aware of the problems, the problems ceased. second: they do seem to want to minimize costs in certain areas. However, convincing statements and agrasmants to various action items made at the working group meeting now to reflect a concern that their center is viewed an positive by the conamtnity. Third, the proposed staff for the new canter seems to have an impressive array of credentials, Fourth, residents will HOT BE ALLOWED oFF-cArmos except to go to school, or jobs.. There are no free psriods planned whore residents can leave the grounds.