Below is confirmed information regarding the Redmond homeless hotel. People can verify with Flor Leonardo.Flor@kingcounty.gov , the ultimate decision maker on the Redmond homeless hotel.
1) This would be an adult only facility. No family or youth would be living there, with the exception of couples.
2) It would house mentally ill and drug addicts.
3) Registered sex offenders would be allowed to live in the Redmond HtH hotel. Any laws with respect to offender housing would be adhered to.
4) Drug and/or alcohol use would be permitted in individual units.
5) This facility would not be dedicated to only serve the homeless population on the Eastside.
Other updates:
On 8/17, after more than 150 people protested outside Redmond city hall, and several dozen gave public comments at the council meeting, under the influence of planning director, Carol Helland, Redmond city council unanimously passed Ordinance 3059 ( https://redmond.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=9714814&GUID=936D3D1D-D972-441F-B302-08DEB14344A1 ) , and paved way for this and future homeless hotels and shelters to move into Redmond. Ordinance 3059 will take effect on August 28th, which effectively prevented voters from running a referendum against it.
Some details about Ordinance 3059:
- Unlike required by HB 1220, and adopted by other cities, Ordinance 3059 set the Interim Official Control term to one year, instead of 6 months, allowing enough time to squeeze in more homeless facilities in Redmond.
- Unlike similar ordinances passed by other cities, Ordinance 3059 did not allow public comment and testimony to be considered. By comparison, Bellevue Ordinance 6585 ( https://documentcloud.adobe.com/link/review?uri=urn%3Aaaid%3Ascds%3AUS%3A54256793-8341-48b6-9a1d-60c327bfe91e#pageNum=1 ) states:
“Section 17. Public Hearing. Pursuant to RCW 36.70A.390, the City Council shall hold a public hearing on this Interim Official Control within sixty (60) days of its adoption, so as to hear and consider public comment and testimony regarding this Interim Official Control. Following such hearing, the City Council may adopt additional findings of fact, and may extend the Interim Official Control for a period up to an additional six (6) months. The City Council may adopt additional six (6) month extensions after any required public hearing, pursuant to RCW 36. 70A.390. “
- Ordinance 3059 set occupancy density limit to 100 residents, yet allowed exceptions to allow the 144 units Redmond homeless hotel to be opened. In comparison, the city of Renton set the occupancy density limit to “no more than 100 persons served, or up to 115 residents if there is an agreement with the City to designate at least 15% of the sleeping units to those currently experiencing homelessness in the City.” A City of Renton’s memo explained why the 100 residents limit is critical (https://renton.civicweb.net/FileStorage/C8F39F15D7BE48B082B2C82D3DC0E22C-Adopt%20the%20Following%20Interim%20Zoning%20Controls_%20Cl.pdf )
“3. City staff recommend limiting the capacity of overnight shelters to 100 to mitigate impacts on the surrounding community.
The capacity restriction of 100 residents is also contained in the City of Bellevue’s homeless services regulations. The need for this type of limitation is evidenced by the impacts DESC’s Renton Red Lion shelter have created both within the shelter and in the areas surrounding the shelter, as well as the amount of resources Renton’s emergency service providers have had to dedicate to a single property.
The Renton Red Lion shelter operators insist that deintensifying the density in which its high‐need, low‐barrier residents live reduces interpersonal conflicts and calls to 9‐1‐1. Although these conflicts may have reduced as compared to a congregate shelter environment, the increase in crime and demands upon Renton’s emergency responders indicate a need for further deintensification to limit impacts at a single location and further limit interpersonal conflicts between residents.
The Renton Red Lion shelter operators argue that they cannot control behaviors of their residents in and around the shelter. The limitation of number of residents, therefore, is not likely to eliminate the impacts to the surrounding neighborhood, but it is expected to proportionately reduce those impacts. “
Call to action:
- Please contact Leo Flor (Leonardo.Flor@kingcounty.gov), King County council members (council@kingcounty.gov ) and Dow Constantine (dow.constantine@kingcounty.gov ) and request them to change the Redmond homeless hotel to a family or youth facility, along with your other requests.
- Please contact Redmond city council (MayorCouncil@redmond.gov ), and request them to amend Ordinance 3059 with three modifications:
- To shorten the term of Interim Official Control to 6 months (model after Bellevue Ordinance 6585)
- To add the requirement for the council to adopt additional finds of fact after considering public comment and testimony (model after Bellevue Ordinance 6585 ).
- To limit the occupancy density to 100 residents (model after the Renton Ordinance draft ( https://renton.civicweb.net/filepro/documents/111373?preview=118627)
Take back our cities. Please join us, and pledge to vote this November general election, and vote for candidates that support our fight to stop drugs and homelessness in our cities. In the city of Redmond, 7,000 votes will allow us to take back the city. With your pledge, we can do it.
Best Regards
Safe Eastside
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