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Conditional Use Permit of the Warming Center from Nancy ChristensonJudi Funk From: Nancy Christenson <homeketcher@yahoo.com> Sent: Tuesday, May 14, 2024 10:16 AM To: Kalispell Meetings Public Comment Subject: EXTERNAL Conditional Use Permit of the Warming Center Dear Mayor Johnson and City council members, I attended last night's very lengthy and very informative work session of the city council addressing the conditional use permit of the Warming Center. I admit I learned a lot and made some internal decisions on my thoughts about the scenario that was going on. First of all, I am a resident of Kalispell, for the last 45 years. I've been a resident of West Colorado Street adjacent to the north field of the Flathead County Fairgrounds, for 20 years, at which time the last three fairground managers have somewhat affectionately called me "Neighbor Nancy"... My late husband, Chris retired in 2003 from the Kalispell Police Department after 24 years of service. It's amazing that he probably didn't even think that the city and the issues would come to this. When I've seen activity that warranted I needed to contact the fairgrounds about the North Field. I would email the fairground manager or call over there and was greeted with a "Thank you. I appreciate you letting us know." In the last 3 or 4 years I've noticed a huge increase of course like everyone else, of the homeless in the Kalispell area, as well as around the county. I understand the conditional use permit didn't warrant that I be notified because of the 150-ft parameter. But my concerns became a reality in the last few years. People walking through my yard because I don't have a section of it fenced, going through our trash cans the night before trash day or the morning of trash day. And along my neighboring 5th Avenue West North alleyway using the alley as a public restroom. The North field of the fairgrounds brings me joy when I see neighborhood families walking together with their dogs on leashes, and enjoying the fairgrounds open field where the kids and the dogs can run together and then they walk back together to their homes. This has decreased greatly. And I didn't realize the reason until last night's work session meeting and the public comments... I was horrified to hear of people having worse conditions and further away from the warming center but in the same area per se. My heart broke when I heard of children not being able to safely play in their own yards because not knowing what a debris field it might be. When discussions were made last night, it expanded to the whole city to the county to our neighboring cities that bring them to us. It is a long solution and it's a deep one for our community. What astonished me the most was the fact that the Warming Center declared, "They knew nothing of this or what was going on" with the animosity that had built up. I can't believe that, especially with all the board members and the volunteers that spoke last night on behalf of the Warming Center, they weren't aware? Sorry, I'm not going to believe that. Those who cannot get into the Warming Center walk the streets, parks, and public buildings. Our post offices both the Old Main Post office on 1 st Avenue West and the post office on Meridian, have closed their doors to us box holders from getting our mail. We have to comply with specific hours cuz they do not want the homeless sleeping on the floors in the alcoves in the post office. Some Homeless when asked, or approached have even told some of our leaders in the community, They won't go to the Warming Center because of the people that are allowed in there. I applaud and commend the Kalispell Police department and their patience with what's going on with this mental scenario of our homeless people. There's no quick solution. But one solution could be that a conditional use permit with amended instructions to the Warming Center on how things are conducted. I don't want a tour of the Warming Center. It doesn't matter to me how wonderful it is inside. What matters to me is the way they're telling the community that we're good and we're doing good, but they've caused additional ulceration and they just don't realize it. I hope that within the next month or so in between meetings that the mayor and the city council will see fit to do something creative, responsibility.. Not so much as with the zoning but again that conditional use permit needs to have some ramifications. If I did what they did I would be in jail for disorderly conduct, for littering, for loitering but that's not happening to the people that are violating Our city... Accountability! A new concept?... Respectfully submitted Nancy Christenson Yahoo Mail: Search, Organize, Conquer