PRHSPSC MINS 06-12-2018City of Federal Way
City Council
PARKS RECREATION HUMAN SERVICES & PUBLIC SAFETY COUNCIL COMMITTEE
Tuesday June 12, 2018
5:00 p.m.
SUMMARY
Committee Members in Attendance: Chair Johnson, and Committee members Koppang and Moore
Council Member in Attendance: Deputy Mayor Honda
Staff Members in Attendance: Eric Rhoades, Assistant City Attorney, John Hutton, Parks Director,
Steve Ikerd, Parks Deputy Director, Doug Nelson, Recreation Manager, Yarden Weidenfeld, Senior
Policy Advisor, Jeff Watson, Community Services Manager, Sara Bridgeford CDBG/HS Coordinator,
and Mary Jaenicke, Administrative Asst. II.
Guests: Sharry Edwards, Chair of the Homelessness Task Force, Dawn Zern and Paul LaRose, Seattle
Union Gospel Mission
Chair Johnson called the meeting to order at 5:00pm
Commission Comment: None
Public Comment: None
BUSINESS ITEMS
Approval of Minutes
Committee member Koppang motioned to approve the May 8, 2018 minutes as written. Committee
member Moore seconded. Motion passed.
Panther Lake Trail Pervious Concrete Construction Contract
Mr. Ikerd stated that the contractor that won the bid for the construction of the Panther Lake Trail project
is unable to do the pervious concrete. Staff went out to bid the pervious concrete, and two bids were
received. Four Seasons Concrete was the lowest responsible bidder. The total contract amount is
$135,300.00. Committee member Moore moved to forward option 1 to the June 19, 2018 consent
agenda for approval. Committee member Koppang seconded. Motion passed.
COUNCIL DISCUSSION ON EMERGING ISSUES
Update on Homelessness Task Force
Sharry Edwards and Yarden Weidenfeld provided an update on the Homelessness Task Force. The task
force which consists of 30 members was announced in March. They started meeting in April. This is a
broad based task force that will focus on the global issue of homelessness in Federal Way. A full report
will be issued by December 21, 2018. Included in the report will be a strategic plan of action to guide the
Federal Way Community in responding to homelessness during the next 1-5 years. The Chair made the
decision that these meetings would be closed, it's a large task force, these are working meetings and they
have a lot that they need to accomplish. The committee asked for copies of the minutes from the meeting.
Committee member Moore would like the documents available on the website. He is concerned that
these meetings are not opened and transparent to the public. He is also asking that the meetings be
recorded and put on the City's website. Ms. Edwards stated that there is not a transparency issue; the
documents are available to those that ask for them. There are four task groups and each one has a focus
and a task. Those groups are 1) State of homelessness in Federal Way, 2) Resources/Services in Federal
Way, 3) Effects on the community and 4) Other services and lack of services. Currently there are 13
active encampments. Once they're cleaned up the Police are very vigilant to prevent them from setting
them up again. Chair Johnson stated that during this process the Council is making policy decisions on
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PARKS, RECREATION, HUMAN SERVICES & PUBLIC SAFETY COUNCIL COMMITTEE
Tuesday, June 12, 2018 Summary
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the budget before the report will be completed. It's important that the Council stays informed throughout
the process. Committee member Koppang stated that it's important for the community to be able to
provide feedback to the task force. Committee member Moore requested that there be a briefing at a
future Council meeting.
Needs Based Assessment Review
Paul LaRose, Director of Emergency Shelters and Dawn Zern Church Engagement Partnership Specialist
from the Seattle Union Gospel Mission were asked to attend the committee meeting to provide
information on what they know about homelessness and what their organization is currently doing about
homelessness in other cities. The one night count tells them that the need for resources is increasing;
there were 12,112 people that were homeless in King County. Vehicle residency has increased in Federal
Way and there has been an upward trend of homelessness in Southwest King County. Federal Way
Public Schools announced that the number of homeless students in the district has risen by 46.5% over
five years. This is a faster pace of growth in this area than other areas. 17.2% of Federal Way residents
are below poverty level. Mr. LaRose stated that one of the major causes of homelessness is a catastrophe.
He added that homelessness is not a money issue; it's a lack of resources issue. Currently the Seattle
Union Gospel Mission is doing very light work in Federal Way. They are mainly doing a lot of search
and rescue. They are looking for people that need assistance. They are trying to build relationships to try
and get people into their shelter to join a recovery program.
NEXT REGULAR MEETING
July 10, 2018
ADJOURNMENT
Meeting adjourned at 6:30p.m.