Neighbors overwhelmingly oppose proposed pallet micro-community sites; council clarifies no vote tonight

Dozens of neighbors and business owners turned out March 26 to oppose proposed pallet micro-community sites in District 1 and elsewhere, raising concerns about proximity to homes, elementary schools, liquor stores, traffic and utilities.

During the petitions-from-the-floor portion of the meeting many speakers identified themselves as residents of the Agua Fria area, said they had reviewed the small lot proposed for a micro community and asked the council to locate housing and shelter facilities on larger, nonresidential city parcels instead. Several speakers said they were worried about property values and safety and asked whether the city had completed a public process to evaluate alternative sites.

Mayor Alan Weber began the evening by stating that the agenda did not include any vote or discussion about a pallet community and asked those who wished to speak to reserve longer comments for the scheduled petitions period. He reiterated that no vote would occur that night.

Speakers who identified themselves as residents and business owners described similar concerns. Patty Boucher (resident) asked whether the city’s selection process had included neighborhood planning and said neighbors lacked information about access to the small parcel on Agua Fria. Tony Nelson (resident) said residents felt the plan was “an experiment” and urged the city not to place pallet shelters within established residential neighborhoods. Mercedes Marchand (resident) said she had spent her life savings building a home near the proposed site and opposed siting a micro-community a half-block away. Business owners whose facilities are near the parcel said they were worried about safety for children and staff and asked the city to consider locations with better access to services.

A few speakers urged the council and the public to study the successful micro community at Christ Lutheran Church as a model but said that the Christ Lutheran location is not equivalent to placing small shelter clusters inside residential blocks. Kat Kincaid (resident) told the council that the Christ Lutheran pilot had “been such a success” and urged neighborhood agreements and 24/7 service staffing for micro communities; she said community meetings should be held quickly so residents have accurate information.

Councilors and staff did not vote that evening on any pallet-community site. Councilor Amanda Faulkner and others said they will hold district town halls and public meetings on shelter siting and the broader public-safety package; Councilor Castro announced a district town hall on April 24. The city attorney and mayor also noted that petitions from the floor were the appropriate place for public input.

The petitions period concluded without a council decision on site selection. Multiple speakers asked the city to consider alternative city-owned commercial or industrial parcels (for example, near fire stations or Midtown) rather than small residential lots; they also requested maps and documentation about the site-selection process and utility accessibility. Council members asked staff to schedule community meetings and said they would share meeting dates and materials with neighbors.