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Public commenters urge zoning changes and more shelter capacity; one speaker criticizes council response to homelessness
Summary
At the committee's Feb. 12 meeting two public commenters urged action: Gary Lee asked the committee to direct HSD and OPCD to study zoning that concentrates human‑service uses downtown; a separate commenter, David Haines, criticized the Council's approach to homelessness and shelter capacity.
During the public comment period of the Housing and Human Services Committee on Feb. 12, two speakers addressed homelessness and land‑use policy.
Gary Lee, who identified himself as having addressed the Council previously about the comprehensive plan, asked the committee to direct the Office of Planning and Community Development (OPCD) and the Human Services Department (HSD) to examine zoning rules related to "concentration of homeless or human service uses" around downtown, and to coordinate any zoning changes with the comprehensive‑plan implementation process. He said he had sent written comments and requested the committee ask HSD to work with OPCD on a zoning regulation tied to the comprehensive plan process.
A remote speaker, David Haines, criticized the Council's response to homelessness and shelter capacity. Haines said, "It's obvious that the city council has absolutely no motivation to solve the homeless crisis," and urged more shelter capacity during winter; his remarks included broad political criticism of elected officials and nonprofit service providers.
No committee action on the requests was recorded during the meeting; public comment items were heard before the committee moved to agenda business.
