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Residents urge stronger warming-center policy as council hears outreach updates
Summary
Speakers at public comment urged the council to do more for people living outside during freezing weather. Staff said the city monitors forecasts and will activate cold-weather shelters if conditions meet thresholds.
Several residents told the Westminster City Council on Jan. 13 they are worried about people living outdoors during freezing temperatures and asked the city to expand warming-center access.
"I had intended to speak tonight about the city's response to our unhoused residents living outside during the below freezing temperatures," public commenter Ellen Farb said during public comment, and she urged more consistent outreach and lower temperature triggers for shelters.
Farb said the city currently opens the MAC as a warming center only when temperatures reach 0 degrees, while other jurisdictions activate shelters at higher thresholds. "Mission, Arvada, for example, is warming center activates at 20 degrees," she said, and asked the city for more proactive outreach and consistent navigator staffing.
City Manager J. Andrews responded in the staff report that staff is "monitoring the temperatures heading into this coming weekend" and preparing to activate cold-weather emergency shelter if temperatures drop. Andrews also noted the city is deploying additional outreach resources and that the homeless navigator program is expected to be fully staffed this year.
Why it matters: Cold-weather responses can be life‑saving. Commenters and councilors asked for clarity on activation thresholds and consistent navigator coverage so residents can build trust with outreach workers.
Key details: Public comment highlighted navigator "Haley" by first name as an effective outreach worker; the city manager said staff will watch forecasts closely and activate the MAC if conditions require it. The city also said it will follow up on speaker concerns about website calendar postings and other items raised during public comment.
Ending: Council members thanked the speakers and directed staff to follow up on both warming‑center activation thresholds and additional information about outreach services and hydrant testing requested by councilors.
