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Residents of Cottonwood Villas press Westminster for action on homelessness, drug use and safety
Summary
Multiple Cottonwood Villas residents told council the condominium complex is experiencing theft, drug activity, prostitution, trespass and health impacts. Speakers asked the city for ordinances and other actions; councilors said staff will follow up and pointed to prior staff requests for tools to address public-safety issues.
Several residents of Cottonwood Villas told the Westminster City Council Monday they are living in fear and urged the city to take stronger steps to address homelessness, drug activity and related public-safety problems near their homes.
Janet Walewski, who said she has lived at Cottonwood Villas for 26 years, described repeated incidents of trespass, drug use and violent threats inside her building, and said the conditions forced her to replace carpeting and remove furniture after bed-bug infestations. 'It has now cost me over $5,000 to renovate,' she told the council, and said the problems have made it unsafe to host family members.
David Paulus, another resident, said the concentration of people recently discharged from the county jail and placement in low-cost motels near Cottonwood Villas has worsened local safety problems. 'We need your help to have an ordinance, a law, or something,' he said. Paulus and other residents said they have been working with the police and appreciated officers' response, but said the situation exceeds what they can handle locally.
Samantha Kurtzieder described several disturbing incidents involving her 14-year-old daughter and said police response sometimes required multiple officers; she asked the council to consider additional measures to make families feel safe.
Residents pressed several themes: concentration of motel vouchers and bus drop-offs near the complex, repeated incursions into private buildings, and personal property loss and health expenses. Some speakers said they support compassionate services for people experiencing homelessness, but argued the city must balance compassion with enforcement and protections for residents.
Council and staff response
City leaders said staff heard the comments and would follow up. Councilor DeMott said staff previously presented city council with a study-session packet on March 3 outlining additional tools and ordinances that city staff would like for addressing homelessness; she suggested residents review that presentation. Mayor Pro Tem and others said they would follow up with police and staff and asked that staff reach out to Cottonwood Villas residents who requested more information and direct assistance.
Councilor Ireland and others described the problem as urgent and called for ordinances and clearer enforcement tools for public and private property. Several councilors said they would work with staff to determine what additional legal or service options are feasible.
No formal action was taken at the meeting; councilors directed staff to follow up with residents and flagged past staff requests for additional ordinance tools. The public comment portion of the meeting included 18 speakers overall; city staff said they would respond directly to individuals requesting follow-up.
