Fire and emergency management staff presented a city shelter activation protocol designed to coordinate responses when partner shelters reach capacity or weather conditions necessitate city action.

Chief Mike Armstrong described the primary trigger: the Salvation Army and Haven of Rest must be at capacity before the city opens additional shelters, and officials will consider temperature, precipitation and wind-chill forecasts in the decision. "The shelters will only be opened when certain conditions are met," Armstrong said. Staff noted the Salvation Army declares "white flag" status at 32 degrees, at which point individuals may go to that shelter.

The protocol lists partner sites (Salvation Army, Haven of Rest, Highlands Fellowship Church, Hunt Memorial, Calvary Baptist Ministries). Staff said the city will provide blankets, first aid and a pet-sheltering trailer and will issue daily shelter reports at 8 a.m. and by 8 p.m. while shelters are open. Battalion Chief Farley and other staff answered council questions about bed counts (Salvation Army 46, Haven of Rest 38; combined capacity discussed at 84) and the city’s estimate of roughly 150 unhoused people in the area.

Council discussed coordination with neighboring jurisdictions, availability of volunteer churches, and logistics such as transportation to shelters and whether day‑shelter facilities could be used in overnight emergencies. After discussion the council approved the protocol by roll call, and staff said they will review the protocol annually and earlier if circumstances require it.

The adoption formalizes the city’s operational triggers and responsibilities for shelter activation in winter or disaster conditions.