Agenda Highlights 1/25/22

The sole focus of the Fort Smith Board of Directors study session meeting scheduled for 1-25-22 is discussion of the Next Step Homeless Services appeal of the decision by the Planning Commission to deny zoning changes that would allow them to build a new homeless shelter on the vacant lot at 1400 South U. The issue was tabled at a previous meeting as the Directors felt they needed more information and a study session before voting. Citizens who had attended that meeting to speak on the issue were allowed to speak on it that night even though the issue was tabled.

It was decided at the 1-4-21 meeting where the issue was tabled that a list of questions would be compiled before the study session and submitted to the appropriate people to answer them including Next Step, the Police and Fire Chiefs, Director of Planning Maggie Rice, and Transit Director Ken Savage.

In addition to answering the questions directed to Next Step, Next Step Executive Director Sharon Chapman included a statement to the Board. In it she said that the new facility would not have an emergency day shelter like the current facility does. The new facility will be a pivot for the organization to to a “housing centric approach to solving homelessness”. She also mentioned that clients would apply for housing by appointment, eliminating security concerns and transportation issues.

Some of the top questions posed and answers given are summarized here.

Director Settle asked Maggie Rice for a map of the existing homeless services in the city. This is the map provided.

Settle asked the ridership of the Towson bus route and the average pickup at the stop on Towson near U-Haul. Ken Savage answered 2224 rides per month for the route and 23 trips per month from that stop. Settle also asked about the cost to the city to provide transportation to and from the proposed new Next Step facility and other homeless services. Savage responded that it would be $135,000 annually with a $564,750 startup cost for adding a second route to the existing free shuttle service and that grant funds can be applied toward the cost.

Director Morton asked Next Step their expectations regarding city transportation. Fort Smith resident Suzanne Cowne also asked similar questions pertaining to how transportation would be handled and what costs the city might incur. Next Step responded that there is a bus stop on Towson near the proposed location, but since many clients cannot afford bus fare they would like for the city to add a shuttle stop there. They said that if a stop cannot be added, Next Step will use the existing bus system and their own transportation.

Director Settle asked Maggie Rice why U-Haul did not receive notification about the neighborhood meeting the Planning Commission held about the proposed zoning change. Rice answered that notifications are sent to the property owners of nearby properties, and two notices were sent to the property owner for the U-Haul property , Amerco Real Estate Company at the address on file with the Assessor, one in Phoenix AZ.

Multiple Directors asked Police Chief Danny Baker questions about crime near the U street property, near the current Next Step location on 6th, and near the Hope Campus. In response to Settle’s question about crime at the motels near the U street location, Baker said that in the last 3 years there were 86 reports at the Regency and 221 at the Super 8. Top calls for the Regency were domestic abuse, warrant arrest, and checking welfare. Top calls for the Super 8 were domestic abuse, criminal trespassing/disorderly conduct, and checking welfare. In response to Director Martin’s inquiry, Baker responded that there had been 42 police calls in the last 3 years to the U-Haul. In response to inquiry from Director Martin and Director Dawson, Baker provided the number of calls to Hope Campus in the last 5 years as 1,760 and the number of calls to Next Step in the last 5 years as 521. In response to an inquiry from Director Martin, Baker answered that the top 3 types of calls associated with Next Step have been public intoxication, criminal trespass, and disorderly conduct. Baker expressed that both the number of calls to the current Next Step location and the proposed neighborhood on U street are fairly moderate and that most of the incidents associated with Next Step are predominantly non-violent and nuisance crimes . Though the number of calls near South U are fewer, they are often more serious.

Director Morton and Suzanne Cowne asked Next Step about their plans for security. Next Step responded that they would have cameras, secure fencing, lighting, and 24 hour staff to monitor the housing area. Also they will not allow residents to leave the facility at night except to go to a job. Next Step will also consult with the Police Department about security needs.

Director Morton asked Police Chief Baker if it was feasible to establish a police substation near the U Street property. Baker answered that it was not feasible at this time or in the near future. He assured that the headquarters are close enough to provide rapid response for emergencies and that coverage in that general area is already a priority for officer assignment. Staffing shortages are already a problem for the Police Department. Adding a substation there would “ not provide any more security to the area than currently exists”.

Director Dawson asked Next Step if any homeless are already in the area of the U Street property regularly without shelter. Next Step responded that they weren’t aware of any encampments at that location.

Directors Settle and Martin asked Next Step what other properties had been previously been considered. Next Step responded with a list of several properties and reasons they were not suitable or not selected.

Director Martin asked City Administration if the city has any properties they are willing to sell. Administration replied that no, there was nothing suitable as-is nor for redevelopment.

Directors Settle and Martin both asked Next Step about the relationship between Hope Campus and Next Step and what they have in common and what their differences are and what was stopping them from working together. Next Step offered a few key differences like that at the new facility Next Step would serve families where Hope only serves adult individuals (except for meals), there would be no emergency shelter at Next Step that there is at Hope, Next Step would offer non-congregate housing unlike the style offered at Hope, and Next Step would not be a low-barrier shelter like Hope. Next Step’s Executive Director Chapman expressed that Next Step wants to focus on being a housing program. They see themselves as potentially providing the “next step” for Hope clients as they transition toward having housing of their own. She said that both organizations do currently work together and are both members of the Homeless Coalition. However, Next Step does not want to move to the Hope Campus. She stated that “Every non-profit has a right to remain in its own facility and not combine services with another agency.”

Director Morton asked Next Step about the success rate for their current transitional housing program. Next Step answered that it has a success rate of 65% in the last several years and that in 2021 they served 87 individuals and had a 75% success rate with them.

Director Martin asked Next step about the plans for the living areas. Next Step responded that they will be small individual housing units with sidewalks in between in an attractively landscaped, well-lit, community setting. The small home community will have shared access to showers, restrooms, and laundry facilities at the back of the main building. Suzanne Cowne asked about an area on the plan drawing for “overflow outdoor living area behind the shelter” and if that was going to be a tent city. Next Step clarified that that was added to the drawing for zoning if a few separate areas are needed for special needs clients who cannot live in the small homes community (one reason mentioned might be having been a victim of sexual abuse). Chapman clarified that it will never be used as a tent city and no tents will be allowed anywhere on the property.

Director Morton asked Next Step questions about funding and construction costs and time estimates. Next Step was unable to offer an answer on those saying much of the detail on that is dependent on funding and much of the funding is dependent on grants that require that they own the property first and they will not be able to move forward on that unless they get the zoning change approved.

Suzanne Cowne asked Next Step about their financial sustainability. Next Step responded by referencing their 20+ years of operations and history of maintaining their finances and facilities.

Director Morton asked Engineering Department Director Stan Snodgrass and Fire Chief Christensen about the feasibility of closing U Street in that area to all non-emergency traffic including pedestrians with fencing and gates . Snodgrass said that it was not recommended. He worried that traffic would be forced into more narrow neighboring residential streets and without access to the Towson signal would create unsafe conditions. Christensen said it would be a “major life-safety concern” and worried that gate systems would would be too slow for emergency response to use.

Director Dawson asked City Administration how we can know what economic impact the facility would have on nearby property values. City Administration responded that there’s no real way to predict it at this point. But did mention the possibility that it “could have a net positive impact on its immediate surroundings. It could spur further redevelopment in that area”.

Director Dawson asked Maggie Rice what the average home value in that area is now. RIce answered that average from the Assessor is $66,159.94 and the Zillow average is $80,000-$160,000.

Director Martin asked Maggie Rice how many times the Board of Directors had overturned Planning Commission decisions in the last 5 years. Rice answered 7 times.