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Tuesday, August 13, 2019

Community Forum Planning and Sit-Lie

On August 1, Urban Development Department Director and work group facilitator Kristin Retherford emailed a select group of social service providers to ask them to participate in a "a community forum to share information on services, initiatives, and issues surrounding homelessness" to be held Wednesday, August 21, at Loucks Auditorium at the Library.  She wrote, "The structure would be a panel, with a moderator who would ask panelists questions.  Key panelists could include:

UGM – information on current services and update on new shelter
ARCHES – information on current services and update on new improvements and services
HOAP – information on current services
City – information on proposed ordinance
Housing Authority – update on housing projects and HRAP
Main Street – information on what they hear from downtown businesses and property owners
Mid-Willamette Homeless Initiative – update on work plan and development of a local CoC
United Way – information on tiny home project
Center for Hope and Safety – information on services and HOPE Plaza project"

Retherford wrote that the presentations "would take 45 minutes to an hour. The moderator would also be prepared with a few other questions that may be of community interest...The structure would not include questions from the audience, but participants, city staff, and Councilors in attendance could be available in the lobby and the auditorium for audience questions for thirty minutes following the panel discussion."  She asked for "availability, questions and feedback."

Based on the response received, Retherford rescheduled the forum for September 4, and proposed a "two-part panel. The first part would include service providers who would share information and updates on programs, projects, and services and business or property owners about challenges,experiences, and needs.  Panel members would then be switched out for a new panel potentially of City staff who could speak to City issues,trauma informed policing, LEAD, the proposed ordinance, and Q&A. The first panel would only be asked questions by the moderator. We are now looking at taking the proposed ordinance to Council on September 23."  This proposal would be discussed at the August meeting the next day, she wrote.

By the end of the meeting on August 14 it would be clear that most if not all the social services providers were uncomfortable participating in a forum at which sit-lie would be discussed because they did not want to appear to be endorsing sit-lie.  In the end, UGM would decide to host the forum but  not participate on the panel.  The City ultimately held three forums on sit-lie.  "City Fumbles Sit-Lie Forum", "Sit-Lie Loses at 2d Forum", "Call Sit-Lie Round 3 a Draw." Also see "City Schedules Sit-Lie Jr Round 3" (for the cartoon version). 

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