every one. It is 05:30pm, were in room to 60 today. Was it 1920? 25 welcome to the public safety group does. Community County Council was going meet with our council members. Introductions Council heart. Thank you, MR. CHAIRMAN Michael Powell part representing District one. Thank you, MR. Chair Josh Payne District. 21, thank you. MISTER Chair Pollinate District. 22, thank you. MISTER Chair Frank Miscarry District 19. Thank you. Councilperson. Thank you. MISTER Chair Dr Carlos Perkins District 6. Thank you, MR. CHAIRMAN that we need district 2. Thank you. CHAIRMAN Jessica McCormack District 16 thanks, MISTER Chair and good evening, everyone. Keep Graves District
9 on the Side. Thank you. Are Robinson District one chair the committee. We'll start with a few appointments on our agenda this evening. Proposal. 3, 16, 2025. We are points that we Rubin to the assessment Intervention Center Advisory Israel come forward. Please. Most of it will good great day. Yep. It's possible. We will. Move that to to the agenda. Proposal. 3, 17, 2025 reports always under Hall. The Mystics violence tell too. Right at the next committee member, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 9, 9, 25 was reappointed in 2 into the Juvenile Detention Center advisory Board. Motion to withdraw individual longer lives in the state. I in most
drop 3, 3, 9, to 25. Been a second. Owes if there's one thing I I I those oppose motion carries. Thank counselors. Next, a proposal 3, 40 2025 approve an additional procreation. 26 Million. And it's been 30,006 $50. Any transfer of 1 million, $236,000 and reduction. And 30 thousands dollars in the 2025. But for the Marion County Sheriffs Department in the county general medical care for inmates funds for the purpose of funding. But in the end of turning order of police. Labor Council Inc put toward an agreement and equipment replacing plan. And think the sheriffs of the weather this evening will not be in attendance. What see a full count carries his car will come forward. Welcome. Share with us. 3.40, go referring to with the transfers
appropriate. Yes, yes. Thank you, MR. CHAIRMAN members of the committee, thanks for your time this evening. I believe as most of you were aware, the signed the collective-bargaining agreements at the end of last year. Knowing that we would need to come back before this body and true up our budget in a sense. So that is what this doing. We are making as the CHAIRMAN Stated, we are receiving an additional appropriation from county general. We are transferring from character 3 to purchase one through some budget savings we found in character 3. We are reducing appropriation medical care for inmates fund. That is simply a result. Medical services contract. We're open to that contract 4 years ago that we
do not pay for staffing positions that they do not fill. So we receive a credit on those invoices for unfilled positions and that is a result those savings. You see there that $630,000. And then we are transferring. $300,000 County general from character to character for to make sure those funds are in the proper character for and equipment replacement plan. Thank you, Comments or questions from council 3.40 Comments or questions. Seeing none one of the orders could speak to this Sheriff Department. Seeing them so moved second. Do a roll call, vote or we say what o k all those in favor of a 3.40, has been Property motion and second, it's super saying Aye, Those oppose. Thank you, MR. If ship are we guards hope
feels better. I Thank you so much. Those are 3 41 2025 present appropriation. Was $1000 in a transfer 0? 98 $1 in 2020 budget of America, prosecutor's office in the county general, the state law enforcement funds for the purpose of funding personal costs. 2 council Selina Scott, welcome Good to see Thanks to you. So as indicated by proposal 3, 41 2025, we've requested appropriation of $250,000 from County General at a character one, a transfer 78,000 in County General fund care to 2, 4, transferring that over to character. One in a transfer of 120,000 in the
state law enforcement funds from characters to 3 in 4 to care for one, all of which is required to support our fiscal out obligations for I-16, staff for the remainder of the year. Thank Council comments or counselors. On this proposal. Seeing none could speak to propose a pre. 41. Seeing emotion. Thank you. Thanks, Rob. We'll start I mostly moved and seconded all of your personal by saying Aye, aye. Those opposed motion carries. Thank you. Prosecutor Garcia I thank you. Thank you. Up next, of 3.40 to 2025 approve additional appropriation. Totally 4 million, 20 twen, $2000 the transfer of $20,000 2020 to 25 Budget American Public Defenders Agency count General. And Supplemental Public Defender funds for the purpose of funding be collective bargaining
agreement. Capital case costs. Our chief public Defender, MISTER, a cousin with me thank a singer who's our chief fight financial officer. We are requesting and appropriation of 4 million dollars from character. Want to cover the costs of our collective bargaining agreement. Our collective bargaining agreement was ratified and signed in OCTOBER of this year so that 4 million is to cover the costs related to the collective bargaining agreement. We are also requesting appropriating $222,000 into our character, 3 budget to cover expenses related the current capital case that is pending and set for trial right now in AUGUST of this year. And additionally, we also have
life without parole cases that are set for trial in this year's. Well, so those that amount is necessary those cases, particularly experts and those cases and additionally to cover the cost college transcripts. And then we are moving $20,000 from our supplemental fun and to our character 3. And that is to cover increased costs. For experts just generally and our office. The only additional thing that I would point out that was not in the fiscal note is and additional source of revenue from our for office. In addition to the Supplemental Fund. And the 40 50% reimbursement received from the Indiana Commission on Court appointed attorneys. We also received funding from
title for the funds for the representation that our attorneys provide and child welfare cases. We have been receiving those funding 2022. Today that fund is about $800,000. Thank you so much. Comment or question counsel Anyone who wants to speak proposal 3.42 Seeing motion. Mostly probably moved and seconded of the famous moment saying I I those opposed motion carries. Thank you. Thank appreciate you. Next is proposing 3. 44 2025 addition, Appropriation towing 2 million dollars, any transfer $175,000 in the 2025 budget impd General City Community, Capital State, law enforcement, federal law enforcement village grant funds for the purpose putting the collective bargain agreement with the fop Lodge. 86 mediation, law enforcement
equipment and grant cleanup cfo Deborah Hall prison. You are not No. MISTER CHAIRMAN, my name is Kevin the deputy chief or administration for impd. Thank you for hearing me tonight. As the proposal reach, there are 3 main things were like we're asking for tonight. Additional appropriation of 11 million dollars to cover the fop contract that was signed after the was approved last The controller had addressed this committee let everyone know this would be coming. So that's that's part one. There are 6 different transfers amongst characters for
accounting cleanup, totaling It's all spelled out. I can read it if you'd like, I hope I didn't need the 3rd one is the mold remediation. That's called out. Unfortunately, last summer we discovered a mold outbreak at the training academy where we store overflow historical evidence for long-term storage case. Evidence. There was a water leak that developed in an area that was The mold grew. Bloomed it and it then We've been working with building authority since that time. And unfortunately, it was beyond there capabilities to handle. So we had to go out to We.
Received 2 bids. And building authority, selected a vendor. And that work started last week with all expenses for the mold remediation company in all of the ancillary expenses. It's going to be just over a million dollars. So we're asking for an additional appropriation of a million dollars to cover the expenses. We've already paid. Plus what we will incur yet this year. Thank you for our 3 asks. Thank you. Question counselors counterparts. Thank you, MISTER CHAIRMAN thank you for that explanation because I think when control of explain to us that there was a left 11 million dollar shifting to cover the collective bargaining agreement. And I guess the question is for council, is this appropriate
process to go through to request additional funded for what sounds like maintenance costs within 9 pp. Feel like fold in this additional 1 million dollars for mold remediation in the day. For equalize and for the collective bargaining agreement one and if that's appropriate. It's not inappropriate. I mean, you don't know you need money and you need to inappropriate, it that I don't know a new way. They're going to. If this is an unanticipated expense and it sounds like that's what that was. To extent. If they figured it out halfway through the year, they might do them. But well, thank you. Thank you for for It's not inappropriate, but I don't know that this inappropriate way to ask for the money. The
question then is within your 2025 budget. Was there any baked in? Funds to address emergency issues as they come up. Absolutely not. That stuff to hear when we're still struggling with impd. Wrestling with over a quarter off the off the overall budget and they're still been questions around let's not meet in the number officers that we we budget for and funds available in that pocket. Why we're not moving some of those funds around why we asking the council for additional funds. So I of him would to speak to the mechanics behind that today. You're you're correct. We're we're funded in 2025. 4, 1743 officers today. We have 1390. I can tell you that number. Unfortunately, the way the budget is built. It's built
upon a recruit officers first year, salary and it's with very limited fringe benefit. Money baked into that. Those vacancies are then used to cover the vacancy vacancies salaries or use them to pay the overtime. That is not budgeted to the budget. So with no overtime budget, all of the overtime that we pay for special events, shortages and other things come out of those budget lines where the recruits are funded. So it's it's I can't explain all of the mechanics behind it, but I can I can tell you that holds built. Quick Biz overtime budget. That is a part of proposed and approved budget for 2025. It was also part of 2024. So there's a line item for overtime budget and so. And again, a part of the challenge that I have is that every time I ask a question
around, this is a different explanation as to how impd budget And I have a really, really difficult time at this point asking for an additional one going up. We do need to mold remediation. So me be clear about that. That is important. Is important for safety is important for maintenance of the facilities. I'm not sure that you need to come back and asked, asked us with additional 1 million dollars when impd, but I'm budget was built even for 2025 with some room in it. For additional funds that can be used for something else. Thank you. Thank you. As he completely. Thank you, MISTER Chair it and just curious if any evidence was permanently damage or I say last as non recoverable during the more outbreak. Great I personally I've got a captain and a lieutenant are out there every
day overseeing this maintain Cheney custody and controlling the access to the rooms. This is the exterior packaging of the boxes. They got wet. The inter. Your contents did not. Unfortunately, it was mainly the bottom row of boxes that were in the carpet. The box itself soaked up and its exterior surface mold on the cardboard box. I've unfortunately learned a lot about mold in the last couple months that cardboard is one of the best catalysts for mold. And then when you get it wet, it just spreads all of the crime lab packaging is contained within the bag. So it's packaged within the package and all of the boxes
that we replaced last week, we had no, we have no case evidence and they've all now been cleaned repackage. We had no case evidence that was compromised. If you count counseling. Thank you very MR. CHAIRMAN, I just wanted to say, what will I do know that the mold outbreak was a direct result of the extremely age facility. I think this is a reminder that it's very important for the city of Indianapolis to evaluate and put together a long-term strategic plan to develop and build a long-term world class professional policing training facility. It's something that impd as needed for a long time. Our fire department is a beautiful training facility in free, proud that they have
that. And I think that it's very popular among those looking to join the fire department and those who continue to interact with serving on the fire department impd deserves one. I think they need one. I think that the sheriff's office and the police department need their own separate training space. I think they would probably tell you that as well. So as I said, I can say that the mold is direct result of the 8 the aging facility. There's certainly one-off instances where those things certainly do occur. But I think it's just a reminder that as we continue to pump money into the training academy, which was opened back in the early 1980's that world-class departments such as ours deserves a world-class 21st century. Professional police Training Academy and Senator, thank The council anyone else. Thank you, MR. CHAIRMAN and yes, thank you, counselor. On
a of those sentiments. I think I would take it a step further and talk a little bit about the storage of the documents. I don't think a cardboard box on the carpet is appropriate. So even we need to invest as the city and improper storage of materials as well. Because I think while it's fortunate there wasn't a loss this time that certainly could have been a devastating case. Thank you, MR. CHAIRMAN Councilor it to that point, part of the budget that was fm includes shelving purchases and that that, quote, just came in today. So they they MAY do with what they had and they stepped boxes where they could to echo counselor that that school building was built in 1936. So
though we began occupying in the 80's, it was built in 1936, the hvac system, the humidity levels. All of that uncontrollable. And it's certainly not ideal for evidence. Storage. Anyone else counterpart. Just on this topic of evidence, storage the location of it. I was under the impression. That over on the Road. Things were trying is. But there's I was under the impression years. We're expanding building on to getting and I say this because there was recycling monthly recycling over there that has been eliminated that I hear about all the time. Ms because there's this expansion that's going on. So with that help. In that situation before the
different. Sort of yeah, sort of I've been the unlucky recipient to speak with 3 constituents this week who have showed at the talks, Trump wanting to get rid of And so what we've with the talks drop was removed. We are now using that space. I've had to bring in. 6 comics boxes on semi trailers to be able to put equipment and we're not putting evidence out in comics boxes, but for shelving and stock boxes and all of the progress of things. We needed room for those comics. Fox's so if you drive by there now you'll see 6 different comics boxes out there. What we are doing, building authority poured a new concrete pad and
we're buying buying not renting a permanent 30 foot comics box. So unfortunately, it's a foot wide by 8 foot, tall by 30 foot. That's my only expansion. And that's just to put cardboard boxes that are not new rather than putting those inside because we're running out of space. So I you know what I think about this, I think about where the cjc is and where evidence is. Mean, that's a the centre is not little drive by voters a sign up that drive takes has there been ideas or plans to build evidence storage near the cjc? So it commissioned in 2021, I believe the city engage meticulous design firm. To do a needs analysis and roll plans for a warehouse space that was going to co
located on the cjc campus nearby the coroner's office and the crime lab and the way the land contamination happened and budget happened. That part was scrapped out of the complex. Think mission just to bring together can all the points here of, you know, as we look at these things going forward, the concerns for evidence moving forward, it seems to a logical position to put that near where cases are happening, what designed to buildings. Thank you. Thank Justin Council. Since we're on the topic. Thank you. And I just kind of want to point out, as we're thinking about this evidence is something that never goes to keep digitized. Always be a physical thing. And so we're always going to be the storage. And so like there's a long term and that growth with that, too. So and I don't know question, but case closed 20 or is there a point when you can't like there's a point
when you can get rid of things and I'm guessing we're doing as best we can to stay on top of that. So we're not holding things we don't need. I promise I didn't set you up with that So I will tell you all that that we will be coming back before this council soon. There is a new state mandate that just happened in JULY. That is going to be an unfunded mandate on The state legislature established what they define as 28 violent felonies. Everything from a b felony residential burglary up to murder. There are 28 types of crimes. They've changed the rules now because of dna evidence and for expungements and 4. The exoneration projects. So now we are
required to keep the evidence all evidence for the period of statute limitations, which varies between 5 years and 35 years on a child sexual assault case. Or once a conviction happens, where required to keep the evidence for either the longer of 20 years or period of incarceration. So this is all new as of JULY. This just happened. And it now says that if someone is convicted and sentenced to 2 years in prison. We have to keep that evidence. 18 years beyond their release date. So this is all new. I wasn't prepared to speak to it tonight, but I can answer your question all the work we've done this year trying to purge the property room. We were dealt a very hard blow in JULY and we have
to have a warehouse. These are that were good. Anyone. Yours can speak to this proposal. Seeing no truth to any motion. Probably move to second on 3.44 of fencing by saying Aye, suppose most secure. Thank you so much. Thank you much. Evil regards. Please. Thank you. Up next, a pose a free. 45 2025? Or foods and just appropriations. Holding 12 million $600,000 in the 25 budget Parkman the funds for the purposes of funding to collective bargain agreement. With the in properties local for 16 and Also the 2021 apparatus lease chief alone and see a full on sites. Welcome chief. We'll be sites. Welcome, MR. CHAIRMAN Counselors is always good to see you. Appreciate your time
this evening. We're here to discuss answer any questions you MAY have on proposal. As you said, I'm here with our cfo Don Sector and we have Assistant Chief Mike White in the audience. I'll ask John to just briefly go through the elements of the proposal and then we'll be happy to entertain your questions. Good evening, MISTER CHAIRMAN, members of floor. So as we've heard tonight, we are here to ask for an additional appropriation to which dress the collective bargaining agreement, which was finalized late last year prior to us adopting the 2025 budget. So with that being said, I v is asking for a total of 12.6
million dollars which he left 0.3 is in character. One fire general, a portion of that to address again the collective bargaining agreement and then small part of that, too cover increase over time that we have experienced as a result of more firefighters being off for sick, limited duty injuries, those types of things. And then the remaining part of that 12.6 is in character. 3 fire general, is allowing us to prepay a lease for fire apparatus, which we established 6 years ago to purchase does were pre paying that off this year. So we don't have to make the final payment in 2026 which allowed us to enter into a new lease agreement beginning in 2026
for 17 of fire apparatus and that covers the 12.6 million additional appropriation of fire general characters, one character street. You have any questions, we'll be happy answer for you insights. Appreciate it. Comments or questions, cheat. In one of the owners can speak to this request a free 45? Saying management and emotion Most populous second proposed 3.45, all those opposed by saying Aye, suppose most interesting additional. We want to go back to the top of the agenda proposal. 3, 17, 2025 reappoint Alexandria Hall. Mystics volatile. The review team is hall. Come forward. Please This is a reappointment. Thank you for
serving on your prior terms. Just share this briefly. What we like the real point. Thank you evening and thank you for coming retreat me from the public. Simply room he's had these past a few years have been very meaningful. Council Robinson initially approach with the opportunity. Was a little unsure content. It's pretty heavy. But this past year under our new chair has been extremely meaningful. If you are winning, believe some of the things that we hear from families. Under and I say I'm just gonna speak to under the new chairs. We've been extremely productive. Had some phenomenal conversations. Unfortunate circumstances that great conversations with family. I have been able to come up with some great
recommendations to provide to prevent some of these things from happening it could happen to anyone we have had victims from all walks of life. All races, genders. And their stories need to be heard. I'm just. Is a blessing to be able to listen to family members as they come and share about their loved ones were when they were alive. I'm a little bit about their story give us some ideas, insight into how we can prevent for some of these things from happening future. So very heavy, but extremely necessary. And I think there's a great team in place and it it's been honor to start with to continue. If
you are with him. Thank you for your willingness to volunteer and service. Important. Review board ComScore some councils counseling. Thank you very much. I just wanted commend you on your outstanding attendance record. Always pay attention to and you have an outstanding record I appreciate your willingness to continue serving and I'm glad to hear that the new chair is bringing new life and credibility to that board. Thank you. Think all suspicion comments, Custer Delaney. I wanted to Echo CHAIRMAN Robinson's sentiment like thank you for serving and also I'm glad to hear that you're finding it meaning fall, given that the topic is so heavy in. So thank you. You really deserve that. Thank you, counselor. Thank you, MR. CHAIRMAN this hall, I think it's important as you do this
work if you come across recommendations, how we can as the legislative body impact policies that can be preventative, especially. I know oftentimes this the system seems to be built to be reactionary and not preventative, not proactive. And that's unfortunate when it comes to lives and families. And so thank you for your service and know that we're here to listen and support you in your work as well. Thank you. Thank council Thank you, MR. CHAIRMAN MISS Hall. Wow. Robinson was the one to ask you to serve on the committee. You do live in the best district head Indianapolis. And so has your counselor. I
am very grateful for not only this work that you do, but you work that you do across. The city and specifically with township school system. Thank you for your work. We celebrate your husband today for complete is Doctor. Thank you. You want the audience speak to couples and 3.17 Signatures, that emotion. Most will probably move to. Second all those in favor by saying Aye, suppose most interesting Christmas. Want thank you. Appreciate it. Up next proposal, 3, 16, 2025 reappoint Emily Reuben. Assessment Intervention Center advised witness room. Over in the pr. Chauvin pr. It It now. Okay. Okay. We'll circle back in here after prickly 6. Those are 3. 46. 2025 approves. Invest appropriation. 21 million, 1, 6, 6, $60,000.
The transfer of $100,000 between 25 budget, the officer held a public safety's Sullivan County General Fund the purpose of funding costs associated with the with contingency, the construction step the release lobby of the Marin County jail, My double plug for PRESIDENT. It is a view. It should be. You. Going to his first. I could yet known. And in way to it. All right. Good evening, MR. CHAIRMAN members of the committee. Thank you for the opportunity to present fiscal request this evening. My name is Andrew Merkley, director of the Office of Public Health
and Safety. The Office Public Health and Safety is fiscal requests this evening transfers $100,000 from our character. One fun to our care to 3 fun. That will help us to fully fund the Marion County jail release lobby in 2026. In addition to that request is for 1.6 million dollars to help fund the 2025. 26 Winter Contingency program. Funding supplements funding that we already have on hand, including $450,000 from Justice. 2025 character, 3 budget. $40,000 of under spend from the 2024. 25 Winter Contingency program. Yeah, our philanthropic partners and we've also secured an additional $100,000 commitment from other philanthropic partners for 2026. Our Winter contingency planning this year began back in JANUARY. And
we've been meeting with a broad a group of stakeholders since that time, including Chip, multiple service providers, faith leaders ms Hospital organizations and others. We've had roughly 30 meetings since that time in order to plan for this winter. We've also taken some time to engage 8 of our peer cities in the Midwest region, including Kansas City, Detroit, Cleveland, Pittsburgh. Finally. We this year we will be serving 2 different populations with overflow shelter. So that'll be families as well as single men. And so we needed to identify and additional location for the single men. Most of this year. We anticipated using IPs school 68 after some capital
improvements for Danish of location. Unfortunately, I think most of you know, we aren't able to use that facility. And so we've pivoted. We have we toured the former Juvenile Detention Center, which would have also required significant capital improvements. The former Eskenazi Health Center at forest which was probably the least. Provide us with the ready facility and would have required a lot of capital improvements. And then there was a former cbs store adjacent to that property that we ultimately deemed that it was too small and didn't provide us with the. Hygiene facilities that we have a need at that location. We ended up with settling on Noble of Indiana, their former location at 24 of 6 North Tips Avenue, which is a warehouse facility where they previously served individuals with intellectual disabilities and they were doing that up until OCTOBER of this year. That facility will be for families and single
women. And then the West Morris Free Methodist Church. Which will serve single individuals as an overnight warming center this season. There are some additional changes that I want to highlight. So. Typically winter contingency begins on NOVEMBER. 1st. Throughout our planning process again, we looked at those other cities. We have engaged our partners. On JUNE 23rd of this year. The stakeholder group me through consensus decided that we would move that that start date to DECEMBER. First, there are few reasons for that one. Kansas City, which we are modeling overflow shelter plan. They begin their winter contigency on DECEMBER. 1st we took into account the climate change NOVEMBER's typically a warmer month that has been in previous years when when we were engaging Wheeler mission,
they indicated that the the request, the demand for overflow shelter did not increase until the DECEMBER JANUARY months. So that is how we came to that decision. In fact. One of our planning group members actually brought this idea of moving the start date for NOVEMBER for says Amber First, while we were in the planning face. We will have to the city will provide to 24 7 shelters for overflow this winter. The first again is that that North Tibbs location for families. So starting DECEMBER 1st through MARCH 31st will be 24 7. We'll provide up 260 beds for for the families of 4. So depending on the size of those families will depend the number of families that are in there at any given time. We'll also have 10 beds for single
women at that location. The assessment Intervention Center will again provide 30. That's the season like it did last year for single men. And the final, I think the change that we need to highlight is this. Are over our warming overnight warming center. That will be at West Morris Church. This is based on the Kansas City model. They began operating during covid. This weather activated model and they've continued that 2 today. And we felt that it was a a good model that we could model Our needs here in Indianapolis. That facility at West Morris will serve 70 individuals. Individual men and will be activated when the temperature goes below. 25 degrees. Air temperature. If we look back at how we've operated warming centers overnight in the past. The city's threshold was in
negative 15 degree. Windchill. So we have increased from a negative 15 degree windchill to a 25 degree air temperature was which is a significant increase in temperature threshold last year we opened overnight warming center at Washington part and it was open for 5 nights. And we open that shelter at 0 degrees air temperature. So even last year we had increased our threshold. In addition to that, 25 degree air temperature threshold. If there's precipitation that last with a lasting wind chill of 25 degrees for over. 24 hours, we will open the overnight warming center and it will remain open until the temperature. Exceeds 25 degrees. So if we have, if we know we're going to have 3 days where the temperature does not go above 25 degrees,
we intend to stay open. Is this is layout of how North Tips location MAY look, we are setting getting everything set up now, but these are the new pods that we purchase for families at that location. These have these have 7 foot walls and will provide additional security and privacy for families at at the facility. And this is the Kansas City. This is the way that the Kansas City team has set up there overnight warming center. So individuals have a tense and it provides privacy and autonomy for those individuals when they're at the overnight warming center. Our intention, it's a provide a similar type of tents at our facility and what Kansas City has also demonstrated is that end of individuals are more successful and they are able to de-escalate more when they're in these this tent
environment. This year through our fine rfq process. We selected Aspire Indiana health to operate both of these facilities. They will be providing 3 meals a day for and individuals and families of the family location. Food at the weather activity, shelter as needed. Both facilities will provide laundry for linens and towels and will provide individual laundry for folks, clothing at the family shelter. We can't provide that at the overnight warming center because there would not be enough time to get that out to the water and back. Housekeeping of those both facilities. Showers. I want to. Pause here on showers. So we will be providing. Shout 8 so shower trailers and Ada shower trailers at both of these
locations, the coffee it is. At the tips location. Those shower trailers will be coming inside. So no one will have to go outside into the elements to shower at the tips, location. At the church location. We cannot pull shower trailers into church's sanctuary. The shower trailer will just steps outside of the front door. There is a honoring covering those. That from the time the person leaves the church until they would go into the shower trailer. So there Very little you would not be in the elements when you're going into the shower. Trailers. I want reiterate the shower. Trailers are covered. They have doors, individual shower units. They are temperature controlled and they have hot
water. Finally, a spire will offer behavioral health, physical health workforce development, another housing navigation services just like they did last year in collaboration with other homeless service providers in the city. I want to highlight our safety plan this year. Both facilities will have full-time manager of of this. There will be a full-time manager of family shelter and there will be supervisors covering all 3 of the shifts at that location. We will also have supervisors covering the weather activated shelter when it opens. A spire will provide either current aspire staff. Where they will contract with staff 2 enhance and cover the rest of the 3 ships those locations. We will have security. 2 security officers
at all time. Times of both of those locations. And anyone who's coming into the facility to volunteer will have a background check performed. They are not a member of a spy or staff. And I want to highlight that aspire staff. You know, they have sexual harassment training, their ethics training, the things that they go through. So when they're working at this facility, they've already been vetted by a spider. Individuals with a history of sex offenses will not be allowed entry to the family shelter. It highlighted the privacy of those pods and of the tense at those locations. And I just wanted to say that the there will be health care provided at the family shelter will. A spire will be bringing their mobile clinic there 2 days a week. So for the for the weather activated model is going to be critical that we communicate effectively when that facility is going to
open. Each day, we will be making a determination by 08:00am as to whether or not the weather activated shelter will open. And we're direct contact with the National Weather Service and chief Spencer, city's emergency services. Chiefs. Pence will alerts our internal city weather planning group which includes cabinet members and impd who will then disseminate that information to the various organizations on your screen. Phs will notify media and we've already been contacted them about putting that under ticker. So if you imagine school cancellations, they'll put those on the ticker. We will be adding this to those stickers on the various stations. We'll have it on our social media platforms. Chip will be updating the continuum of care, notification or newsletter. Excuse me in impd
and the professional in the street outreach teams will be going directly into camps and engaging individuals outside bus passes, making sure they know that the weather Activits shelter has opened. There are a few different ways that someone who is looking for shelter can contact us. The mayor's action center will again taking phone calls it Monday through Friday, 8 to 5 providing information to individuals. They will then coordinate khs staff to make sure that that information is disseminated to aspire. Indiana. 2, 1, 1, will also be taking calls Monday through Friday, 8 to 6. They have a direct communication with a spider. And fire has a phone number that they can be reached at. 24 7. And with that before I wrap up, MR. CHAIRMAN, I'd like to requests to have 3 of our planning partners be able speak to their roles in the planning process and the importance of the cities participation in winter contingency with the
change changing landscape that we're seeing. Thank you to questions from the committee members first concert for kids. Thank you, MR. CHAIRMAN and for thank One for intentionality in trying to give this Tillis me and hopeful my colleagues before the night. Thank you for the work that you've done on this. I a question specifically for the shelter at the church. You mention that pods would be close to the facility? Is it possible would be possible to Bill kind of some a temporary side into van overhang to get to the show because I'm still concerned that even though there's a cover and folks are walking outside the mail we will certainly look at that.
You we we employed Shrewsbury as our representative to help us planning capital improvements. We also intend to invite all of too. Come 2, are both of those facilities before they open. So you can see exactly what they look like. Thank Thank You mentioned the transportation. So not noticing where these locations are just for our information finding to get to one of the shelters. So I make the call, will they provide transportation for myself and my family if we needed it? How do we? Yeah, apologize getting the transportation There are bus routes to both locations and we will be providing bus passes for for men when they're coming to. And from West Morris. And we will also have passes of the family shelter. We also have a lift
to count. And so it's buyer will have access to count and can help with transportation to and from facility. Mckinney Vento has been part of our planning process. And so once families are in the shelter, we will be intentional about making sure that they're connected with the McKinney, Vento rides so they can get to school. Counts of council. Thank you, MR. CHAIRMAN I was going to ask about getting kids to school. So thank you so much for answer. Yesterday. Coming into admin in finance, we had rain and I noticed encampments were being flooded. There is a lot of rain that kind of came up on us pretty quickly yesterday. But of course, a couple weeks ago we had a freeze. And so that. You know, as you said, Councilor Perkins, we had this in advance. I apologize. DECEMBER first seem pretty
cool. When I read when I read But excuse me, given climate changing given the increase in rain events and substantial downpours that we have instead of. Snow. It gives me a little bit of heartburn to have the DECEMBER first start date after driving in and watching our neighbors certain struggle to get to a dry space. I also think what that does is clear out getting family support and services before the Thanksgiving holidays as well. And that's a really good time to get coats on kids, gloves on, kids, boots and things like that does give me a little bit of heartburn. And I think having only 10 beds for single also is something that is concerning. I'm not sure of what the need is, but that's something that I think we want to take a look at. With that MR. CHAIRMAN, I yield back
with on the accounts of 2. Thank you, MR. Chair kind of a simple question and shower trailers. How many of those So one at each location regular that would have 8 stalls in them. And then one ada unit tactics with you know, many units to you have another was? My question is shower units. Can you take these to some of the homeless camps when you're not using them and give them an opportunity to shower is that something in your equation? It's not and are not in the winter contingency equation, but one challenge with the shower trailers is that they have gray water has to be drained into the appropriate drains. And so we wouldn't be able to do that. Let's say we go to the river and we were we to point the river you would and there
would be no way to drain those it into the sewage system camp on the side the riverbank. It's not looks up contain unit Correct. Okay. Thank you. Thank you. All subjects. I'm going to say to council yes, counselor. Currently I wanted to address a couple things. One, you know, this is only the second year that the city has been this involved in planning and again, we're piloting couple of things. So we'll continue to learn. And if this is not, you know, if we if the planning group feels that this was not the right decision and we will address that next year to what was your second The Wheeler mission is is kind of telling us how many overflow beds they're going to continue to have available and they are reducing their capacity by only 10 women this season next season. They MAY decrease that
passing further. Thank you. I appreciate that. And I would say especially on the pilot peace because the precipitation is there with if there's a freeze. But I think it needs to take a look at the amount of inches in a certain time period as well. Similar to what we're doing with this. No fight plans. I think that that's critical because location of the where some of our neighbors living so Thank Council COUNCILMAN. Thank you very much, MISTER CHAIRMAN. Thank you, director. And in those Phs who have been working on this, I'm a couple questions. First should Is the Office of Public Health is the deputy mayor of Austin, Public Health and safety. Is that is that an open vacant positions?
Still? Yes, it is. Do we know if that's still we still looking for candidate for that position at this time. I just think you have to talk to your heart set chief deputy Mayor Parker is lie from the administration might be able to answer that. I don't see them back Yeah, I just think it's important when we're talking about positions and issues such as winter contingency, that if it's a position that is important and as a lot of efficacy on behalf public health and safety that it would just be interesting to know what the update is on that position as we have some really important work to be done. I'm not as a criticism, but just as a point of knowledge, we haven't heard about decision and many, many months. And I think an update would be nice to this
committee to understand how a lack of having not having deputy mayor of Office of Public Health and Safety might be impacting things like winter contingency or how might not be impacting it, cetera. So I would like to get an update, obviously not from you, but from somebody administration, hopefully sometime this winter. My second piece is I remember when we talk about winter contingency several months ago. That's some folks came to the committee and describe some of their personal interactions in these facilities. And they were some. There are some pretty difficult stories staff listen and situations that were very devastating and very heartbreaking. I was just
curious. If and when somebody would determine that they need to seek shelter. And one of these winner contingency sites is a clear and obvious that if there is an issue, whether it be with the staffer with another guest who those complaints would be made to and then separately. And is it obvious that there are people on site throughout? Those folks. Stay that are monitoring the situation and have eyes and ears to ensure that if somebody isn't coming coming to to make a complaint or a suggestion out of fear or whatever that there are folks trained to be able to identify those and be proactive. Thank you There will be posted at both locations. Phs phone number email address that
individuals can contact a vhs if they feel like their concerns are not being addressed by staff or security of the facilities. Additionally. I it was your second question. In order not to have that type of stories that we heard several months ago. I want to make sure that it's very clear that if somebody has an issue, whether it's with staff or with other guests, that it's obvious who they would contact to ensure that whatever those issues are evaluated and resolved to whatever way deemed appropriate. Number one, number 2, are there that those on site who are monitoring and are trained to be able to see telltale signs of issues to be able to mitigate those before they really turn into some of
the things that we've previously. Yes, there are so aspire. Staff is trained in conflict resolution as is as are the security personnel that will be on site that. The same thing was in place last year as well. Again, we'll have that phone number that individuals can call and any time that the spire needs to contact impd or their behavior, health team words, you'll see our team, those those options are in place to help de-escalate. Do you guys do any type of surveying or are seeking to have a feedback from those who are staying in the shelters. I will let aspired aspires here to they're going to speak here shortly. And so Because council meeting. MR. CHAIRMAN,
thank you. Director. As far as the number of beds go 160 30 and 70 at the church. Those on a first-come first-serve basis and then let's say you do have a multi day contingency plan as one someone to Betts fulfill is that field for the duration of that? You know, it's like a three-day span where it's less. 25 degrees. Do they have that basically on hold reserved for that entire stay. I think it's situational certainly at the family shelter because it is 24 7 well, let me back up at the family shelter. We were triaged based on where someone is when they're in need. So we will first prioritize individual families that are living in places not meant for human habitation. And that's the same thing that we did in the last year's version. We will work with other families
that maybe are doubled up for that part they just don't want to be where they're at in that moment to find ways that we can help them stay where they are so that we can keep those beds available for individual families that are living in places not meant for human habitation. Our goal like last year is to help find permanent housing for these families. And now remind you that we found 31 31 of the 60 families served. We're currently house last year. So we will be working on that again this year. So that will free up those beds as we are able to get folks either placed into other shelters into permanent housing. As for the over night warming center. Those were the first come first serve. I will tell you that. Based on our experience is that the icy?
Folks don't like to stay throughout the day. They like to leave and come back and so I see does not hold those bets. We would not hold those, might want shelter Heart. Thank you, a few things. One of the things the configuration. A jury had I am noticing on Thames location where you've got 40 families of 4 to get that one, 60 bed. They basing fixed in this case where you have a certain number of people together. Not going obviously perfectly every single time. So what's the? Ability to reconfigure based on need. We do have that ability so we can I believe we can take out a middle panel to create an 8th person. For We need They can use rink. So you get, you 3 people, one in the 2, can't do that. Okay. Yeah.
So. You know, just like us at school, 68 where we had pods of 4. If there's a family to that comes in, they're going to take part of 4. And so we lose those 2 bags yeah. Unfortunately, inefficient. Also want to call up. This is not mentioned in here, but I know there's groups that do. Sheltering during this time. Can you speak a little bit that? You know, the it's very professional and right, which would be the wheelers. And then I mean, care residents, independent groups. What is the city's role in? Working with the entire network and making sure that if we feel appears that the entire network is utilized, I I have assumed you're talking about. What the organization is operating under church off of.
Pretty is one that I know ok, that's the only one that I know with our planning process. So we are aware of them and will be working with them throughout the winter. But then on the the other side of the equation year, the Wheelers, anybody else that magnitude. How does that look at totality of availability for individuals within the city? Are you asking me how many beds are available for We've mentioned and if we look all of Indianapolis all the people here. It is our ratio, are we short? You know We were mission that we look at what the city is providing. If you look at the independent model are we short beds are reserved feds for what we know from a point in time. Count. So Wheeler mission has historically been the main provider of weather continues right for the last almost 30 years. We are relying on them and their experiences of the number of overflow shelter
beds that are needed to help understand what the city needs to be bringing to the table this year. So they explicitly said. They need. We need 40 family up. We need to face for 40 families. And we need a these 10 single female vets. And we know based on. Last year that the over night warming center held roughly 70 people and that we feel that. So we know we need now. Independent group, they are going up. You know, they're just I think 40 states for 40 that is in addition to what we're being told from I mention okay, thank you. Continuing. I'm gonna follow of a little bit on counselor heart, which is the question I also been asked for a while, just you mentioned in your
presentation, the this big group of providers that's been meeting I in a future presentation that you'll be able to like. Show us the list of this big group of folks to decide that DECEMBER first was the date. I personally sort of nest that piece last winter when we're talking about winter contingency. And I don't know if if there was a bigger group involved or not, but I think, you know, I'm not an expert on homelessness the types of resources that we need in. It makes. Gives me comfort knowing that there's like this very large group of experts that's meeting. And so I'd like to know more about that and how the decisions are being made and how the city comes to play in that and the city's role in all of that. Some asking similar questions Councilor heart. I think and just trying to understand the bigger picture of it all. For another we can provide a list
of organizations that participated. Certainly, think think doesn't count greats. Thanks, MISTER, and thanks for your presentation and certainly appreciate the learnings from the last couple of years and coming with. Some some slightly better presentation many women and families that are experiencing homelessness during this particularly tough time throughout the year. Great questions asked my colleagues. I just want to maybe clean up a couple. Can you confirm that? You said 24 7 security, all the locations. Yes. Okay. And on the pods, are they reasonable for next year or is ok? And so those those belong to us the city, we purchase those and stables. This should stay in place. Noble does not They have a future use, but it happened several years. So we intend to continues in that site. Okay, great. Thank you. I certainly appreciate that.
They have on site inside showers. I think that was a challenge and the security was a challenge last year as What is the average length of for individuals that are visiting the Do we have numbers there? I don't have that off the top my head, I think it's in our report that we provided to you from last year. There were certainly I think we were open. 71 75 days. There are certainly people that stayed the entire time and there were others that we were able to move on other shelters from the house. And so if a spider can speak to that tonight, they can other ways you track the number down. Great. I certainly appreciate your responses. And things went to work there. Council Council Perkins. Thank you, Mr.
Chairman, 2 quick question. You mentioned a couple times. The Wheeler has been kind of expert voice on this particular issue on typical day in and then that Marion counties without a natural disaster without temperature below. 25 degrees. Are we short of beds for individuals that want to seek shelter. Again. I don't have that number for you. Chip is also here tonight. So Chelsea MAY be able answer that question. A senior policy advisor hearing And just want to follow up a couple of those questions. So the average length of stay school. 68 was 47 days. We serve 60 unique families with 31 of those families going into permanent
housing and none of them entry into unsheltered homelessness. After the accident, the shelter in terms of the number of beds. Chelsea can correct me and base and their data. We believe we need about 27 minutes in our system. And the have 150 that will have unique configurations to serve individuals, couples and families. Thank you. That was very a second question a Second question. What happens on DECEMBER 1st? So DECEMBER first comes Week and a half and it's 80 degrees outside. Gives to here in Indianapolis. What happens? The family shelter will open. Okay. People can come inside. And I see, Wolf, because will make their 30 beds available. And the overnight warming center would not be open because it
would not be. 25 so they'll be fully staffed ready. For the temperature to fall most also found much of the comments from MR. Murray will have your guests come forward share a few words, got their support of plan salute. First, we'll have Sarah Vance, Lambert from United Way, followed by Kathleen Powers from Aspire. And then Chelsea hearing cozy from Chip. Thank you. Are good afternoon evening out. Longer service member with United Way of Central Indiana here to. I guess people picture a little bit more about the collaboration that's been happening. So last as you mentioned, really about the I the level of collaboration who all was involved. We we were headed smaller period of time
to be able to get to a solution. And there there were a group of collaborators probably 10 or so between city plans or be providers we're working together to create the solution that turns out to be school. 68. But we learned a lot from that that there needed to be more voices at the table in so said that he would get you a list of the different organizations. We hospital there. We obviously Wheeler was mentioned harbor lights, cries and House. Great. So I cannot see help. Was there a lot different organizations that see individuals experiencing homelessness at some point in their journeys trying to invite as many of those as we could experiences were. Facilitated by staff person at
chip in conjunction with a staff person at the city of Indianapolis. So really to try to have a neutral table to be able to have everyone have a voice you know, all of this started way back when Shepherd Community Center winter continues. He did this idea that we needed extra beds when it got cold. Wheeler's been doing it for about 30 years they came to the rest of the community about a year and a half ago and said we can't keep up with the what would how we're doing it right now doesn't allow us to do it. Well, so too many people that were on mats were able to get services. It was not the way that we as a community, want to be giving service provision to our neighbors and so this
idea needy winter contingency to be broader than just Wheeler because Wheeler is still going to have 125 extra. That in winter contingency. That and we still need all of these beds that that were just describe. Is a really large community wide You saw the budget from last year in United Way invested dollars, Indianapolis Foundation, best dollars. Lilly Endowment the city of Indianapolis champ. So you plan be was coming together United Way and others have been other philanthropy have been at that table that the chip in the city have been poking meaning to get to the solutions. You know, we've had we've had heated conversations about that shouldn't be
NOVEMBER DECEMBER, but as we were talking through it again, it was a well, let's try it for this year. And let's keep learning. So it's not that is forever going to be that way. But also an understanding of in the last few years. The uptick in NOVEMBER has not been very significant. And so it's it's a balancing of Resources, past experiences that led to that. And then we'll see this year. You know, if we get feedback that it should look different. Other things I want make sure I mentioned no. That's this need for this year. Is Continuing to grow? And so I really appreciated Trump's was able to kind of give that bigger picture what is the need to because it we'll see every day when we're walking around or
city. It is an incredible need not just in winter, but year-round but this is particular need and one that is that becomes deadly for our neighbors. And there is no reason we should have neighbors staying on the street because they're too cold. So appreciate that. You all gathering to discuss this and consider the investment. Thank you for your time. I am Kathleen Bowers. I'm the director of housing services with Aspire Indiana Health. And so we are the operators both of our projects. This winter and we operated school. 68 last year. So I wanted to just talk about the families that we see, the people that
we see and the vulnerability. A lot of times these winter contingency shelters are the last option for families for a lot of different reasons. One of them we had. Probably it. Half of our families could not go to any other shelter because they had not. Been invited back. So these are families was very high complex needs with part of the part of our families. The other part we had did not they didn't meet the family structure of some of our traditional shelters. That's what's really nice about winter contingency. We are low barrier so we try to bring in anyone that needs shelter and that the goal of winter contingency and our warming centers, his survival. How do we keep our families?
Our neighbors safe, life warm bed. And so that's what we're trying to do. First foremost, what I love about Indianapolis is strategy is the services. A lot of communities in the United States where contingency is just that survival. By partnering we've been able to bring all of our service providers together. Not just spire was our behavioral health medical recovery services, our social determinants of health are employment, helping people get where they need to go. So this isn't just a holding pattern like when you come into one of the shelters, we want to serve. You serve your families, collaborating with our McKinney, Vento liaisons. Every child deserves an education. We want to make
sure they get that education we want to make sure that with families need something we can provide it. And we're adding that to the singles part as well. We will have medical on site at the men single shelter so that if we have any, you know, open wounds coming, if we have frostbite, that we need to triage to figure out goes to the burn center or if we can handle it on site. We want to make sure that we are providing at in lighting and warming environment that can help people move forward. If they're ready to move forward, we want to prove find that support system with them. And so we you guys had mentioned mentioned collaboration. I are collaborating with all of our housing service providers with
chip. I've met with both Wheeler, women and children and men's to get with them and figure out what what strategies do they recommend? What do we need to do? Have one best serve. We work with our family shelter partners. We meet every other week as a group so that we can really work with the families to figure out what's the missing piece. What can we provide as a community to help them move forward? These are challenging times for our families. It is the coldest time of the year. It's the holiday season. We're trying to provide, you know, the best. Environment for our kiddos, particularly so that this is least traumatic as it can be. But it also is very important that it's low barrier so we can get as many people in and safe for as long
as possible. And then give them the services they need to move forward. So this is a a wonderful partnership. And I've been grateful for the city and the opportunity to do this because the success stories and to watch the families. Grow and that the the amount of stories I have is just out of this world and it makes you cry every day to see them where they start and where they end up I think that this year we learned last year that if we brought services to them. They were more likely to engage in those services. So we are stepping up our game this year will bring even more services to them to the shelter. We're partnering with our faith community to get more volunteers and so that we
can give some parents some respite. We're working with our clinical teams to get and parenting classes to get in different things for the kiddos to make sure that things are going well. So anything that we can do, we're doing to make sure that this is successful for our families and our single men to make sure that we can make a dent in this very affordable evident. Thank you so much. Thank you for what you do. Thank you. Appreciate coming to. Happened Sunday on Thank you for the opportunity. My name is Chelsea hearing cozy ceo with chips. We'll try to keep this short and sweet because I think director Mark Lee, I'm here in Syria and capping have said a lot. So winter can tendency. I want to remind us it's just a critical piece of our commitment to
ensuring that nobody dies on our streets Indianapolis. That's not acceptable. And especially in the coldest months of the year. So this is a commitment to kind of fill a gap our existing shelter system and to answer your questions to beds that are not low barrier and not configured to meet the need. And so when our contingency comes to the table during those coldest months of the year to make sure nobody dies on the streets or in their cars. And it has predominantly serve families with children. That is where the biggest gap is in our current shelter system. So we have worked together collaboratively as a community with dozens of partners at the table to try to elevate winter contingency, to make it serve people better and to leverage resources in the most effective ways. And that's what this year has been all about. Expanding partnerships around winter can tendency, including working with the city and really asking the
city to play a more elevated role and helping us activate new facilities. New resources and new partnerships that we haven't necessarily had in place. So chips role in this and to die mission is to help bring those partners together to help facilitate that work to inspire new are best practices to try new things to see what's going to work best for our community. So we've helped facilitate this planning process for several months to get to the decisions that you heard tonight that we're activating this year. That's the DECEMBER start date. That's activation of new facilities at icy noble asked that West Morris and the city's leadership has been pivotal in bringing those facilities and resources to the table that we've really not been able to leverage
historically. So I fully support the request to appropriate funding for this year's winner contingencies. So we keep people alive and provide better options for families with children in particular. And we appreciate the city county councils consideration of this. Your leadership and your commitment to all of our neighbors, including our unhoused neighbors. Thank you so much. Thanks the work into a community MR. I just want to close echoing Chelsea. Thank you for your consideration of this additional funding. I do think it is going to be pivotal and serving our neighbors this winter, as you can no one person can provide all of the answers and all the information is very complex challenge that we're trying to solve. And we are collaborating. Daily to solve homelessness broadly. So again, thank you. Questions. Thank you. Anyone else in audience cure to speak to pose
a 3.46 Final Question counselors Council Perkins. Thank you, MISTER CHAIRMAN. I just want to say they're currently thank you for your leadership on this. I know the last time we had a conversation just as a council with yours, a committee with you. This was the point of content. Frustration right for us for the community. And thank you for, you know, taken this head on Pullen folks together can what you presented today possible for us. Thank you for your leadership. I do want to acknowledge that that their folks and his staff but work alongside you to get And so what you do share with the staff, our appreciation for the work they put into Thank you. Thank you feel
counseling. Things Thank you, director for having a guests come tonight. I know you're you're requesting 1.6 million for the winter contingency. How much is our contract or agreement with the spire? For the winter conditions? That contract will be for roughly 2.4 million dollars. And that covers that they are taking on all the additional so contractors and ordering supplies and things like that. The city has purchased those pods. Like I said, we have contract very there's one more thing. But 2.4 million dollars. Got The children, emotional proposal, 3.46, problem his second homes up person or by saying Aye, aye, those polls interesting so
much a gentleman. True been present? So Emily Rubin of committee members is granddaughter of MR. Rubin who when we did Ruben Engagement many, many terms costumes curbs on the committee that we did one of the one of the requirements with any family member be on the board of I see. It the attorney think that once he stepped away, we requested family member of the ruling family who helped fund this. I see very beginning to be on the committee does recommend that her she was here last time. But her not being here today. We just wanted to come in the room and family and report absence. And Mostly probably moved seconded to reappoint this Rubin. In her absence post 3.16, the first saying Aye. I those opposed motion carries. Thank
you. Committee members. We are