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497 -• <br /> September 23,1901 <br /> A. Promotion(advertising and special events) <br /> Administration(including security and maintenance) <br /> He then asked Seth Dawson,Assistant City Attorney,to speak on the <br /> first portion of the concept,goals and objectives for the public im- <br /> provement,that being public safety and transient problem. <br /> Mr.Dawson said the biggest complaint at present was the alcoholics <br /> on the streets. Because of various state regulations,it is very <br /> difficult to deal with this problem. Police can hook people if they <br /> have committed a ctime,however,the jail is full and what litt/e <br /> space there is available is kept for the more violent criminals. The <br /> law states that city police can book them into a treatment center if <br /> they will not voluntarily be treated themselves,but there is no <br /> facility available for this purpose. The departaent has instigated <br /> more foot patrols during the day and are Pres...,Putting out Mere <br /> a,night,Which(hopenully,will control some of this. The police <br /> take these alcoholics to the detox centerfor treatment if they request <br /> this,however,they do not remain there very long. There is con- <br /> sideration to prepare an ordinance which would prohibit the sale of <br /> liquor to people under the influence which could possibly control a <br /> little on,he PrOblem hy perhaps fining the beller of the liquor,etc. <br /> • <br /> This would be a local ordinance in this city. <br /> The state says that alcoholics canaot be jailed for alcoholism,but <br /> that they should be treated for this. Again,there is no facility <br /> in the area for this purpose. Discussion has been held to go to the <br /> legislators regarding this treatment act and request them to fund <br /> such a treatment facility or to amend or repeal the law so that <br /> further action can be taken by local jurisdictions. <br /> He said,to summarife,the City had the following options( Try to <br /> educate the public on the City's ability to cure the problem) increase <br /> the visibility of the Police in the downtown area; deal with the <br /> ' people who indirectly cause the problem by the sale of liquor to <br /> alcoholics( use the existing treatment act,look to the legislature <br /> for adequate funding or that the law be repealed)or to civi/suit. <br /> Councilman Aldcroft said he had been stopped several times as he got <br /> out of his car on Hewitt Avenue.by alcoholics aSking fer',One)"and <br /> grabbing him,etc.,and asked if some direction couldn't be taken on <br /> this type of problem. Mr.Dawson again said that the Oz.probably <br /> would rot accept this person because they are saving ePace ner those <br /> violent criminals. <br /> ) mr.Cattle,City Attorney,pointed out that the funding requested of <br /> the legislators would be for the involuntary individuals'treatment. <br /> There were detox centers for those who wanted to go into the iecilitY) <br /> There Wee no Center that,under the law,could be used for those who <br /> refused to go to the detox center. <br /> • <br /> • <br /> Councilman Pope recommended that Council go on record teqUesting the •• <br /> legislature to change the law or fund such a center. <br /> • <br /> Councilman Michelson felt the alcoholics should be put into a van <br /> and taken out of town and even though there were headlines in the <br /> Paper about this type of action,perhaps this would get Olympia to <br /> 9 realize there were problems. <br /> • <br /> • <br /> • <br /> • <br />