2018/02/07 Council Agenda Packet

Guy Cadwallader, 1822 Smokey Point Boulevard in Arlington, stated that he is a recovering addict and works as a support counselor. He stated that the treatment facilities don't just provide medication,they provide counselling that help clients connect to other services. Most addicts need wrap around services. If they are not provided,they don't recover. He stated that one in five opiate overdoses in Washington last year have been in Snohomish County. The issue needs to be addressed now. Jim Hill, 3120 Colby Avenue,stated that he was concerned about the opioid epidemic; however,the central business district is not the location for that facility. Downtown businesses need to thrive. Connery Glans, 211 Capri Place, stated that he didn't understand why the City currently restricts the facilities given that the current facility is over capacity. He stated that land use policy and practice has restricted opiate substitution treatment facilities not based on their use category as a clinic or medical related activity but has singled them out to limit them to two zones south of the Boeing freeway, and arbitrarily limited the number of facilities to one. There are no other uses in the City that are singled- out like this. Jeff Westphal, 2829 Rockefeller Avenue, business owner, stated that he struggles with doorway sleepers at his business. He is working with the parks department to remove the planters in front of his business because he discovered that drugs were being stashed in those planters. He worries about his staff leaving the office after hours during this time of year with more homeless on the street. He was concerned about the opioid epidemic; however, he was not in support of a treatment facility in downtown. He understood that the community relation monitors make sure that clients aren't hanging around the facility in a two block radius, and asked what happens outside of that two block area. He felt that an Increase in police presence was required in downtown. Paula Townsell, 211 Capri Place, asked Commission to work purposely to withdraw land use obstacles that impede locating of necessary opiate substitution treatment facilities. There is a public health crisis. Under the City's land use code, would it make more sense to include the treatment facility use in the same category as medical clinics, offices, medical related activities or a pharmacy accessory use? This change in the code would allow organizations such as THS to find more areas to locate treatment facilities within the City. Prevention and treatment for drug and alcohol addiction works to decrease crime, it improves family community situations, it lowers health care costs,and it saves lives. She is concerned about a law that directly discriminates against a protected population of vulnerable people in a public health emergency. She requested that Planning Commission recommend removing the City's legal exposure immediately. She would like the City to step up to the public health crisis and to bring the City's codes and policies into alignment with the safe streets initiative. Andrew Skotdal, 2707 Colby Avenue, stated that he was in favor of mental health funding. He stated that there are clinics in Everett that prescribe suboxone for treatment of opioid addiction. At 2:00 in the afternoon, Catholic Community Services offers treatment services. He has witnessed arguments,fights, and as he walks by the area random people screaming at him. He stated that he inspected the building next door to Catholic Community Services and found needles all over the place in greater concentrations than other places in the downtown core. He added that the idea that Everett isn't providing treatment