04-10-1995 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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MESTJTES OF THE ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION WORK SESSION ON DOMESTIC ABUSE SHELTERS HELD ON JANUARY 20, 1995 Mabusth coramemed she had discussed the needs for a shelter with Chief Sullivan, and he had indicated for the record that while he can’t provide statistics for Orono or its contract cities Lhat document the needs of the community that he directly supports the need for a shelter, m general a facilit>' like this is needed, and he doesn’t anticipate that the number of police calls generated by this facility will be a problem. Bera commented that it is unlikely tha: the statistics will ever demonstrate a need, since domestic abuse is such an emotional issue and the stigma attached to involvmg the police, i.e. the potential for a "hidden’’ problem to become «. isifcle to the neighborhood, keeps manv victims from cornin® forward. Smith agreed, noting that we may never have a statistically reliable picmre of thi problem. Sichender commented that smdies indicate domestic abuse is not limited to the lower end of the income scale, and that every community has degree of domestic abuse. Schroeder suggested that whether or not domestic abuse exists is not the question, but rather, is the proposed shelter the right solution for Orono. The infuunation provided suggests that the nearbv shelters are used to capacity. Mabusth interjected that she had been advised by an Orono officer who has been on the force for 15 years had four opportunities during his tenure to require the use of a shelter, and had never been able to place a victim at Sojourner or Horrie Free, but had to take them downtown to the Harriet Tubman shelter. Peterson noted it is st a fact tiiat with the relatively few cases requiring a shelter, the Orono Police had always been able to find a space somewhere, if not close by. Hurr likened the placement of a shelter in Orono to the placement of the Maxwell Bay lake access in Orono. It may not benefit most Orono residents but it is a benefit to the metro area in general and the City has some responsibility to the general public. Peterson questioned whether, when abusers are jailed, are they jailed in our facility or elsewhere. Cheswick noted they are held in our facility until transported to the Hennepm County jail. Cheswick commented that if the shelter is ultimately located in Orono, it w-.H be used, but if it s full, we’ll have to go elsewhere. We will use it if there is space available. Smith commented that the written information provided to victims by the police might be made more user friendly. Cheswick commented that if all we did was hand victims the information, he would agree, but that in fact each simation is handled individually, the information is provided to victims as needed rather than simply as a handful of paper. Smith concern that she would have a hard time sorting through all of the infonnadon available it sne was in that situation. Cheswick suggested that individual Planning Ccmmissioners might to ride with an officer once, to get a sense of how they handle various situations. Schroeder continued with the land use portion of the outline, questioning how the sheltw fits mio the zoning code. Gaffron noted that each zoning district has a list of allowed uses, and uses not listed are'’not allowed. Further, neither a "domestic abuse shelter" nor anythmg reasonaDiy