04-10-1995 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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Status Repon on Adult and Children’s Shelters for Victims of Abuse February 6. 1995 Page 2 of 5 The Planning Commission feels strongly that in order to complete a comprehensive smdy report that we should hear from the public receiving the most impact trom the use betore developing a final recommendation to the Council. A notice will be sent to prop>erty owners w ithin 500+ feet of the proposed site of the facility in Navarre in addition to publishing notice of the public information meeting in the official newspapers of the City. The public information meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, March 7, 1995 at 7:00 p.m. At the Januaiy- 6th work shop. Westonka Intervention was represented by Dan Hessburg of Westonka Intervention Project, Greg Sichender of the Board of Directors, the Honorable Mary Davidson. Judge of the 4th District Court and Margaret Weber, consultant for Westonka Intervention Project.^ At the January 20th work shop, Margaret Weber and Greg Sichender represented the application. It is the intent of the Planning Commission that no conclusions be drawn until the final phase of the study is completed. The final study report and recommendation of the Planning Commission will be presented to the Council at their March 13, 1995 meeting. Review of Outline Topics Already Considered by Planning Commission Study 1. General Review of Proposed Use The applicant has proposed use of the former Grace Baptist Church in Navarre as a shelter for victims of domestic abuse providing 10 bedrooms at a maximum 20 bed use. The average stay of a resident would run from 14-20 days. The current sei^ice area of Westonka Intervention Project covers the cities of Minnetrista, Mound, Spring Park, St. Bonifacius. Minnetonka Beach, Orono and Long Lake. The current service area covere a population of approximately 20,000. It is the goal of Westonka, once the shelter is realized, to expand to a 100,000 population covering the cities on the southern and eastern shores of Lake Minnetonka. There will be 24 hour supen^ision of the facility. The facility will be maintained by approximately 3-4 trained full-time professionals and the majority of staff will consists of volunteers ranging from 20-30. It is not the intention of Westonka at first to provide major education or counseling activities as do the larger more established shelters such as Sojourner (Minnetonka) and Home Free (Plymouth). Children who stay at the shelter will either be bused by normal school bus service to Westonka and Orono or taken by shelter personnel to their respective schools. Westonka is governed by a 14 member Board of Directors, all of whom live in the Lake Minnetonka area, review Exhibit B. Two of the Board members represented the applicant at the work study meetings. The new facility would continue to provide the same level of counseling, either individual or group sessions, that is already provided at the Mound facility but it is clearly the intention of the Board to first establish the 20 unit shelter and then look to expand in the coming years.