04-10-1995 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Status Report on Adult and Children’s Shelters for Victims of Abuse Februarv' 6, 1995 Page 5 of 5 V. Orono Needs vs. Comprehensive/Community Needs In reviewine the reports from the Orono Police, school districts and Department of Corrections, it is impossible to claim that there is a real need for the shelter within the citv of Orono or its contract cities. Review Exhibits S, T-1 and T-2. Of the 78 domestic calls received by the Orono Police in 1993, only 16 involved domestic abuse. General domestic calls mav deal with runaways, juvenile delinquency, child abuse, children abusing parent, etc'. In 1994 the Orono Police dealt with 22 domestic abuse incidents within the city of Orono and its contract cities. Planning Commission members felt that if a shelter was within the community that Orono residents would identify with the Navarre facility and would consider using the shelter rather than calling the police to the residence announcing to all in a neighborhood of the problem. They felt the stigma of admission of abuse would deter most families from announcing it to the public with the visit from the police but that if a shelter was in the area that persons mav be more willing to seek assistance. The Orono Police noted that they advise all victims of their options and that they would never allow a victim to stay within a dangerous situation. They have often made use of motels as they have found Orono residents prefer the privacy of the use of a motel rather than being placed in a public shelter. Planning Commission wanted additional information as to the degree of increase in police activities once a shelter is installed in a community. Staff asked for reports from the Minnetonka and Plymouth Police Departments, refer to Exhibit U. The calls involved the following activities: fire alarms, suspicious activity, vehicle lockout, parking, abandonment, juvenile runaways, thefts, and medicals. Note the high number ot calls in 1987 for the first year Sojourner was in operation. Many of these calls resulted from unhappy neighbors within the residential neighborhood who were severely impacted by the increased parking at the facility overflowing onto the adjacent public road. Sojourner is tucked into a middle class residential neighborhood located on a cul-de-sac. Parking of vehicles is restricted on the site to approximately 6 stalls. Please refer to Exhibits D and E, the detailed minutes of the January work shops. They have been specifically drafted to incorporate the comments of the applicant, applicants consultant and the findings of staff prepared for outline. One of the most interesting comment from a member of the public that attended the first work shop noted that the use was fme wiA him as long as the property was not rezoned to commercial because he was concerned J*® shelier failed that a PDQ or similar use could be installed next door to his residential property. Staff will continue to take detailed minutes of the work shop and the public information meeting of March 7th for the public record.