We, the undersigned neighbors, request that the Planning Commission approve Conditional Use Application LU-19-091 with appropriate safeguards to ensure that it is successful in achieving its goals and meets the requirements of Benton County Code 53.215. These safeguards further the shared goal of the neighbors and the church to provide safe living accommodations for unhoused individuals with non-permanent shelters. These conditions are based on commitments that the church has communicated to neighbors and address most neighborhood concerns.

1. The applicant will ensure the following:
   1. All individuals, couples, and families are screened prior to staying overnight at the camp.[i]
   2. An identified Program Manager oversees and manages camp operations.[ii]
   3. At least one identified Support Team member is paired with each camp participant during the entire duration of their stay for individual support and assistance with developing and working toward a service plan with goals and timelines.[iii]
   4. Provision of adequate garbage service for all camp residents.[iv]
   5. Provision of water access for all camp residents.[v]
   6. Provision of usable restroom access for all camp residents.[vi]
   7. All residents are shown where their fire extinguisher is located and how to use it.[vii]
   8. All residents are aware that they do not have tenancy rights and must leave if instructed to do so.[viii]
   9. Residents may not reside on the premises for longer than 90 days, unless the resident is meeting their goals and signs a new agreement.[ix]
   10. The applicant must limit the total number of individuals staying overnight at the camp to no more than 21 individuals per night.[x]
2. The applicant will ensure that all residents review, agree to, and follow the code of conduct before staying overnight at the camp.[xi]
3. Any camp residents who exhibit a pattern of behavior that is disruptive or a failure to comply with the code of conduct and conditions of this conditional use permit will be immediately removed from the program and not allowed on the premises again.[xii] The applicant will fully enforce the code of conduct, which must include the following requirements:
   1. No more than one individual, couple, or family resides in each sleeping unit.[xiii]
   2. All residents keep their sleeping unit and the area around it neat and clean and not store anything outside of the sleeping unit other than their own bicycles.[xiv]
   3. All residents are aware of neighbors, keep noise at acceptable levels, and maintain quiet hours from 10pm to 8am.[xv]
   4. All residents do not participate in illegal activities (including, but not limited to, theft, violence, intimidation, illegal drug use, etc.).[xvi]
   5. All residents do not have open flames inside or around their Sleeping Unit or anywhere on the property other than an established, enclosed kitchen-area at the north end of the camp enclosure.[xvii]
   6. Only invited and accompanied guests are allowed during guest hours of 8am to 10pm.[xviii]
   7. All guests are informed that they are required to follow the same Code of Conduct that applies to residents.[xix]
   8. All residents respect the belongings and property of all residents, the program, and the surrounding neighborhood.[xx]
   9. All residents attend a weekly check-in with the Program Manager and attend regular meetings with the assigned Support Team member to participate in the Service Plan development and action.[xxi]
   10. All residents with a pet appropriately dispose of pet waste.[xxii]
   11. All residents who are using their own trailer or vehicle must take it to another site when dumping grey and black water.[xxiii]
   12. No firearms on the premises. [xxiv]
4. The applicant must ensure that screening includes background checks, and that individuals with violent or sex offenses are not permitted to stay overnight.[xxv]
5. The applicant must ensure that residents do not have weapons on the premises, including knives with blades longer than 4 inches.[xxvi]
6. All sleeping units, the kitchen, toilets, garbage dumpster, and charging stations should be fully enclosed and protected by a fence that has one locked entrance for checking in all campers and guests with staff.[xxvii] Multiple one-way exits are consistent with this condition to ensure fire safety if needed.
7. The applicant must locate services like the kitchen, toilets, garbage dumpster, and charging stations at the northernmost end of the camp enclosure to limit disruption with neighbors.[xxviii]
8. The applicant must allow access to all areas of the camp at all times by both county and city law enforcement, fire personnel, code enforcement, and animal control.[xxix]
9. The conditional use permit should be approved for a period of one year to allow for review, and should expire immediately upon any annexation to the city.[xxx] There should be no fee for reapplication.
10. The applicant must ensure that at least one camp supervisor is physically present at the camp site to enforce conditions 24/7.[xxxi]
11. The applicant must post a sign with the name, phone number, and email of a person for neighbors to report any violations of conditions. The sign must be posted in a location near the camp that is clearly visible from the street and must be kept updated, and a copy of the same information, along with an official process for handling complaints, the camp code of conduct, rules, and regulations, must also be either posted to the church website or otherwise be prominently displayed or distributed to neighbors.[xxxii]
12. The applicant must limit the number of total sleeping units to five.[xxxiii]

[i] See Application, SafePlace Program – Roles and Responsibilities: Program Team agreement #1.

[ii] See Application, SafePlace Program – Roles and Responsibilities: Program Team agreement #3; Participating Host agreement #7; Program Manager definition.

[iii] See Application, SafePlace Program – Roles and Responsibilities: Program Team agreement #4; Support Team definition; Service Plan definition.

[iv] See Application, SafePlace Program – Roles and Responsibilities: Participating Host agreement #3; SafePlace Code of Conduct: Participating Host agreement #3.

[v] See Application, SafePlace Program – Roles and Responsibilities: Participating Host agreement #4; SafePlace Code of Conduct: Participating Host agreement #4.

[vi] See Application, SafePlace Program – Roles and Responsibilities: Participating Host agreement #5; SafePlace Code of Conduct: Participating Host agreement #5.

[vii] See Application, SafePlace Program – Roles and Responsibilities: Program Participant agreement #5; SafePlace Code of Conduct: Program Participant agreement.

[viii] See Application, SafePlace Code of Conduct: Program Participant agreement.

[ix] See Application, SafePlace Program – Roles and Responsibilities: Overview; SafePlace Code of Conduct: Program Participant agreement.

[x] See Application argument regarding BCC 53.215(1) “Based on the space available, and in order to adequately provide for the individuals’ physical and privacy needs, the church provides shelter for no more than 21 individuals.”

[xi] See Application, SafePlace Program – Roles and Responsibilities: Program Participant agreement #1; SafePlace Code of Conduct: Program Participant agreement.

[xii] See Application, SafePlace Code of Conduct: Program Participant agreement.

[xiii] See Application, SafePlace Program – Roles and Responsibilities: Sleeping Unit definition.

[xiv] See Application, SafePlace Program – Roles and Responsibilities: Program Participant agreement #2; SafePlace Code of Conduct: Program Participant agreement.

[xv] See Application, SafePlace Program – Roles and Responsibilities: Program Participant agreement #3; SafePlace Code of Conduct: Program Participant agreement.

[xvi] See Application, SafePlace Program – Roles and Responsibilities: Program Participant agreement #4; SafePlace Code of Conduct: Program Participant agreement.

[xvii] See Application, SafePlace Program – Roles and Responsibilities: Program Participant agreement #5; SafePlace Code of Conduct: Program Participant agreement; Application argument regarding BCC 53.215(1) “Open flames are permitted only in an established, enclosed kitchen-area at the north end of the parcel.”

[xviii] See Application, SafePlace Program – Roles and Responsibilities: Program Participant agreement #6; SafePlace Code of Conduct: Program Participant agreement.

[xix] See Application, SafePlace Program – Roles and Responsibilities: Program Participant agreement #6; SafePlace Code of Conduct: Program Participant agreement.

[xx] See Application, SafePlace Program – Roles and Responsibilities: Program Participant agreement #7; SafePlace Code of Conduct: Program Participant agreement.

[xxi] See Application, SafePlace Program – Roles and Responsibilities: Program Participant agreement #8; SafePlace Code of Conduct: Program Participant agreement.

[xxii] See Application, SafePlace Program – Roles and Responsibilities: Program Participant agreement #9.

[xxiii] See Application, SafePlace Program – Roles and Responsibilities: Program Participant agreement #10 agreement.

[xxiv] See Application argument regarding BCC 53.215(1) “Firearms are prohibited.”

[xxv] See SafeCamp Update February 2020: “People with a history of violence, violent sex abuse or preying on children are not allowed in Safe Camp.”

[xxvi] This is an extension of the principle in the Application argument regarding BCC 53.215(1), which said that “Firearms are prohibited.”

[xxvii] Based on call with SafeCamp Team February 26. See also SafeCamp Update February 2020 “Because of the people camping illegally in the tree farm to the west of the church, the plan is to erect a locked gate at the Safe Camp site so only camp residents and other authorized people can access the camp. Safe Camp services such as the kitchen area and the charging stations will be accessible only to campers.” Recently, microshelters “were moved to the church's property at the south end of the Safe Camp area.”

[xxviii] See above.

[xxix] See SafeCamp Update February 2020: “The idea is to give the unhoused a safe place; this allows

camp managers, mentors, social service agencies and others an opportunity to connect campers with

essential services, including transitional housing. We believe consistent access to those services will help

move campers into more stable housing.”

[xxx] See SafeCamp Update February 2020: “Look for big changes at the Safe Camp site over the next couple of months. It's important to remember that Safe Camp is continuing to evolve and change: The way it has operated in

the past is not necessarily the way it will operate in the future, as its managers, supporters, residents and

neighbors suggest changes and improvements. . . . [T]he Safe Camp site itself is undergoing a major overhaul.”

[xxxi] See SafeCamp Update February 2020: “Safe Camp employs a part-time camp liaison/manager, who is on the site several hours each day. In addition, volunteers to serve as mentors for each camper have been trained and are working with campers. We are working to raise funding for case management for campers; we believe this sort of management is essential to break the cycle of homelessness.”

[xxxii] See SafeCamp Update February 2020: “We want to keep our neighbors around the Safe Camp at First Congregational Church informed,” and “We welcome questions and comments about Safe Camp.”

[xxxiii] See SafeCamp Update February 2020: “Recently, about a half-dozen ‘microshelters,’ built to specifications provided by city officials, were moved to the church's property at the south end of the Safe Camp area. . . . Other congregations have tentatively agreed to place microshelters on their properties.”