Dairy Drive Temporary Permissible Encampment Update & Next Steps

Greetings friends and neighbors, 

Tonight's message is being sent as a follow up of my last blog regarding the proposal to develop a Temporary Permissible Encampment in District 16, located at 3202 Dairy Drive. If you are a landmark navigator like myself, the site is directly across the street from MFD's Fire Station #14.

The proposal was passed unanimously by the Common Council Tuesday 8/31. 

What does this mean? City staff are now allowed to proceed with executing plans to develop the site for occupancy. This includes clearing the site of high grasses, weeds and other landscaping barriers, installing fencing and building pallet shelters (similar to the tiny home pictured below). While introduced as an emergency resolution, the proposal will still need to work it's way through city BCCs (board, commissions and committees) such as the Community Services Committee and Plan Commission before making it's way back to the Council for final vote. 

I want to acknowledge the many calls and emails I've been getting regarding this topic. I understand many of you have myriads of questions and may even be upset about not hearing much about the proposal before this week. In full transparency, I too, still have questions and clarifications to make and will do my very best to respond to the communications I receive. If possible, I will get a webpage or link set up that addresses Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ).

Please know that I am committed to providing transparent communications to you, as the development moves along. Myself along with city staff will ensure there are communications of varied methods to provide updates to the neighboring businesses and residences, as well as the entire district. For intance, conversations (at the city level) have already started regarding when we will hold a public information session (or sessions). 

Finally, I'd like to acknowledge that this platform only reaches a few in our community. Please help spread the word by emailing and/or sharing this blog on social media with your neighbors friends and associates. It is surely going to take the support of the entire community to assist in this sites success!

As a heads up, I will have extremely limited access to phone and email tomorrow, Thursday 9/2. In addition, I will be on vacation and unavailable Friday 9/3 - Monday 9/6. Please bare with me as I prepare my children for their 1st days of school and the Labor Day Weekend. I will be back in the office Tuesday 9/7 and look forward to connecting more.

In Solidarity,

Jael