Homelessness Policy Advisory Committee

Monthly Reports

Final HPAC Recommendations

Final HPAC Recommendations 1/16/2020 (PDF)

Homelessness Policy Advisory Committee Final Report (PDF)

Open House November 2019

HPAC Open House Presentation

HPAC Recommendations

Public Comments from Open House

Introduction

The purpose of the Homelessness Policy Advisory Committee (HPAC) was to provide a forum for the coordination of information among local citizens and stakeholders to seek thoughtful, effective, and lasting solutions to the City’s homelessness crisis, and to facilitate assistance for unsheltered persons in the Monroe community. The HPAC was tasked to provide the Mayor and City Council with nonbinding advice and recommendations regarding issues related to homelessness.

Membership; Duration

The HPAC consisted of the members listed below, representing a cross section of local residents, businesses, faith communities, service providers, and the City of Monroe. Members were appointed by the Mayor and confirmed by the City Council.

Upon delivery of its final recommendations, the HPAC was disbanded as it had fulfilled responsibilities and functions.

Future

Upon the lifting of the current Stay Home/Stay Healthy order, the City will begin recruitment of a Technical Advisory Committee (TAC); the TAC will consist of members with specialized skillsets to advise on the development of a plan and timeline to implement the HPAC's recommendations.

Members

The following were the Advisory Committee members:

Committee Members
Rachel Adams
Jim Bloss
Jennifer Chavez
Sean Cramer
Kyle Fischer
Jason Gamble (ex-officio)
Geoffrey Godfrey
Phil Spirito (ex-officio)
Todd Strickler
Bridgette Tuttle
Heidie Waxham
Mary Wysocki

Authority

The HPAC was an ad hoc advisory body established by Resolution No. 001/2019, approved by the Monroe City Council on January 22, 2019. The HPAC served in a purely recommendatory, as-requested, capacity. Nothing in its establishment was to be construed as requiring the City Council to solicit, accept, and/or follow any recommendation(s) proposed by the HPAC as a prerequisite for any City Council action.

Responsibilities and Functions

As requested by the Mayor and the City Council, the HPAC:
• Provided nonbinding advice and recommendations to the Mayor and City Council in the formulation, monitoring, implementation, and review of the City’s homelessness programs and policies.

In recognition of the important role that other organizations and agencies play in addressing the needs of homeless persons and issues related thereto, the HPAC considered and made recommendations concerning potential partnerships between the City and such organizations to ensure appropriate collaboration, maximized efficiencies, and coordinated efforts and resources.

Obligations of Members

In performing their duties, HPAC members were charged to:
• Act honestly and in good faith;
• Participate in the work of the HPAC; and
• Perform their duties in a manner ensuring that the public trust in the integrity, objectivity, and impartiality of the HPAC was preserved and enhanced.

Meetings and Minutes

The HPAC met regularly at 6:00 p.m. on the first Thursday of every month in the City Council Chambers of Monroe City Hall; other meetings of the HPAC were scheduled as needed.

All meetings of the HPAC were open to the public and complied with Chapter 42.30 RCW, the Open Public Meetings Act, to the extent required by law. A quorum for purposes of any meeting was the number of HPAC members who represented a simple majority of all members.

HPAC meeting minutes were approved at the beginning of each meeting and are available on the City’s website.

Remuneration

Members of the HPAC served without compensation.