The City Council voted to approve a resolution to amend the unsheltered homeless task force to address the rise in unsheltered, homelessness and associated issues in Bartlesville.
The amendment added two additional non-voting members of the task force.
Members of the task force (and the task force member criteria they fulfill) will include: Mike Bailey, city manager, Christy McPhail, non-voting community member, Aaron Kirkpatrick, voting councilmember, Larry East, non-voting councilmember, Judd Strom, OK House Representative, Rachel Showler, mental health professional, Amber Vieux, medical professional, Sierra Compton, law enforcement official, Keith McPhail, nonprofit expert, Errol Hada, church representative, Tom Gorman, local business owner, Sherri Smith, citizen, Sarah Rowe, Bartlesville Public Schools representative, Dustin Ainesworth, veteran and formerly homeless, Alan Gentges, at large, and Lisa Cary, at large.
While reduction of the homeless population is the primary goal, secondary goals of the task force include reducing vandalism, littering, and other illegal acts associated with the unsheltered homeless population, and increasing confidence in public safety of and increase utilization of public spaces by addressing concerns linked to homelessness, and addressing public health concerns while improving conditions for unsheltered individuals.
The task force is expected to meet monthly for six months and to report to the council every two months.