Athens City Council met Monday, Oct. 20, for a nearly three-hour-long regular session primarily discussing a temporary housing ordinance. All members of Council and Mayor Steve Patterson were present, along with dozens of community members in the packed audience.
Council heard from over 25 community members with comments regarding an ordinance that provides temporary shelters for unhoused individuals on North Congress Street. The public comments expressed several concerns, including safety, winter weather, substance abuse and misinformation.
Ordinance 0-112-25 allows three Conestoga Huts to be temporarily placed in the Gathering Place lot at 1, 5 and 7 N. Congress St. The approval can be revoked at any time by the Service Safety Director for any serious safety or sanitation concerns that may occur.
Council heard from a few community members who previously experienced homelessness, who said the Gathering Place offers necessary help that can significantly improve someone’s quality of life.
Kent Lankas, a senior resident at Mike’s Bridge House, said he faced homelessness and is now helping others who are facing the same struggles at the Gathering Place. Lankas said the huts are crucial because having somewhere to live is the first step to turning someone's life around.
“Less than seven months ago, I was homeless, living under bridges,” Lankas said. “Just that one thing of having shelter, of having security, that allowed me to come so far.”
Many others involved with the Gathering Place expressed their support for the program, including interns, board members and the program's executive director.
Council heard from a group of concerned Ohio University students who live on the street where the huts would be.
Ava Guistino, a student studying sociology and criminology, said she was concerned about the huts making her and her female roommates feel unsafe when trying to get home.
“I came to Ohio University because of the safety and how safe I felt here,” Guistino said. “If there are people around that I’m not really sure, living right directly in my backyard, that might just make me feel a little bit unsafe.”
North Congress Street residents were also joined by community members who expressed concern that the location of the project was not ideal and might drive people away from the university.
After the public hearing, Council allowed Patterson to share his communications. Patterson said the Stimson Avenue bridge is closing Oct. 24 from 2-9 a.m. to pour concrete, which is one of the last steps in the process. He said he hopes the bridge will be done by the end of the year.
Council then read ordinances for third reading, where they passed two. The first, Ordinance 0-85-25, prohibits dumpsters or construction trailers from blocking the sidewalk without a permit and does not allow street, sidewalk or alley closures without permission from the Service Safety Director.
The second ordinance, 0-96-25, approved by Council, authorized support for the Ohio Governor’s Imagination Library program at the Athens County Public Library, which is a $10,000 project the city is taking on to offer free books to young children.
Council read ordinances for second reading. Notably, Ordinance 0-103-25, regarding housing regulations, was amended on the suggestion of Councilmember Alan Swank, D-4th Ward, to include houses for sale by owner into the bill language.
Additionally, Ordinance 0-110-25 was approved for a third reading. The ordinance was introduced by all councilmembers and establishes a cybersecurity policy in the city of Athens.
Next, Council read ordinances for first reading. Ordinance 0-112-25 was discussed again, and Swank proposed to amend the length of temporary renewal from two years to one year due to the law director's concerns about the shelters. The amendment was approved, and the ordinance goes forward to a second reading.
Council also heard a first reading of Ordinance 0-113-25, which involves the rezoning of North Lancaster Street, Second Street, Columbia Avenue and Columbus Road. Swank said he hopes the rezoning will encourage more business in the area and improve the lives of residents.
Council is holding a public hearing to discuss the temporary shelters issue Nov. 3 at 7 p.m. in the council chambers and Nov. 17 at 7 p.m. for the North Lancaster area rezoning.
