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Planning Commission Page 3 <br />November 27, 2018 <br />----------------------------- <br />Mr. Carlton stated there was an office use and a church operating out of the building, <br />and those uses would cease if this use is approved. <br /> <br />Chair Johnson opened the public hearing. <br /> <br />Patrick Kelly, 2350 Wycliff Street, St. Paul, attorney from Kelly & Lemmons, P.A., <br />representing the applicant. He complimented staff with their assistance in this <br />process. He stated ResCare has no concerns with condition two regarding <br />SAC/WAC charges. Regarding condition three, he explained ResCare’s Robbinsdale <br />location also experienced concerns with smoking and explained they worked with <br />city staff to establish criteria for smoking. He went on to explain the role of ResCare <br />was transitional care for patients to return to the community, noting the patients had <br />already received hospital treatment and were transitioning back to independent <br />living. In response to the police department’s concerns regarding the proposed <br />location in a residential area, he explained many of the other ResCare facilities are <br />located in residential areas. He said their staff are trained first responders and <br />equipped to handle any emergency situation. He noted staff can request no lights and <br />sirens from emergency responders should they be called to their facility. He stated <br />it’s a rare occasion that their patients require emergency response. In his opinion <br />ResCare does good work to assist patients in transitioning back into independent <br />living. <br /> <br />Commissioner Rydberg asked the applicant about the conditions being proposed and <br />how many code 3 responses their other locations receive. <br /> <br />Thomas Alf, 4440 Beard Ave. N., Robbinsdale, represents ResCare - Minnesota and <br />stated he had no objections to the Planning Commission’s proposed conditions. He <br />stated some locations can go months without calling for police assistance or EMS <br />care. He explained how clients are monitored and constantly evaluated for concerns <br />that may need to be addressed in a hospital setting. <br /> <br />Chair Johnson asked about the realm of conditions that their patients are being <br />treated for, and asked if residents can come and go as they please or if they are <br />required to remain at the facility full time. <br /> <br />Mr. Alf explained the variety of emotional conditions and psychiatric disorders their <br />patients experience regarding their thoughts, which may include suicidal or confused <br />thinking, preventing them from functioning in the community in a positive way. He <br />stated some patients are recluse and find themselves unable to take care for <br />themselves in their own homes without receiving the assistance of care that ResCare <br />provides called Intensive Residential Treatment Services (IRTS). He stated the <br />patient’s goal is to regain skills and receive support to return to independent living. <br />He stated patients can come and go as they please from the facility but typically stay <br />on site because of the lack of public transportation services such as buses. ResCare <br />will have a van available for any required transportation. They will also have visiting <br />hours. <br /> <br /> <br />