[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6329052,"mediaKeyId","2316539-f22205828a3f4954fa124a4e52c9a648","parentId",2316539,"title","Longview leaders describe homelessness services, point to lower point-in-time count and partner bed capacity","audioSeconds",317,"startMs",2335000,"endMs",2652000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2316539-f22205828a3f4954fa124a4e52c9a648&start=2335&end=2652","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2316539-f22205828a3f4954fa124a4e52c9a648/thumbnail_2335000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6329052/Longview/Gregg-County/Texas/Longview-leaders-describe-homelessness-services-point-to-lower-point-in-time-count-and-partner-bed-capacity","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6329052-ad6b6537f27016859c63b874b4589935/orig.mp4?Expires=1771201030&Signature=Qo9n9LD5YBa81rJ3oZQbEjc5ukRZBb8upVHXgpuQhloF9boo5vx24mrfI-ghB9MhiSl-Hi~PfRmSLPJOaf6TW9cbh3pqPOrnXqJGrm69WwLrRewejMdFUGKgaouymkAAfovdu1NsRI6TQ4nWP~6esiQm3gnj9LNN96oBDq9xU4sd2Z3cY7ndu3nJyNsCOnNfJjqJXhKYflYu6E34e2YYhBAAH5RBqTDk-NjbkwsXAJQ-kP~Rwcd9j7dERRMMYQv8oxnOv2NKGdBghjnp9eigPb2alsZpYZvRD9W1OsfTrV7MJcTzE4bndgkkR70~2cFd3233zAuAtFdsAQSOk7GD-w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Longview, TX","date","2025-02-15T09:13:04.823Z","article","Mayor Isiahara and council members on Feb. 13 outlined the city’s ongoing work with nonprofit partners and specialized staff to serve people experiencing homelessness, and they highlighted a recent Homeless Resource Day that served an estimated 425 attendees.

Mayor Isiahara summarized recent program metrics and partnerships, saying the point-in-time count the task force started in February 2017 measured 480 unhoused individuals then and that the 2024 count showed 197. He said the city is still awaiting the 2025 count. The mayor described multiple city-coordinated efforts, including two post officers who in 2024 made 1,104 contacts with unhoused people, issued 41 citations for sleeping or camping, and helped place 95 individuals into housing or other placements.

The mayor described the Greater Longview Optimal Wellness (GLOW) initiative, a collaborative program started in 2020 funded by grants and involving about 50 service providers and 15 partner agencies. ‘‘GLOW has served to date over a hundred residents using 50 service providers in 15 different partner agencies,’’ the mayor said, and he noted the program has received state and national recognition.

Council members and staff also described nonprofit partner capacity. The record shows that House of Disciples, Highway 80, Salvation Army, House of Hope and the Women’s Center of East Texas together provide more than 400 beds in the community, the mayor said. Council recognized the seventh annual Homeless Resource Day on Jan. 26 that served roughly 425 attendees and offered 80 haircuts, 30 pet checkups and six homeless identification documents; volunteers brewed more than 60 pots of coffee before 10:30 a.m., according to a council summary of the event.

Council and staff said the city will highlight partner agencies in upcoming communications and convene partners to solicit feedback on how the city can better support front-line providers. Officials emphasized that bed availability exists among partners but acknowledged the role of mental health and substance use in complicating service engagement.

Council also recognized Officer Chris Birdsong, who will retire after decades with the Longview Police Department and who the council said helped over 150 people enter substance abuse treatment through outreach work.

No formal votes were taken on homelessness policy at the meeting; councilmembers said they will continue coordinating with nonprofit partners and pursue additional engagement to identify improvements.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","February 13, 2025 City Council Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","Mayor and council members described recent homeless outreach work and partner services at the Feb. 13 meeting, citing a decline in the point-in-time count from 480 in 2017 to 197 in 2024, reporting partner bed capacity of more than 400 and describing the Greater Longview Optimal Wellness (GLOW) program and post officers’ contacts.","taxTitle","Longview, Gregg County, Texas","taxId",2796,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6329057,"Council adopts recreation center fee overhaul, makes youth access free; scholarship program planned",145,1455000,1600000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2316539-f22205828a3f4954fa124a4e52c9a648&start=1455&end=1600","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2316539-f22205828a3f4954fa124a4e52c9a648/thumbnail_1455000.jpg","/articles/6329057/Longview/Gregg-County/Texas/Council-adopts-recreation-center-fee-overhaul-makes-youth-access-free-scholarship-program-planned","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6329057-cf284fd5d719d5908b85d5167ba9fdd8/orig.mp4?Expires=1771201030&Signature=lugPIpc29Z-mPTEm8F5s7L2XGQxmqxCn-t2sC~qInl8Eh9F4OiWSB24ZQ5nQ60TBldTieyzno~mCltc-KIBiUrwLRj8a4~88bhxh-IL3KMhilWsasFARktAzwoakVyRAX4SSZqat1i9LPlHDZigZpc9J03OsaBPvSTizha8Vr~xYrvn4lX3l5~lulWxvLhnorBaCQWmbxVCoviFll0qi5CTWIRmT~QZECIZv~7Cr8ItbQHDTPpeWD1dueaW-80hqfu2bUBH8eeZWdDiDMCmA2rP41itZ6rclDHFaDOaK1fio-TWnuBBTAWvK6JqABAFRzeIAf2lGjAQqKEjIefDN2w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Longview City Council on Feb. 13 approved a resolution to revise recreation center membership rates and establish a scholarship program intended to increase youth access.

John Albertson, director of Parks and Recreation, presented the proposal and said the changes would create a universal membership scheme that includes free youth access both annually and monthly, lowers the monthly adult and senior rate to $5 and the annual adult and senior rate to $50, and adds a family pass priced at $90. Albertson also said the city will create a scholarship program in partnership with the PALS Foundation to help guardians who must be present with children meet access requirements.

Albertson estimated the change would produce about a $38,000 revenue shift and said staff will review membership use and scholarship demand after one year and return to council with an update. ‘‘We will review that after a year and bring that back to you, update as to what we're seeing as usage rates, as well as how many people are participating in our scholarships,’’ Albertson said.

Councilmembers praised the proposal as expanding youth access and supporting seniors; a motion to approve passed by voice vote.

The resolution was presented under Chapter 81 of the Longview City Code; no formal ordinance number was given in the meeting record. Staff will implement the new price structure at the city’s recreation centers (including the Broughton and Paula Martin Jones facilities) and work with the PALS Foundation on scholarship guidelines.","Longview City Council approved a resolution to change recreation center membership pricing that makes youth memberships free, lowers adult and senior rates, and establishes a scholarship program run with the PALS Foundation; staff estimated a $38,000 revenue shift and will review usage after one year.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6329061,"City Council approves four rezonings to regularize nonconforming homes",459,916000,1375000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2316539-f22205828a3f4954fa124a4e52c9a648&start=916&end=1375","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2316539-f22205828a3f4954fa124a4e52c9a648/thumbnail_916000.jpg","/articles/6329061/Longview/Gregg-County/Texas/City-Council-approves-four-rezonings-to-regularize-nonconforming-homes","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6329061-9875c07c74b650d45084fa492d3c5843/orig.mp4?Expires=1771201030&Signature=Yw6I4lsqB50ugbtui0yPFEAkWxrTD4RZDIO0TDqCuX854VMYOUfL8AxtQ0-27elZRmviMswuSinvpMCmsNYo6wkeG5E4IFOKmXQ~f37SnR9oCERqIBf1auOi1HyoRXtn0Kae2rogwrXncHGAI8jTSrJiikFEeqP~rLd6x1BRurxwQrLyr4qmppVED~Hk1XAXtxflJLiunP7~tbh-XuEp45U05-lF6ZV-UmeAvI7swQQy1~xfw8MAEQHTPy8egUoZqoP38It13BwpJ6BUazeCQp1GggtBBVf3FXyoZUde5uSkG4mCPaS1haXzUkTZUGhgw02Hoo7AtORA55JwycTqgA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Longview City Council on Feb. 13 voted to approve four rezoning requests affecting multiple neighborhoods so existing single-family and two-family homes would no longer be designated ‘‘nonconforming.’’ Mayor Isiahara presided over public hearings and votes on the items.

City staff, represented by Michael Shirley of Development Services, told the council the measures were largely administrative and intended to align zoning districts with existing uses. ‘‘This first item is a city-initiated rezoning request for property south of Sabine Street and east of West Loop 281 from multifamily 3 and agriculture and light industrial zoning to 2-family zoning district,’’ Shirley said, noting similar proposals for other corridors where prior redevelopment plans did not materialize.

Shirley said staff and the planning and zoning commission recommended approval on all four items; the planning commission vote on the first item was 8–1. Council opened required public hearings before each vote.

During the public hearing on Z‑25‑01, property owner Carl Whitaker said he supports the planning commission’s recommendation but asked council to consider infrastructure concerns before approving a density change. ‘‘That train has a tendency of stopping 50% of the time,’’ Whitaker said, adding that heavy truck traffic along West Loop 281 has produced potholes and that the area has recurring drainage and flooding problems.

Council then approved the four items without recorded roll-call tallies in the public record:

- Z‑25‑01: City-initiated rezoning for properties south of Sabine Street and east of West Loop 281 from multifamily 3, agriculture and light industrial to two-family zoning to regularize existing single- and two-family homes. Planning and Zoning recommended approval (8–1). Outcome: approved.

- Z‑25‑02: City-initiated rezoning at the southwest intersection of South Fredonia and Calvin Boulevard from heavy commercial to Single Family 3 zoning to match existing single-family homes. Outcome: approved.

- D2503 (city-initiated): Rezoning north of East Cotton Street and west of Fifteenth from heavy commercial to Single Family 6 to reflect ongoing infill residential development. Outcome: approved.

- Z‑25‑04 (filed by ETR Development/Brent Conaway): Rezoning along the west side of Tulla Road, just south of Jayhan, from Planned Development PD‑20 (multifamily) to Single Family 6 as part of a developer request near a park. Brent Conaway appeared in the meeting; planning staff recommended approval. Outcome: approved.

Council received one additional citizen comment after the zoning votes from Edgardo Gonzalez about a lighting issue with a neighbor; staff said they would follow up with him.

By approving the rezonings, the council and staff said the city will reduce barriers to permitting and future sales for the affected parcels and bring zoning maps into closer alignment with observed land use.

Votes in the meeting were recorded as motions and voice votes; the record shows motions and seconds followed by ‘‘All in favor, please say aye’’ and confirmation of approval for each item.","Longview City Council on Feb. 13 approved four city-initiated and developer-filed rezoning requests to change several parcels from commercial or multifamily categories to single- and two-family designations, a move city staff said will bring existing homes into compliance and simplify future permitting and sales.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Longview leaders describe homelessness services, point to lower point-in-time count and partner bed capacity

Council adopts recreation center fee overhaul, makes youth access free; scholarship program planned

City Council approves four rezonings to regularize nonconforming homes