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RES-2017-140RESOLUTION NO. 2017 - 14 0 A RESOLUTION OF THE ANAHEIM CITY COUNCIL DECLARING A PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY STATE OF EMERGENCY RELATED TO THE HOMELESS, HOMELESSNESS AND HOMELESS ENCAMPMENTS WITHIN AND ADJACENT TO CITY PROPERTY AND EMPOWERING CITY STAFF TO TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION TO PROVIDE NEEDED SHELTER AND SERVICES, IN CONJUNCTION WITH NEIGHBORING JURISDICTIONS AND TO PROVIDE THE NECESSARY ENFORCEMENT TO ADDRESS UNLAWFUL ACTIVITY IN THE SANTA ANA RIVER TRAIL, CITY PARKS, AND ON CITY -OWNED PROPERTY WHEREAS, homelessness is one of the most pervasive challenges facing cities throughout California; and WHEREAS, the County of Orange has significant dedicated funding set-aside for homeless assistance throughout the County; and WHEREAS, the homeless population in the County of Orange has increased significantly since 2015, including an increase of 54% on the Santa Ana River Trail; and WHEREAS, the County of Orange, and its municipalities, lack the shelter beds required to house the entirety of the unsheltered homeless population; and WHEREAS, according to the Kennedy Commission's Report on Housing, there is a critical shortage of affordable housing in the County of Orange where over 101,000 more affordable rental homes are needed: and WHEREAS, according to the County of Orange Assessment of Homeless Services, 64% of jobs pay lower than the average housing wage of $25.46 required to afford a one -bedroom apartment; and WHEREAS, based on the 2017 Point in Time Count, 28.9% of unsheltered adults in Orange County answered yes to being released from jail or prison in the last 12 months; of that population, greater than one in four attributed their release to Proposition 47; and WHEREAS, local housing authorities throughout Orange County have received millions of federal dollars to support programs assisting homeless families; and WHEREAS, despite substantial efforts made by the City of Anaheim, non-profit and for- profit organizations, and dedicated individuals, homelessness continues to afflict our city; and WHEREAS, homeless encampments on City -owned and adjacent County -owned property have reached a level so as to cause a threat to the health and security of its residents and require immediate action; and WHEREAS, homeless encampments, particularly those along our waterways, are a source of significant, life-threatening health hazards that include chronic and communicable diseases, drug use and illegal activity; and WHEREAS, the Anaheim City Council has heard from a significant number of residents concerned for their safety and well-being; and WHEREAS, there is a level of urgency due to the fast approaching winter season and potential impacts of rains, cold weather, and safety threats due to flooding; and WHEREAS, the County of Orange has recently entered into a contract to provide services to individuals residing at locations along the Santa Ana River Trail (SART) adjacent to Anaheim homes and businesses. NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City of Anaheim does proclaim that the situation described herein has become sufficiently serious that it is necessary to declare a civil emergency and implement Operation Home Safe, a program to address the homeless crisis within the City of Anaheim and in those areas where the City has joint jurisdiction. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City of Anaheim, under Operation Home Safe, will immediately take the following steps to resolve this crisis, secure the safety of its residents and property, and provide emergency resources and services to the homeless, supplementing all existing efforts to date. BE IT ADDITIONALLY RESOLVED that the challenge of confronting homelessness requires the active engagement, collaboration, and leadership of all levels of government, including the County of Orange and all 34 Orange County Cities. Accordingly, the City Council hereby directs the City Manager to immediately take the following actions, to the maximum extent permitted by law: 1. Designate a single point of contact to act in a leadership capacity for this comprehensive program; 2. Participate with the County and each of the SART cities to convene an emergency meeting to discuss the actions proposed by Operation Home Safe and request support and partnership; 3. Address jurisdictional challenges to provide for the comprehensive enforcement of general laws, ordinances and regulations, including those of the County and the Flood Control District as currently exists or may be amended or adopted; 4. Authorize the City staff to work with the county to expedite an additional 100 beds at the Bridges at Kraemer Place and direct staff to work with the County to maintain the existing arinories that are used annually for cold weather shelter; Direct the City Manager to negotiate a Letter of Understanding (LOU) with the County of Orange and neighboring cities to conduct joint enforcement of the SART, to be approved by the City Council; 6. Identify all available resources and make recommendations to implement Operation Home Safe to address public health and safety in Anaheim; 7. Request the county to provide field units staffed with social workers and care providers as well as behavioral health -receiving centers strategically located throughout the county in order to provide proper mental health services to those in need; 8. Support County efforts to create a temporary, emergency shelter to serve up to 500 people as a part of this effort; 9. Work with the County of Orange to identify available funding sources that can be directed to non-profit organizations that provide housing to homeless individuals; 10. Reach out to all local, state and federal homeless partnership programs; non-profit, for- profit, volunteer networks to establish a Community Triage Day targeting resources that will systematically address the individuals residing along the SART and utilizing the City's Emergency Operations Center as appropriate and permitted during this collaboration; 11. Educate and inform all homeless individuals currently occupying City -owned property within the City's enforcement jurisdiction, and along the SART, that i) the City's priority is to provide shelter and services to assist homeless individuals, ii) those individuals who decline to accept shelter and services and instead elect to engage in unlawful activity will have that activity addressed through the criminal justice system when and as appropriate, and iii) the City will work with the county to undertake and maintain efforts, to enforce all health and safety codes and keep these areas secure, safe and free of unlawful activity; 12. Create a tactical plan to clean and repair City -owned or controlled property that has been damaged by homeless encampments and work with the county to restore damaged property and trails in the SART along the city border; 13. Promote the City's existing S132 zones, which permit by right emergency shelters, and provide expedited building permit processing and waiving fees, to those willing to take advantage of the existing zoning area; 14. Compile and submit monthly performance reports to the City Council; 15. Allocate available resources so that funding priority is given to military veterans and individuals who have aged out of the California foster care system. BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that the City Council will work with the County of Orange to communicate its intended actions under Operation Home Safe and submit a formal request to work collaboratively on expanded services and programs to assist these efforts and to pool additional resources for homeless services, with the understanding that the health and safety impacts of the homeless population is reaching a crisis situation and must be addressed within sixty (60) days. THE FOREGOING RESOLUTION is approved and adopted by the City Council of the City of Anaheim this 12'h day of September, 2017, by the following roll call vote: AYES: Mayor Tait and Council Members Vanderbilt, Murray, Barnes, Moreno, Kring, and Faessel NOES: None ABSENT: None ABSTAIN: None CITY OF ANAHEIM BY MAYOR OF THE CITY OF ANAHEIM ATTEST: ACTING CITY CLERK OF THE CITY OF ANAHEIM CLERK'S CERTIFICATE STATE OF CALIFORNIA ) COUNTY OF ORANGE ) ss. CITY OF ANAHEIM ) I, THERESA BASS, Acting City Clerk of the City of Anaheim, do hereby certify that the foregoing is the original Resolution No.2017-140 adopted at a regular meeting provided by law, of the Anaheim City Council held on the 12th day of September, 2017 by the following vote of the members thereof: AYES: Mayor Tait and Council Members Vanderbilt, Murray, Barnes, Moreno, Kring, and Faessel NOES: None ABSTAIN: None ABSENT: None IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 13th day of September, 2017. ACTING CITY CLERK OF THE CITY OF ANAHEIM (SEAL)