TO: Mayor and City Council
THROUGH: Steve Powers, City Manager
FROM: Dan Atchison, City Attorney
SUBJECT:
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Extension of the Emergency Declaration
Ward(s): All Wards
Councilor(s): All Councilors
Neighborhood(s): All Neighborhoods
Result Area(s): Good Governance; Safe Community; Welcoming and Livable Community.
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ISSUE:
Shall City Council adopt Resolution No. 2020-14 to extend the declaration of emergency until August 25, 2020 to allow United Way’s Safe Sleep Women’s shelter to continue to operate at an expanded occupancy of 19 people and continue the vehicle camping pilot program?
RECOMMENDATION:
recommendation
Adopt Resolution No. 2020-14 to extend the declaration of emergency until August 25, 2020 to allow United Way’s Safe Sleep Women’s shelter to continue to operate at an expanded occupancy of 19 people and continue the vehicle camping pilot program.
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SUMMARY:
Resolution No. 2020-14 extends the declaration of emergency for approximately six months until August 25, 2020. The extension will allow United Way’s Safe Sleep Women’s shelter to continue to operate at an expanded occupancy of 19 people to allow United Way to complete their land use application for the expanded capacity, and will continue the vehicle camping pilot program, which so far has received little interest from property owners.
FACTS AND FINDINGS:
At City Council January 21, 2020 special meeting, Council adopted Resolution No. 2020-4, declaring a state of emergency related to unsheltered residents (“Declaration”). The Declaration is set to expire on April 14, 2020. Pursuant to the Declaration, the City Manager issued an order waiving land use regulations for United Way’s Safe Sleep shelter to allow the shelter to expand occupancy from 10 to 19 people. In order to exceed 10 people, the shelter was required to obtain a Conditional Use Permit. In late February, United Way submitted its application for the Conditional Use Permit. Planning staff is currently reviewing the application, which requires a public hearing before the Salem Hearings Officer. Staff hopes that the application will be reviewed by the Hearings Officer and a final decision issued by August 25, 2020.
The Declaration also authorized a vehicle camping pilot program. So far, no property owner has registered for the program. However, staff recommends continuing the program through August 25, 2020, while outreach efforts continue. Vehicle camping continues to be an issue throughout the city, and authorized and supervised locations for vehicle camping may provide a viable solution to the issue.
Resolution No. 2020-14 amends the prior resolution, and will continue the state of emergency through August 25, 2020, and directs the City Manager to extend the order issued to implement the Declaration.
BACKGROUND:
City Council declared a state of emergency related to unsheltered residents on January 21, 2020. The Declaration is set to expire on April 14, 2020. Resolution No. 2020-14 will extend the Declaration until August 25, 2020.
Dan Atchison
City Attorney
Attachments:
1. Resolution No. 2020-14