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 related to unsheltered residents
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. 2020-37 to extend the declaration of emergency until January 12, 2021 to continue the vehicle camping pilot program?
RECOMMENDATION:
recommendation
Adopt Resolution No. 2020-37 extending the declaration of emergency until January 12, 2021 to continue the vehicle camping pilot program.
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SUMMARY:
Resolution No. 2020-37 extends the declaration of emergency until January 12, 2021. The extension allows the continuation of the vehicle camping pilot program.
FACTS AND FINDINGS:
There are currently eight vehicle camping locations. The sites can accommodate 48 vehicles and 98 people. The locations are supported by the Salem Leadership Foundation through funding by the City.
In March of 2020, the City was contacted by D.J. Vincent. D.J. has been involved in Salem’s Neighborhood Partnership program, and through his contacts and relationship with the Salem Leadership Foundation, saw an opportunity to provide Safe Parking locations through the City’s program. On March 26, 2020, the City executed a grant to the Salem Leadership Foundation in the amount of $20,920 to provide 60 to 150 “to-go” meals per day and operate and manage eight vehicle camping sites.
The grant also provided funds for the Salem Leadership Foundation to assist in the management and operation of tent camping in Cascades Gateway and Wallace Marine Parks. The funds are providing 60 tents and sleeping bags and additional camping supports including trash and toilet services. program. That agreement expired on July 31, 2020.
On July 30, 2020, the City executed another grant agreement in the amount of $24,870 with the Salem Leadership Foundation to extend these same services for an additional three months. The current agreement expires on September 31, 2020.
The original emergency declaration authorized the City Manager to issue an Emergency Order to allow United Way’s Safe Sleep shelter to expand bed space from 10 to 19 people to allow United Way to obtain conditional use approval for the shelter. The conditional use application was denied by a Salem Hearings Officer. United Way applied for and received approval as an “emergency shelter,” pursuant to legislation passed by the Oregon Legislature during the 2020 emergency session. United Way then withdrew its application for conditional use approval. United Way is pursuing building permit approval to allow occupancy of up to 40 people at the shelter.
BACKGROUND:
At the 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 was extended through August 15, 2020 by Resolution No. 2020-14.
In January of 2020, the City developed and dispersed Safe Park information and requirements through the City’s webpage and distributed to the public via a press release. Every Neighborhood Association in Salem was notified through their chairperson and board members. The information was placed on the City of Salem Neighborhoods Facebook page, and the four existing Neighborhood Partnership Programs (Capes, Edgewater, North Neighbors (N2), and South Salem Connect) were notified.
Dan Atchison
City Attorney
Attachments:
1. Resolution No. 2020-37