TO: Mayor and City Council
THROUGH: Steve Powers, City Manager
FROM: Dan Atchison, City Attorney
SUBJECT:
title
Extending the Emergency Declaration related to unsheltered residents through June 28, 2022. (Resolution No. 2021-41)
Ward(s): All Wards
Councilor(s): All Councilors
Neighborhood(s): All Neighborhoods
Result Area(s): Good Governance; Safe Community; Welcoming and Livable Community.
end
ISSUE:
Shall City Council adopt Resolution No. 2021-41 to extend the declaration of emergency related to unsheltered residents to June 28, 2022?
RECOMMENDATION:
recommendation
Adopt Resolution No. 2021-41 to extend the declaration of emergency related to unsheltered residents to June 28, 2022.
body
SUMMARY:
Resolution No. 2021-41 extends to June 28, 2022 the declaration of emergency related to unsheltered residents to continue to allow for sheltering and managed microsite options for the unsheltered at locations approved by the City Council.
FACTS AND FINDINGS:
Resolution No. 2021-11, extended the declaration of emergency related to unsheltered residents until October 26, 2021, continued the vehicle safe park program, emergency shelters and warming centers, and authorized outdoor managed microshelter sites with specific location to be approved separately by City Council.
Resolution No. 2021-11 established basic requirements for managed camps; that they not be located in a single- family residential zone and that the manager enter into an agreement with the City for the operation of the camp. The City Manager will issue an emergency order establishing program rules and manager and use requirements, such as limits on occupancy, minimum distance to sensitive uses, and other requirements as appropriate. City Council approval will be required to expand the authorization for managed, outdoor microshelter sites at specific locations.
Church in the Park has successfully operated the outdoor managed camp at 2640 Portland Road authorized by City Council. This is the former DMV site that was acquired by the Urban Renewal Agency was successfully used by Mid-Willamette Valley Community Action Agency as an emergency shelter for up to 25 unsheltered individuals. It is currently serving guests in 20 microshelters, ten vehicles and an additional 25 persons indoors.
City Council recently authorized a second outdoor managed microshelter site at 2700 Wallace Road, NW. If the site is determined to be feasible for operations, the microshelter site will be operated by Church in the Park and provide a temporary home to approximately 60 individuals. Preference will be given to people who are female and age 55+.
Resolution No. 2021-41 will extend the emergency declaration to June 28, 2021. Staff, as part of broader Unified Development Code (UDC) amendments, has drafted code amendments to regulate the siting and operation of shelters, warming and cooling centers, and outdoor managed sites. The proposal was before the Planning Commission on October 5, 2021, which recommended approval. The amendments are tentatively scheduled to be provided to City Council at a future report as part of the November 8, 2021 Council Agenda. A future report is a method to provide advance notice to City Council of a substantive policy issue (such as a code amendment) that will be coming to Council in the future. No Council action is expected on a future report.
In order to address the need for shelter in the community it is necessary to extend the emergency declaration to allow the shelters and vehicle camping and managed microshelter sites to continue. In addition, as temperatures drop with the coming of winter, extending the emergency declaration will allow for greater efficiency in authorizing warming centers to protect residents from inclement weather.
BACKGROUND:
Salem Revised Code, Chapter 2 provide authority for the City Council to declare a state of emergency if emergency conditions exist within the City, and to authorize the City Manager to take actions to address the conditions.
Dan Atchison
City Attorney
Attachments:
1. Resolution No. 2021-41