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HomeMy WebLinkAbout85A - HOMELESSNESSCITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION NO. A RESOLUTION OF THE SANTA ANA CITY COUNCIL DECLARING A PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY CRISIS RELATED TO THE HOMELESS AND URGING THE COUNTY OF ORANGE TO TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION TO PROVIDE SERVICES TO THE HOMELESS AT THE SANTA ANA BUS TERMINAL WHICH THE COUNTY OF ORANGE OWNS AND CONTROLS WHEREAS, homelessness is one of the most pervasive challenges facing cities throughout California; and WHEREAS, the majority of homeless in Orange County primarily congregate in the Civic Center area of Orange County, although there are many throughout the County; and WHEREAS, the County of Orange and the City of Santa Ana have formed a Joint Powers Authority to administer the operations of property within the Civic Center area and the County of Orange has made commitments to address the homeless; and WHEREAS, in 2008 the County of Orange adopted a ten -year action plan to end homeless, and yet the homeless population has significantly increased in the County since 2008; and WHEREAS, since 1996, the County of Orange has received more than $150 million in Homeless Assistance Funding; and WHEREAS, cities throughout Orange County have received millions of dollars to support programs assisting homeless families; and WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Santa Ana voted to encourage the County of Orange to provide homeless services at the Santa Ana Bus Terminal which was then owned by the Orange County Transportation Authority in an effort to move the homeless population from the Civic Center area where business is conducted at government offices and the court building; and WHEREAS, the County of Orange purchased the Bus Terminal from the Orange County Transportation Authority several months ago; and WHEREAS, the County of Orange has not announced any specific plans to provide services at that location as previously requested by the City of Santa Ana; and WHEREAS, City and County employees have raised concerns about their health and safety in the Civic Center area; and WHEREAS, the City of Santa Ana provides for seven full -time police officers to patrol the Civic Center area; and 85A -1 City Council Resolution No. _ Page 2 WHEREAS, the City of Santa Ana provides numerous security guards to patrol the Civic Center area; and WHEREAS, the City of Santa Ana has instituted a regular cleaning schedule to power wash the concrete areas in the Civic Center area; and WHEREAS, since January 1, 2016 the Santa Ana Police Department has issued over 400 citations for violations of laws in the Civic Center area; and WHEREAS, the City of Santa Ana Police Department operates a HEART Program to serve the needs of homeless individuals and families in the Civic Center area; and WHEREAS, by law the County of Orange is provided with funding to deliver specific social services to the homeless population; NOW, THEREFORE, the Santa Ana City Council does hereby resolve as follows: Section 1. The challenge of confronting homelessness requires the active engagement and leadership of all levels of government, including all 34 Orange County Cities, and especially the County of Orange. Section 2. The City Council hereby directs City Manager Cavazos to immediately 1) contact representatives from each of the County's 33 cities to convene a meeting to discuss the homeless situation and 2) prepare a budget and make recommendations to implement all of the following to address public health and safety in the Civic Center area: - Provide Santa Ana employee parking at the parking structure adjacent to the City library or the parking structure adjacent to City Hall. -Work diligently with the state and county to relocate the needle exchange program from the Civic Center area. - Install improved safety lighting in the Civic Center area. -Work with the County to identify a better location for non - profits and organizations to feed the homeless, such as the Bus Terminal. - Increase the number of security guards patrolling the Civic Center area such that they are available to members of the public and employees to answer questions or escort individuals through the Civic Center. - Continue to power wash the Civic Center area on a regular basis. - Install a kiosk and provide for staffing to offer directions and information to the public. - Increase the presence of Santa Ana Police Officers in the Civic Center area by up to an additional 560 hours and ensure patrols on a 24/7 basis. - Provide additional staffing for departments charged with enforcing code violations or prosecuting crimes committed in the Civic Center area. 85A -2 City Council Resolution No. Page 2 Section 3. The City Council requests that the County of Orange communicate, on or before September 9, 2016, to the City Council of Santa Ana its plan to open the Transit Terminal 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 30 days. Section 4. The City Council directs the Clerk of the Council to address the letter attached here to as Exhibit A to each City in the County of Orange encouraging each City to adopt a Resolution or submit a letter to the County of Orange encouraging action by the County of Orange. Section 5. This Resolution shall take effect immediately upon its adoption. Section 6. The Mayor shall sign this Resolution, and the City Clerk shall attest and certify to the passage and adoption thereof. PASSED, APPROVED, AND ADOPTED this _ day of 2016. ATTEST: Clerk of the Council APPROVED AS TO FORM: City Attorney 85A -3 Mayor [TO BE PLACED ON CITY LETTERHEAD] Mayor City of [ADDRESS] Re: Request for Support for Homeless Services by the County of Orange Dear Mayor As the Mayor and Council Members of the City of Santa Ana we are writing to seek your assistance and support in encouraging the County of Orange to make a commitment to implement its 2008 action plan to address homelessness. In particular, the County of Orange must begin to offer services to the homeless at the Bus Terminal that it recently purchased. We are all aware that homelessness is one of the most pervasive issues facing our State and particularly our cities in high property -value areas. According to the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, there were 115,738 homeless people in California in 2015, by far the most of any state in the nation. On any given night there are more than 400 individuals that sleep within the Civic Center of Orange County. On the of City of Santa Ana Council voted to encourage the County of Orange to provide services to the homeless at the Bus Terminal in Santa Ana. Several months ago the County of Orange finally purchased the Bus Terminal that was previously owned by the Orange County Transportation Authority. Yet, to date the County has not announced any plans as to how it intends to use the Bus Terminal. We are writing to ask you and all the other mayors and city council members of each Orange County city to join us in encouraging the County of Orange to take action. You can adopt a Resolution similar to the one enclosed which we adopted on September 6, 2016 or you can write your own letter of support. The homeless effect all of our communities and we must all join together to encourage action to address this problem. If you have any questions, please contact or any of us by email or by phone at Thank you, Santa Ana Mayor and City Council Members [PROVIDE SIGNATURE LINES FOR MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS] PTUM