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HomeMy WebLinkAboutE-13 Staff Report - Extending Emergency Proclamation HomelessnessExtension of Emergency Declaration on Homelessness July 17, 2023 Page 1 CONSENT ITEM E-13 TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL VIA: SERGIO GONZALEZ, CITY MANAGER FROM: LUCY DEMIRJIAN, PROJECT MANAGER DATE: JULY 17, 2023 SUBJECT: A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF AZUSA EXTENDING THE PROCLAMATION OF LOCAL EMERGENCY CAUSED BY THE HOMELESS CRISIS BACKGROUND: The City of Azusa has experienced an exponential increase in homeless population and recognizes, if not addressed, there exists an imminent and proximate threat to the safety of persons and property within the City. Since the opening of the Gold Line in 2016, and Metro’s end of line policy, the number of individuals experiencing homelessness have significantly increased, as evidenced by the annual point in time count conducted by the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority. In addition to the rising rates of homelessness, rental rates are climbing, and the City is experiencing a shortage of affordable housing. Also, the statewide emergency declaration for COVID-19, which provided monetary relief and housing protections to help residents from falling into homelessness, have ended. Homelessness has various local impacts on a community which extend beyond the individual. From safety and security concerns; to impacts on local small businesses and the overall attractiveness of the downtown; to upkeep of community assets such as parks, plazas and City facilities; to impacts on emergency calls for service and current staffing levels – addressing these issues reactively continues to be a costly endeavor for all cities. The City has dedicated significant resources to curb the impacts of the homelessness crisis and continues to invest in innovative strategies. Despite the efforts of city departments who provide outreach and resources alongside regional partners, the situation persists and requires additional action. Approved City Council July 17, 2023 Extension of Emergency Declaration on Homelessness July 17, 2023 Page 2 As part of a comprehensive response to the housing and homelessness crisis, a number of cities have declared a local emergency, enabling officials to take necessary actions to respond to and mitigate the emergency. On June 5, 2023, in accordance with Article II of the Azusa Municipal Code, the City Council adopted a resolution proclaiming the existence or threatened existence of a local emergency due to the impacts of the homeless crisis. RECOMMENDATION: It is recommended City Council: 1) Review and adopt the following Resolution No. 2023-C35: A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF AZUSA EXTENDING THE PROCLAMATION OF LOCAL EMERGENCY CAUSED BY THE HOMELESS CRISIS ANALYSIS: The emergency declaration allows the City to take necessary action in response to impacts of the escalating homelessness crisis. The declaration provides greater ability to align resources, including hiring or contracting specialized roles, and creating cross-departmental teams for a coordinated response. It also provides the ability to expeditiously procure needed services, material and labor, and allows for flexibility with the local zoning code and streamlining of the zoning approval process. The City has demonstrated a real commitment to addressing homelessness with social service programs and regional partnerships aimed at providing resources and housing for the most vulnerable. Since declaring the emergency, the City Council has reviewed city-owned properties for their suitability for a local interim housing project. In accordance with California Government Code, Section 8630(c), the emergency declaration requires the City Council to review the need for continuing the local emergency at least every 60 days until the City Council terminates the local emergenc y. FISCAL IMPACT: There is no fiscal impact to declaring a state of emergency. Prepared By: Reviewed and Approved: Lucy Demirjian Sergio Gonzalez Project Manager City Manager Attachments: 1) Extending the Emergency Declaration Resolution No. 2023-C35 1 RESOLUTION NO. 2023-C35 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF AZUSA EXTENDING THE EXISTENCE OF A LOCAL EMERGENCY RELATING TO HOMELESSNESS IN THE CITY OF AZUSA WHEREAS, California Government Code 8630, et seq., and Chapter 26 of Section 26-4 of the Azusa Municipal Code provide that the Azusa City Council (City Council) may proclaim local emergencies; and, WHEREAS, the City Council has been requested by the Director of Emergency Services to proclaim the existence of a local emergency related to the number of persons experiencing homelessness in the City of Azusa; and, WHEREAS, in conjunction with the State’s directives to combat homelessness and address the housing crisis, the City of Azusa (“City”) has designated significant resources to address homelessness in the City, but the threat to life and property remains at stake beyond the control of the services, personnel, equipment, and facilities of this City, requiring the combined forces of other political subdivisions to combat this crisis; and WHEREAS, the number of individuals experiencing homelessness in the City has drastically increased over the last decade. WHEREAS, the City’s annual point-in-time homeless count conducted through the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA) shows significant increase in the homeless population since the Metro L Line stations in Azusa (Azusa Downtown and APU/Citrus) were put into service in 2016; and WHEREAS, all City Departments have encountered or experienced a rise in concerns related to people experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness, seeking services in or around the Azusa community; and WHEREAS, the Azusa Police Department has experienced an increase in calls related to the growing homeless population in both commercial and residential areas of the City, including violent crimes, theft, trespassing, and property damage; and WHEREAS, the Code Enforcement Division has reported an increase in homeless related calls for service including encampments, abandoned belongings, encroachment on property or public right of way; and WHEREAS, the City has dedicated significant resources and funding toward safety and security measures, including security monitoring cameras and uniformed unarmed security services in public facilities and parks; and Attachment 1 2 WHEREAS, the City’s economic vitality is further challenged as local small businesses are directly impacted by the crisis and the commercial corridor struggles to attract new businesses’ and WHEREAS, the City desires to reduce risk of damage to facilities and infrastructure critical to the functions and operation of the City including emergency response; and WHEREAS, notwithstanding the City’s continued commitment to addressing the homeless crisis, including dedication of funding from the American Rescue Plan Act, implementation of a Homeless Action Plan, and investments into homelessness solutions, programs, and initiatives, an emergency declaration is necessary to mobilize resources, faster and with urgency, for the public health, welfare, and safety of all; and WHEREAS, the City’s ability to mobilize local resources, coordinate interagency response, accelerate procurement of housing units, use mutual aid, and seek assistance and potential reimbursement by the State and Federal governments will be critical to successfully responding to this homelessness crisis; and WHEREAS, on June 5, 2023, the City declared a local emergency and adopted Resolution No. 2023-C27 proclaiming the existence of a local emergency related to the impacts of the homelessness crisis; and WHEREAS, Government Code section 8630(c) requires the governing body to review the need for continuing the local emergency at least every 60 days until the governing body terminates the local emergency; WHEREAS, the City Council does hereby find the following: 1. That the above recitals are true and correct and based thereon, hereby finds that the sustained increase in the homeless population continues to pose an imminent and proximate threat to the safety of persons and property within the City of Azusa; and 2. That these conditions are likely to be beyond the control of the services, personnel, equipment, and facilities of the City of Azusa; and 3. That these conditions of extreme peril warrant and necessitate the extension of the proclamation of the existence of a local emergency. NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY PROCLAIMED that a local emergency continues to exists throughout the City of Azusa in accordance with the proclamation adopted by the City Council on June 5, 2023 (Resolution No. 2023-C27). IT IS FURTHER HEREBY PROCLAIMED AND ORDERED that: 3 1.That the above recitals are true and correct and based thereon, hereby finds that the homeless crisis, exasperated by lack of affordable housing and other socio-economic conditions, impairs the public health safety within the City of Azusa and constitutes conditions of extreme peril to the safety of persons and property within the City of Azusa; and 2.That these conditions are likely to be beyond the control of the services, personnel, equipment, and facilities of the City of Azusa; and 3.That the conditions of extreme peril warrant and necessitate the extension of the proclamation of the existence of a local emergency. IT IS FURTHER HEREBY PROCLAIMED AND ORDERED that a local emergency continues to exists throughout the City of Azusa; and IT IS HEREBY FURTHER PROCLAIMED AND ORDERED that during the continued threatened existence and actual existence of the local emergency, the powers, functions and duties of the Director of Emergency Services and the emergency organization of the City shall be those prescribed by state law, by ordinances and resolutions of the City and approved by the City Council. IT IS FURTHER PROCLAIMED AND ORDERED that a copy of this Resolution be forwarded to the Los Angeles County Office of Emergency Management, to be forwarded to the Director of California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, requesting that the Director find it acceptable in accordance with State law; and that the Governor issue a proclamation declaring an emergency in Los Angeles County; that the Governor waive regulations that may hinder response and recovery efforts; that recovery assistance be made available under the California Disaster Assistance Act; and that the State expedite access to State and Federal resources and any other appropriate federal disaster relief programs; and IT IS FURTHER PROCLAIMED AND ORDERED that said local emergency shall be deemed to continue to exist until its termination is proclaimed by the City Council of the City of Azusa, State of California. PASSED, APPROVED and ADOPTED this 17th day of July, 2023. Robert Gonzales Mayor 4 ATTEST: Jeffrey Lawrence Cornejo, Jr. City Clerk 5 STATE OF CALIFORNIA ) COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES ) ss. CITY OF AZUSA ) I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing Resolution No. 2023-C35 was duly adopted by the City Council of the City of Azusa, at a meeting thereof held on the 17th day of July 2023, by the following vote of the Council: AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS: NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS: ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: Jeffrey Lawrence Cornejo, Jr. City Clerk APPROVED AS TO FORM: Marco A. Martinez City Attorney Best Best & Krieger LLP