HomeMy WebLinkAboutE-4 Staff Report - Extending Emergency Proclamation HomelessnessExtension of Emergency Declaration on Homelessness
October 16, 2023
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CONSENT ITEM
E-4
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
VIA: SERGIO GONZALEZ, CITY MANAGER
FROM: LUCY DEMIRJIAN, SENIOR PROJECT MANAGER
DATE: OCTOBER 16, 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
October 16, 2023
Extension of Emergency Declaration on Homelessness
October 16, 2023
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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. On July 17, 2023 and August 21, 2023, the City Council
adopted resolutions extending the emergency declaration.
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended City Council:
1. Review and adopt the following Resolution No. 2023-62:
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 selected 975 W. Foothill Blvd.
for the project. A portion of the city-owned property will be developed for interim housing and
support services for the local unhoused population. Staff presented conceptual design for Council
consideration in September and received direction to move forward with community outreach,
procurement, and development of the 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
Senior Project Manager City Manager
Extension of Emergency Declaration on Homelessness
October 16, 2023
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Attachments:
1) Extending the Emergency Declaration Resolution No. 2023-C62
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RESOLUTION NO. 2023-C62
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
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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, on July 17, 2023, the City extended the local emergency declaration and
adopted Resolution No. 2023-C35 proclaiming the continued existence of a local emergency
related to the impact of the homelessness crisis; and
WHEREAS, on August 21, 2023, the City extended the local emergency declaration and
adopted Resolution No. 2023-C41 proclaiming the continued existence of a local emergency
related to the impact 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
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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:
1. The continuing local that a local emergency continues to exist throughout the City of
Azusa; and
2. 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
3. These conditions are likely to be beyond the control of the services, personnel, equipment,
and facilities of the City of Azusa; and’
4. 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 the emergency be
regularly evaluated by the City Council, by referencing actions and key performance indicators of
progress in addressing the emergency, which include but are not limited to:
1. Regulatory relief from other jurisdictions and within Los Angeles County agencies to
create flexibility to address the crisis; and
2. Enactment of emergency procurement protocol to enable expedited retention of
vendors/contractors and acquisition of supplies and services for the provision of services,
shelter, and housing to protect persons at-risk and experiencing homelessness from life
threatening harm; and
3. Coordination with the County of Los Angeles, Caltrans, San Gabriel Valley Cities, and
other jurisdictions to address homeless encampments at our shared borders; and
4. Advocacy to regional, state and federal legislative representatives and agencies, including
but not limited to the San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments, County of Los Angeles,
LAHSA, the California Housing and Community Development Department, the California
Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, the California Department of Social Services,
the California Health and Human Services Agency, the U.S. Department of Housing and
Urban Development, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and the Federal
Emergency Management Agency, to directly allocate resources to the City of Azusa to
support increased outreach and case management services, emergency response assistance,
production of interim and permanent supportive housing.
IT IS HEREBY FURTHER PROCLAIMED AND ORDERED that during the
continued threatened existence and actual existence of the local emergency, the powers,
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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 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 16th day of October, 2023.
Robert Gonzales
Mayor
ATTEST:
Jeffrey Lawrence Cornejo, Jr.
City Clerk
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STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES ) ss.
CITY OF AZUSA )
I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing Resolution No. 2023-C62 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