HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 08 Code Amendment - Homeless Overnight Parking Program AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY Meeting Date: 10/7/2013
Meeting Type: Regular Meeting
Staff Contact/Dept.: Kevin Ko Staff Phone No: 541-726-2302
Estimated Time: 10 Minutes
S P R I N G F I E L D C I T Y C O U N C I L Council Goals: Promote and Enhance our Hometown Feel
while Focusing on Livability and Environmental Quality ITEM TITLE: CODE AMENDMENT – HOMELESS OVERNIGHT PARKING PROGRAM
ACTION
REQUESTED:
Conduct a public hearing and adopt/not adopt the following ordinance: AN
ORDINANCE AMENDING SPRINGFIELD MUNCIPAL CODE SECTION 8.012 TO PERMIT AN INCREASE IN OVERNIGHT VEHICLE SHELTERS FROM
ONE TO THREE ON CERTAIN DESIGNATED SITES, ADOPTING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY
ISSUE
STATEMENT:
The attached ordinance would expand the Homeless Overnight Parking Program by
allowing up to three vehicles on church and industrial parking lots under the authority of the City and the supervision of St. Vincent DePaul.
ATTACHMENTS: Attachment 1: Ordinance Amending Municipal Code Section 8.012
DISCUSSION/ FINANCIAL
IMPACT:
At its June 18, 2012 regular session, the City Council adopted an ordinance to amend the Municipal Code to expand the Homeless Overnight Parking Program
(HOPP) by including industrial sites to the inventory of eligible sites.
While the changes expanded the types of sites that were eligible for the program,
the Municipal Code continues to limit the number of vehicles to one per HOPP site. Recently, the Mayor, City Manager and staff met with members of the Springfield
Shelter Rights Alliance and St. Vincent de Paul to discuss the impacts of increasing
the number of vehicles allowed on a HOPP site from one vehicle to three. It was determined that the expansion would have minimal financial impact, and grouping
vehicles may enhance the safety of the participants. It was also acknowledged that the property owner will have full control over how many vehicles will be allowed on the site. The attached ordinance includes an emergency clause to allow the
increase of vehicles on new and existing HOPP sites as soon as possible. St. Vincent De Paul will continue to serve as the City’s authorized agent for
management of the program under existing procedures for homeless overnight parking. St. Vincent De Paul and local advocates will continue to coordinate
location, compliance and funding information with Housing Program staff. The
existing budget of not to exceed $7,000 is sufficient to initiate the proposed HOPP expansion; staff will provide an update on the HOPP utilization and budget as
necessary, or at the request of Council.
ORDINANCE NO. _____ (General)
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SPRINGFIELD MUNCIPAL CODE SECTION 8.012
TO PERMIT AN INCREASE IN OVERNIGHT VEHICLE SHELTERS FROM
ONE TO THREE ON CERTAIN DESIGNATED SITES, ADOPTING A
SEVERABILITY CLAUSE AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY
WHEREAS, the Common Council of the City of Springfield finds that there is a
continuing need for overnight shelter for individuals without housing in the City of
Springfield; and
WHEREAS, the Springfield Council finds that the existing program has been
beneficial to homeless individuals, has worked well, and needs to be strengthened and
enhanced; and
WHEREAS, the City of Springfield wishes to expand its overnight shelter program
by providing for an increase in the total number of vehicles, campers or trailers on
certain designated sites from one to three.
NOW, THEREFORE, the City of Springfield ordains as follows:
Section 1: Springfield Municipal Code Section 8.012 “Approval Process for Outdoor
Overnight Shelter” is hereby amended in Section 8.012(1) to read as follows:
“8.012 Approval Process for Outdoor Overnight Shelter
(1) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this code, persons may take
overnight shelter in a vehicle, camper or trailer in the parking lot of a church or
industrial site on which a parking lot and occupied structure are located in
accordance with current code, with the written permission of the property owner
when the site is part of a supervised program operated by the city or its agent.
The number of overnight shelter vehicles, campers or trailers at any parking or
industrial site shall not exceed a total of three at any one time.”
Section 2: Except as expressly modified herein, all other terms and conditions of
Springfield Municipal Code 8.012 et seq “Approval Process for Outdoor Overnight
Shelter” shall remain in full force and effect.
Section 3: If any section, subsection, sentence, clause, phrase or portion of this Ordinance
is, for any reason, held invalid or unconstitutional by a court of competent jurisdiction, such
portion shall be deemed a separate, distinct and individual provision and such holding shall not affect the validity of the remaining portion hereof.
Section 4: It is hereby found and determined that the matters affecting the provision
of overnight shelter for individuals without housing in the City of Springfield are matters
affecting the public health, safety and welfare and that an emergency therefore exists,
and this Ordinance shall therefore take effect immediately upon its passage by the
Council and approval by the Mayor.
ADOPTED by the Council of the City of Springfield this _____ day of _______________,
2013, by a vote of _____ for and _____ against.
APPROVED by the Mayor of the City of Springfield this _____ day of _______________,
2013.
________________________________
Christine Lundberg, Mayor
ATTEST:
________________________________
Amy Sowa, City Recorder
N:\City\ORDINANC\Ordinance Amending 8.012 - 2013.docx