HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 12 Code Amendment - Homeless Overnight Parking Program AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY Meeting Date: 6/18/2012
Meeting Type: Regular Meeting
Staff Contact/Dept.: Jim Donovan
Staff Phone No: 541-726-3660
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 THE TITLE SECTIONS OF 8.000 THROUGH 8.016
OF THE SPRINGFIELD MUNICIPAL CODE AND SECTIONS 8.000, 8.005,
8.010(5), 8.012(1) & (6) AND 8.015 OF THE SPRINGFIELD MUNICIPAL
CODE TO EXPAND TEMPORARY OVERNIGHT SHELTER TO INCLUDE
HOMELESS OVERNIGHT PARKING ON INDUSTRIAL SITE PROPERTIES
AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY.
ISSUE
STATEMENT:
The attached ordinance would allow overnight parking in industrial parking lots
under the authority of the City and the supervision of the St. Vincent DePaul
Overnight Parking Program.
ATTACHMENTS: Attachment 1: Council Briefing Memorandum
Attachment 2: Ordinance Amending Municipal Code Section 8.000-8.016
DISCUSSION/
FINANCIAL
IMPACT:
At its April 2, 2012 Work Session the City Council directed staff to prepare an
ordinance that, if adopted, would amend the existing homeless overnight parking
program to include certain industrial sites and expand services to couples and
individuals. Pursuant to that direction, the attached ordinance includes the
following features:
1) Adds industrial sites to the inventory of eligible sites,
2) Defines developed Light-Medium and Heavy Industrial properties, and
3) Clarifies and precludes any expectation that the homeless served are
providing security or night watchmen services as defined in statute.
The attached ordinance includes an emergency clause to allow the extension of
services to the existing population on new 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.
Programmatic changes will include the extension of services to homeless families,
couples and individuals. The existing budget of not to exceed $7000 is sufficient to
initiate the proposed expansion; staff will provide an update on the program and
budget in approximately six months, prior to the Council’s holiday recess.
M E M O R A N D U M City of Springfield
Date: 6/11/2012
COUNCIL
BRIEFING
MEMORANDUM
To: Gino Grimaldi
From: Len Goodwin
Jim Donovan
Subject: CODE AMENDMENT – HOMELESS
OVERNIGHT PARKING PROGRAM
ISSUE: The attached ordinance would allow overnight parking in industrial parking lots under
the authority of the City and the supervision of the St. Vincent DePaul Overnight Parking
Program
COUNCIL GOALS/
MANDATE:
Preserve Hometown Feel, Livability, and Environmental Quality
BACKGROUND: This staff report is intended to inform and discuss an amendment to
Springfield’s Overnight Homeless Parking Program proposed by the Springfield Shelter Rights
Alliance (“SSRA”). The format presents the key concepts of the new proposal, outlines staff’s
support for certain aspects of the proposal and provides options for Council direction on the
preparation of more detailed information, public hearing schedules and an ordinance codifying
changes to the program.
At its July 20, 2009 Regular Session the City Council adopted Ordinance 6244 allowing
overnight parking for homeless families with children in certain church parking lots under the
authority of the City and the supervision of the St. Vincent DePaul Overnight Parking Program.
In July 2010 the sunset clause was removed and the program was extended until such time as
Council directs otherwise. Funding has remained adequate on relatively light use of the program
by homeless families with children. To date, Springfield’s Homeless Overnight Parking Program
has provided shelter opportunities to Springfield families under the supervision of the St. Vincent
DePaul First Place Family program without complication or incident since its inception.
CURRENT PROPOSAL
The implementation experience indicates that in addition to families with children, there is an
ongoing need to shelter homeless singles and couples. SSRA now proposes that the Council
extend the program to serve these additional segments of Springfield’s homeless population by:
1) Permitting camping by homeless singles and couples through a referral and monitoring
system similar to the current program, and,
2) Extending overnight parking to other sites in addition to participating church properties.
Staff concur that these additional needs as described by SSRA exist, support the concept of
expansion.
SSRA advises there continues to be a growing number of homeless Springfield singles and
couples as the full impact of the economic depression and mortgage crisis come to fruition. In
order to extend and manage services to this demographic in a manner similar to the existing
family program, SSRA proposes the following features:
Attachment 1-1
• Referral process through other established Springfield service providers to maintain a
reliable connection with Springfield residents.
• Application and permitting procedures through established SVDP procedures.
• Permits are valid for 30 days with the possibility of renewal, 90 days maximum.
• Monitoring of sites and first response by SVDP similar to the family program.
• Providing priority service for military veterans.
Similar features are in place and being successfully implemented by SVDP as part of a larger
program in Eugene. The existing SVDP staff and local service providers can extend the same
services to Springfield residents using the referral form included as Exhibit A. The referral form
will be filled out by Springfield service providers to demonstrate an applicant’s Springfield
connection. Due to limited funding and locations, residents with Springfield ties and military
veterans will receive priority placement in the program.
The costs of providing services to an expanded program remain at approximately $1000 per
year, per site, assuming continuous use and including sanitary facilities, trash pick up and some
start up costs.
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Staff recommends that the program be implemented with the
process and procedures for singles and couples suggested by SSRA. Staff can prepare more
detailed information on the referral, screening, permitting and monitoring features of the existing
program and any changes necessary to serve the expansion during adoption procedures. The
existing budget can be maintained or increased to cover the expansion of services.
Attachment 1-2
Exhibit A-1
Attachment 1-3
Attachment 2-1
Attachment 2-2
Attachment 2-3