10-23-17 City Council Agenda Packet

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EUGENE CITY COUNCIL A^ AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY Action: Motion to Approve Rest Stop Meeting Date: October 23, 2017 Agenda Item Number: 4 Department: City Manager's Office Contact: Regan Watjus www.eugene-orgov Contact Telephone Number: 541-682-8442 ISSUE STATEMENT This is a follow-up from the work session held on October 9, 2017. During that work session, staff updated City Council on the rest stop program and work related to a previous Council -approved motion to 1) stabilize current rest stops and 2) work with task teams in different wards in a phased approach, starting with interested neighborhoods, to find additional rest stops outside of Ward 7. Following Council discussion at that work session, Council directed the City Manager to conduct additional outreach to the immediate neighbors of a proposed new rest stop site at 34th Avenue and Hilyard Street and advertise opportunities for people to provide input regarding the proposed site, including at the City Council's next Public Forum on October 23, 2017. BACKGROUND The rest stop program was initiated by Council in September 2013 by Ordinance 20517 (Attachment A) as a pilot program. Council approved yearly extensions to the program four times before voting to remove the program's sunset date on February 27, 2017 (see Attachment B for permanent Administrative Rules and Regulations for the program). The program provides certain Council -approved sites where up to 20 individuals who are experiencing homelessness may safely and legally sleep and keep their belongings while they work to obtain more stable, permanent housing. The rest stop program provides the community with a low-cost, safe, transitional sheltering option. Managing non -profits have been responsible for the costs to establish and operate each location. The City contributes to the program through the Council enacted ordinance and by providing Council approved properties for sites and staff support to the program. See Attachment C for the 2016 annual report on program operations. Per Council directive, City staff have engaged in efforts to increase education and outreach around the program. A video created about the program has been shared on the City of Eugene's website, its Facebook page, and three times a day on Metro TV. City staff have attended numerous meetings with interested community members and neighborhood groups and are scheduled for additional meetings with neighborhood groups in the fall to discuss rest stops and the City's homelessness efforts. Finally, staff have created an Outreach Handbook for Community Members on the Rest Stop and Car Camping Programs. The handbook is an in-depth how-to guide that includes detailed program information, an outline of the process and criteria for potential site identification, and tools for conducting outreach. Hard copies of the handbook have been distributed upon request, with notices of its availability sent to community stakeholders, advocates and the Neighborhood Leaders Council, and a printable e -version is featured online at the City's rest stop webpage.