Agenda Packet 1-23-19 Work Session

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January 23, 2019, Work Session – Item 2 EUGENE CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY Work Session: Rest Stop Program Update and Siting Policy Discussion Meeting Date: January 23, 2019 Agenda Item Number: 2 Department: City Manager’s Office Contact: Jason Dedrick www.eugene-or.gov Contact Telephone Number: 541-682-5033 ISSUE STATEMENT At the work session on November 26, 2018, City Council directed staff to prepare a set of options for amending or revising the rest stop program that have the potential to expand the number of sites. This work session is an opportunity for council to discuss and potentially take action on the options staff have prepared (Attachment A). BACKGROUND The rest stop program was initiated by the City Council in September 2013 by Ordinance 20517 (Attachment B) 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 C 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. 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, by providing council-approved properties for sites, financial resources for materials and supplies, and staff support to the program. Eugene currently has four rest stops, three of which are managed by Community Supported Shelters and are located in Ward 7, with the fourth managed by Nightingale Health Sanctuary and located in Ward 2. Per council direction, City staff have engaged in efforts to increase education and outreach around the program with the goal of potentially identifying additional sites. Most importantly, staff have created an Outreach Handbook for Community Members on the Rest Stop program (Attachment D). 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. The enacting ordinance (Attachment B) specifies that any potential rest stop site that is proposed by the City Manager must be approved by City Council. Currently, the City Manager examines a series of consideration and criteria, some specified in ordinance, prior to proposing a site for consideration (Attachment E). The current process flow chart for identifying and approving potential rest stop locations is included as Attachment F.