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HomeMy WebLinkAboutRest Stop PresentationRest Stop Program Update Eugene City Council Work Session January 23, 2019 Program Overview •Established by ordinance in 2013 •Designated sleeping sites for up to 20 individuals (no day use) •City provides approved properties and framework to support program •City also provides limited funding •Non-profit entities operate and manage •Community Supported Shelters (CSS) •Nightingale Hosted Shelters (NHS) Current Rest Stops •Garfield and Roosevelt (CSS) (2013) (Ward 7) •20 people •NW Express. & Chambers (CSS) (2013) (Ward 7) •20 people •Eugene Mission (CSS) (2015) (Ward 7) •20 people (veterans) •34th & Hilyard (NHS) (2017) (Ward 2) •12 people (approved for 20) Rest Stop Siting Efforts •Staff have examined potential sites several times •Creation of Outreach Handbook •Video on website •Presentations to Neighborhood Associations •Limitations •Sites •Operator capacity Criteria -Schools Proximity to Schools (ordinance) •Sites should not be located “close to a school” •Rest stops near schools could be designated for families •Regardless of the criteria, staff will always conduct outreach with school officials for sites near schools •This criteria has not been a significantly limiting factor to date •Remove this criteria •Amend the criteria to specify that sites near schools are designated for families •Retain this criteria Criteria Considerations Options Criteria -Transit Proximity to Transit (program) •Sites should be in proximity to transit •This criteria has not been a significantly limiting factor to date •Remove this criteria •Retain this criteria Criteria Considerations Options Criteria -Residential Proximity to Residential (ordinance) •Sites may not be located “in a residential area” •Very few complaints from neighbors near existing sites have been received •No increases in criminal activity associated with any rest stops have been documented •Regardless of the criteria, staff will always conduct outreach with residents in surrounding areas •This criteria has been a moderately limiting factor •Remove this criteria •Retain this criteria Criteria Considerations Options Criteria –Site Characteristics Site Characteristics (program) •Sites ideally will be flat, well drained and have good access for servicing and emergency personnel •Much of Eugene is flat and finding sites with good access has not been an issue •Several sites have been removed from consideration due to wetland issues •This criteria has been a moderately limiting factor, but there are no Council options that would have an impact •Remove this criteria •Retain this criteria Criteria Considerations Options Criteria –Council Approval Council Approval (ordinance) •Sites require City Council approval •The process to locate, review and conduct outreach on sites would be unchanged regardless of changes to this criteria •This criteria has not been a significantly limiting factor to date •Amend this criteria to specify that the City Manager approve sites •Retain this criteria Criteria Considerations Options Criteria –Operating Provisions Operating Provisions (ordinance) •All sites require operators who must adhere to contractual obligations regarding how the sites are operated •There likely is a finite amount of capacity in the community for operators of additional sites •This criteria has not been a significantly limiting factor to date •Remove this criteria •Amend this criteria •Retain this criteria Criteria Considerations Options Criteria –Ownership Ownership (program) •While there are no criteria regarding ownership, staff efforts to date have focused on publically owned properties in order to expedite site designation •Staff efforts could be expanded to include private properties, however this could impact staffing for other homeless services •This approach has been a moderately limiting factor •Provide policy guidance Criteria Considerations Options Criteria –Funding Funding Assistance to Operators (ordinance) •Current ordinance provisions state that the operator will provide “at no cost to the City, adequate garbage, toilets and supervision” •Community Safety bridge funding has been allocated to rest stops •Ordinance language could be amended or removed, giving staff more discretion on the use of bridge funding •This language has been a moderately limiting factor •Retain this criteria •Amend this criteria to remove specificity Criteria Considerations Options Questions & Discussion Program History •Established by ordinance in 2013 •Administrative order in 2013 for operational rules and regulations •Increased from 15 to 20 person capacity in 2014 •Extend sunset date in 2014, 2015, 2016 •Sunset date removed in 2017 and rules and regulations made permanent Rest Stop Statistics •Have accommodated over 450 people •Appx. 70% are from Lane County •Nearly 40% exit to permanent housing Rest Stop Siting Criteria •Proximity to schools and residential areas must be considered •Sites should be in proximity to transit •Site conditions must be relatively flat with a suitable surface (mobility) •Easy access for servicing restrooms; emergency personnel •Surrounding area outreach •All sites must be approved by City Council