Title
Public Hearing to Consider an Ordinance Declaring a Continuing State of a Public Health Emergency Related to Houselessness - First and Final Reading
Recommended Action
Committee Recommendation:
Not referred to a committee.
City Manager Recommendation:
Conduct a public hearing and move to approve the ordinance declaring a continuing state of public health emergency relating to human health and environmental conditions caused by increasing houselessness.
Report
Issue:
Whether to conduct a public hearing and approve an ordinance declaring a continuing state of public health emergency relating to increasing houselessness.
Staff Contact:
Rich Hoey, Assistant City Manager, 360.753.8227
Darian Lightfoot, Director of Housing and Homeless Response, 360.280.8951
Presenter(s):
Rich Hoey, Assistant City Manager
Darian Lightfoot, Director of Housing and Homeless Response
Background and Analysis:
Houselessness is an issue of urgent public concern facing Olympia and the region. On June 14, 2018, the Thurston County Board of Health declared houselessness a public health crisis in Thurston County.
The City Council passed and adopted Ordinance No. 7146 on July 17, 2018, declaring a public health emergency related to houselessness (the Ordinance). The Ordinance requires review of the conditions that gave rise to the public health emergency by the City Council every six months to determine if those conditions continue to warrant keeping the Ordinance measures in place. The Council previously extended the Ordinance until the sunset date of December 19, 2024.
After considering public testimony and reviewing the conditions that gave rise to this public health emergency, the City Council found that the conditions still existed and passed and adopted ordinances declaring a continuing state of public health emergency relating to houselessness as follows:
• Ordinance No. 7179 - December 18, 2018
• Ordinance No. 7192 - May 7, 2019
• Ordinance No. 7207 - November 12, 2019
After considering public testimony and finding that the emergency relating to houselessness was continuing and increasing in the City of Olympia and was further compounded and exacerbated by the special dangers posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the City Council passed and adopted the following ordinances declaring a continuing state of public health emergency relating to houselessness:
• Ordinance No. 7243 - May 5, 2020
• Ordinance No. 7256 - November 2, 2020
• Ordinance No. 7277 - May 4, 2021
• Ordinance No. 7295 - November 1, 2021
• Ordinance No. 7319 - April 25, 2022
• Ordinance No. 7341 - October 25, 2022
The City has been in the process of identifying and implementing solutions-based actions to address this increasingly challenging issue since first declaring a public health emergency. However, conditions necessitating a public health emergency continue to exist in the City, including but not limited to, increasing number of people becoming homeless and living outside, threats of communicable diseases from unsanitary conditions, environmental degradation from human waste and garbage, shortened lifespan due to increased survival stress and lack of needed medical attention.
The above circumstances are and continue to present significant public health and safety issues for the entire community and necessitate urgent further actions to mitigate the conditions giving rise to this threat to public health and safety.
Declaring a state of continuing public health emergency provides a factual basis for the City’s present and existing public health emergency and references statutory authority that allows the City more flexibility to act quickly in response to houselessness. Under the Ordinance, the City may, for example, obligate funds, enter into contracts, or site facilities outside of normal time-consuming procedures.
This ordinance declaring a continuing public health emergency, if adopted after the public hearing, shall take effect immediately upon unanimous adoption, and the emergency will be in effect through October 25, 2023. Six months after adoption of this continuing public health emergency ordinance, the City Council will review the conditions that gave rise to this public health emergency to determine if the Ordinance should be extended or amended to permit another six-month extension period.
Neighborhood/Community Interests:
Houselessness and its impacts affect the entire City.
Climate Analysis:
The housing and homeless response program is partnering very closely with the climate program on upcoming projects. The newly integrated programs include weatherization, efficiency incentives, and supporting electrifying at all new development. New facilities, such as the creation of the new day center on Martin Way, can result in a modest increase in greenhouse gases but will offer residents a centralized spot for do laundry, dispose of trash, use hygiene facilities, etc. At all the City’s supported encampments there are porta-potties and handwashing stations to offer hygiene services. There are also dumpsters with regular tipping to help direct trash into the waste management system.
Equity Analysis:
The Point in Time Count, operated by Thurston County annually, shows that homelessness is increasing in our community. Marginalized residents within the unhoused population are overrepresented and are experiencing the health impact of this crisis at a larger rate. Remaining in the emergency status will allow the city to remain nimble and adaptive to the current needs of the community while acting quickly to support vulnerable residents in crisis.
Financial Impact:
The City has invested substantial funding in response to the houselessness emergency, including investment in homeless response outreach, garbage and sanitation at encampment sites, shelter housing, affordable housing through the Home Fund, and more. This continuation of the emergency declaration allows for the City to be nimble and efficient in applying its funding where most needed.
Options:
1. Conduct a public hearing and move to approve the ordinance declaring a continuing state of public health emergency relating to human health and environmental conditions caused by increasing houselessness.
2. Conduct a public hearing, move to declare the public emergency relating to human health and environmental conditions caused by increasing houselessness no longer exists, and direct staff to prepare an ordinance repealing Ordinance No. 7146.
3. Take another action.
Attachments:
Ordinance