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...
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