HomeMy WebLinkAbout04/07/2020 06D Emergency Cold Weather Shelters Date Extension 1
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BUSINESS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
YAKIMA, WASHINGTON
AGENDA STATEMENT
Item No. 6.D.
For Meeting of: April 7, 2020
ITEM TITLE: Resolution extending the date of the temporary emergency cold
weather shelters to accommodate temporary homeless shelters
during stay home orders issued by the Yakima Health District and
the Governor
SUBMITTED BY: Sara Watkins, Senior Assistant City Attorney
Joan Davenport, Community Development Director
Glenn Denman, Code Administration Manager
SUMMARY EXPLANATION:
Under Resolution R-2019-094, the City allowed temporary homeless shelters during the winter
season. This Resolution would extend the terms and conditions of that resolution to allow
emergency temporary homeless shelters through the end of the Stay Home Orders issued by
the Yakima Health District and the Governor
ITEM BUDGETED: NA
STRATEGIC PRIORITY: NA
APPROVED FOR SUBMITTAL BY THE CITY MANAGER
RECOMMENDATION:
Adopt Resolution
ATTACHMENTS:
Description Upload Date Type
❑ Resolution Authorizing Extension of Emergency Shelter 3/25/2020 Resolution
for Rod's House,2020
Request From Rod's House to Extend Shelter 3/25/2020 Backup Material
Letter Extending Rod's House COld Weather Shelter, 3/25/2020 Backup Material
2020
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RESOLUTION NO. R-2020-
A RESOLUTION extending the date of the temporary emergency cold weather shelters to
accommodate shelters while the City of Yakima and State of Washington
are under stay home orders from the Yakima Health District and
Washington State Governor's Office.
WHEREAS, the City Council previously authorized temporary emergency homeless
shelters during the cold weather periods under Resolution No. R-2019-094; and
WHEREAS, the City of Yakima City Council ratified the Mayor's emergency declaration
on March 13, 2020, the Yakima Health District issued a Stay at Home Order on March 22, 2020,
and Governor Jay Inslee issued a Stay Home, Stay Healthy Order on March 23, 2020 to
address the ongoing coronavirus pandemic; and
WHEREAS, the City of Yakima, in conjunction with religious organizations, non-profit
service providers, and Yakima Valley Conference of Governments, is aware that there is within
the City of Yakima a population of homeless persons who may require temporary emergency
shelter during this time; and
WHEREAS, owners of various buildings, which may include churches or buildings
owned or controlled by religious organizations, located within the City of Yakima have indicated
that they are willing and able to provide temporary emergency shelter; and
WHEREAS, the City of Yakima currently has no municipal code provisions, whether
under the zoning, buildings, fire or other codes, expressly allowing, authorizing, or regulating the
use of such buildings as temporary emergency shelters; and
WHEREAS, RCW 35.21.915 may apply to emergency winter shelters if owned or
controlled by a religious organization; and
WHEREAS, the City of Yakima Department of Community Development has
endeavored to create interim policy guidelines to address and regulate temporary emergency
shelters and health and safety issues that may arise in their operation; and
WHEREAS, at the time of this Resolution, Rod's House seeks to house youth
experiencing homelessness at Dad's Church, which has been identified and confirmed as a
building where temporary homeless shelter facilities may be located by City staff; and
WHEREAS, the Yakima City Council finds and determines that it is in the public interest,
and the best interest of the City and its residents, to adopt the resolution and policy guidelines
set forth herein; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF YAKIMA:
The temporary period for emergency shelter authorized under Resolution R-2019-094
shall be extended. Temporary emergency shelters may operate until either the Yakima
Health District Stay Home Order is lifted, or when Governor Inslee's Stay Home, Stay
Health Order is lifted, whichever is later.
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All other provisions of R-2019-094 shall remain in effect during the extended period.
ADOPTED BY THE CITY COUNCIL this 7th day of April, 2020.
Patricia Byers, Mayor
ATTEST:
Sonya Claar Tee, City Clerk
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ROD'S
HOUSE
Rod's House COVID-ig Shelter
Response to the Yakima Health District and State of Washington Stay-at-Home Order
When you don't have a home, how do you shelter in place?Where do you wash your hands?
Distance yourself from others?Disinfect your living space? If you're a young person experiencing
homelessness, do you feel comfortable accessing services at congregate settings with much older
adults? The COVID-ig pandemic is an unprecedented event for our organization,community,state,
country,and world. Like any disaster there is ample fear, lack of communication,and uncertainty for
the future,We are not going to solve all the big problems, but we can help solve problems for the
young people in our community.
The Rod's House Young Adult Extreme Winter Weather Shelter(YAEWWS) at Englewood Christian
Church was scheduled to end on March 31,2020: however, because of the Yakima Health District and
State of Washington declaring Stay-At-Home Orders Rod's House is standing up a new 24/7 shelter
to provide a safe location for young people without homes to shelter in place.
Operations Plan
24/7 location for young people experiencing homelessness to help them comply with the stay-at-
home order.The facility will allow for adequate social distancing and will help the community reduce
the transmission of COVID-1g.The facility does not have a kitchen so there will be no on-site cooking
beyond a microwave.
Location: Dad's House Church 515 N 5th Ave Yakima,WA 98902
Hours and Duration:24 hours/day while stay-at-home order is active.When notice of stay-at-home
order is lifted,the shelter residents will transition and close.
Staff:At Least 2 staff on site any time clients are present.Staff will function as facility monitors and will
provide direct service to clients.Additionally, staff will monitor for health issues and will ensure safety
protocols are followed.
Client Capacity:16
204 S Naches Ave Yakima,WA 98901 (509) 895-2665 officecwrodshouse.org rodshousd.org
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/1 1 111' `I% OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER
129 North Second Street
City Hall,Yakima Washington 98901
Phone(509)575-6040
arch 25, 2020
Mr. Josh Jackson
Executive Director, Rod's House
204 South Naches Avenue
Yakima, WA 98901
And Via Email: joshua@rodshouse.org
Re: Extension of R-2019-094—temporary homeless shelters
Dear Josh:
The City received your request to extend the extreme winter weather temporary homeless
shelter for Rod's House to accommodate the emergency that the community, and the world, is
experiencing with coronavirus. In addition to the declaration of a state of emergency issued by
the Mayor and ratified by the City Council on March 13, 2020, both the Yakima Health District
and the Washington State Governor have issued stay home orders indicating that people should
stay home to avoid contact and slow the spread of the disease. I know this creates a challenge
for you and the young adults that you serve.
Resolution R-2019-094 authorized temporary homeless shelters through March 31, 2020, due
to extreme weather. I am extending this resolution, and its requirements, through April 7, 2020,
to avoid a lapse in shelter during this pandemic. My decision is based on the City's emergency
declaration and the orders issued by the Governor and Health District. City staff will present a
resolution extending R-2019-094, and its requirements, through the end of the stay home orders
(both the Yakima Health District and State orders) to allow Rod's House to operate a temporary
emergency homeless shelter during that specific time period.
My understanding is that you have already been in contact with the Yakima Codes Division and
the proposed location at Dad's House Church has gone through a fire and life safety inspection.
The City is thankful that organizations like yours are working to stop the spread of the virus and
providing young adults in need of shelter a place to spend their time and avoid contact which
could spread the virus and create an even greater public health emergency.
I have included a copy of R-2019-094 for your reference. If you have any questions, please do
not hesitate to contact me.
Sincerely,
I
Alex Meyerhoff '
Interim City Man-ger
Encl.
Yakima
tend
1994
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RESOLUTION NO. R-2019-094
A RESOLUTION authorizing and directing the Yakima Department of Community
Development to identify and implement a policy regarding temporary
emergency cold weather shelters in the City of Yakima, and providing that
such policy shall be valid only from November 1, 2019, through March 31,
2020
WHEREAS, the City of Yakima, in conjunction with religious organizations, non-profit
service providers, and Yakima County, is aware that there is within the City of Yakima a
population of homeless persons who may require temporary emergency shelter from cold
weather during the winter months, and
WHEREAS, owners of various buildings, which may include churches or buildings
owned or controlled by religious organizations, located within the City of Yakima have indicated
that they are willing and able to provide temporary emergency shelter; and
WHEREAS, the City of Yakima currently has no municipal code provisions, whether
under the zoning, buildings, fire or other codes, expressly allowing, authorizing, or regulating the
use of such buildings as temporary emergency shelters; and
WHEREAS, RCW 35 21 915 may apply to emergency winter shelters if owned or
controlled by a religious organization, and
WHEREAS, the City of Yakima Department of Community Development has
endeavored to create interim policy guidelines to address and regulate temporary emergency
shelters and health and safety issues that may arise in their operation, and
WHEREAS, at the time of this Resolution, one specific building has been identified and
confirmed as a building where temporary homeless shelter facilities may be located at 511 N
44th Avenue, and it is possible additional emergency shelter locations may be identified prior to
March 31, 2020, and
WHEREAS, the Yakima City Council finds and determines that it is in the public interest,
and the best interest of the City and its residents, to adopt the resolution and policy guidelines
set forth herein; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF YAKIMA:
The City of Yakima Department of Community Development is hereby authorized and
directed to implement the policies listed herein and require all operators of temporary
emergency shelters during the winter period to provide application materials as attached
hereto Policies shall include the following, and must be certified by the owner or legal
occupier of each building.
1 Sleeping areas shall be located on the ground floor of the building or on other
floors with approved exiting,
2 Smoke detectors shall be located in all sleeping areas and connected to a
central station monitor;
3 No cooking is allowed on the premises, unless done in an approved
commercial kitchen by approved staff;
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4. The on-site staff ratio shall be one staff member per eight overnight guests,
5. If there is no adequate fire suppression system, staff members must remain
awake and alert throughout the night, serving as a night fire watch,
6 The owner or legal occupier of the building shall provide a floor plan showing
the dimensions of the building, including exits and door swing, more than 72
hours before the first night of occupation,
7 Organizations not falling under RCW 35 21 915 shall provide proof of
adequate insurance, and
8 Any other health and safety requirements determined necessary by the fire
marshal or building code officials based on the proposed building(s) to be
used as temporary homeless shelters under this resolution
9 All entities wishing to operate a temporary emergency shelter shall fully fill out
and submit an application, with all necessary accompanying documents,
which must be approved before the shelter can open
This policy does not apply to the Lease Agreement for the temporary homeless
encampment entered into between the City and Sunrise Outreach
ADOPTED BY THE CITY COUNCIL this 15th day of October, 2019
A -EST athy Coff y, Mayo
Sonya C- r Tee, City Clerk