TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
THRU: Tom Kisela, City Manager
FROM: Russell Bunim, Community Development Director
1. Subject
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Public Hearing to consider introduction and First Reading of an ordinance amending Title 17 of the Orange Municipal Code to update homeless shelter regulations and definition; and finding of CEQA exemption. Ordinance No. 25-24.
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2. Summary
The proposed ordinance updates provisions in the Orange Municipal Code related to homeless shelters in a manner that acknowledges the different service needs of un-housed families and un-housed individuals. Revisions also include an update to the Code definition of Homeless Shelter.
3. Recommended Action
recommendation
1. Conduct and close Public Hearing.
2. Introduce and conduct First Reading of Ordinance No. 25-24. An Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Orange amending Title 17 of the Orange Municipal Code regarding homeless shelter regulations.
3. Find that the Ordinance is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) per State CEQA Guidelines Section 15305 (Minor Alterations in Land Use Limitations).
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4. Fiscal Impact
None.
5. Strategic Plan Goals
Goal 3: Enhance and promote quality of life in the community
e: Develop and strengthen collaborative partnerships to enhance and promote quality of life programs, projects, and services.
Goal 1: Provide for a safe community
e: Develop and implement effective community outreach services and programs to promote public safety.
6. Discussion and Background
In recent years the City of Orange has engaged extensively in addressing the needs of the community’s un-housed population. While there are land use accommodations for homeless shelters in the Zoning Ordinance, the City has also engaged in a range of services and support activities including providing a location and financial support for the HUB Homeless Resource Center, financial support for navigation centers in Buena Park and Placentia, provided dedicated staff in the Police Department’s Homeless Engagement, Assistance & Resource Team (HEART), collaborated with the County of Orange on establishing the Be Well facility, and provided financial assistance to the HomeAid Citrus Family Shelter. Through this varied engagement with homeless issues and services, the need to refine operational criteria for homeless shelters has become apparent to enable service providers to better address the needs of their clients. Those opportunities to create a stronger alignment between the Zoning Ordinance and operational needs of homeless shelter providers are reflected in the proposed ordinance.
The proposed Code amendments have been crafted, primarily, to reflect proven orderly and effective shelter operations and to better accommodate the needs of sheltering un-housed families. Code revisions are informed by feedback from family shelter operators and service providers, along with staff observations of the City’s family shelter. The amendments also recognize that shelters for un-housed individuals without children and those for families warrant criteria tailored to the populations each serve. Detailed information about the proposed Code changes is provided in Attachment 4.
In addition to the revised operational standards, the proposed Ordinance also updates the Code definition of “Homeless Shelter” to include the synonymous term “Emergency Shelter” as referenced in state law.
7. ADVISORY BOARD ACTION
Planning Commission
The Planning Commission conducted a public hearing for the Ordinance on August 5, 2024 and recommended approval to the City Council by a 6-0 vote. Meeting minutes are provided as Attachment 5.
8. ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
Categorical Exemption: This action is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to, but not limited to, State CEQA Guidelines Section 15305 (Minor Alterations in Land Use Limitations) because it consists of minor adjustments to operational criteria and the definition of homeless shelters. For this reason, no further CEQA documentation is required.
9. ATTACHMENTS
• Attachment 1 Ordinance No. 25-24 (Clean)
• Attachment 2 Ordinance No. 25-24 (Redlined)
• Attachment 3 Planning Commission Resolution No. PC 20-24
• Attachment 4 Planning Commission Staff Report, August 5, 2024
• Attachment 5 Planning Commission Minutes, August 5, 2024