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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1998-02-23 City Council (12)City of Palo Alto City Manager’s Report TO: HONORABLE CITY COUNCIL FROM:CITY MANAGER DEPARTMENT: PLANNING AND COMMUNITY ENVIRONMENT DATE: SUBJECT: FEBRUARY 23, 1998 CMR:145:98 URGENCY ORDINANCE AND TEMPORARY LICENSE AGREEMENT PERMITTING PROVISION OF SPECIFIED SERVICES TO HOMELESS AND VERY LOW INCOME INDIVIDUALS ON A PORTION OF THE DEPOT PARKING LOT AT THE NORTH END OF MITCHELL LANE; AND THE PROVISION OF FUNDING TO ASSIST URBAN MINISTRY OF PALO ALTO, INC. WITH EMERGENCY EXPENSES RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends that the Council: Approve the attached Urgency Ordinance allowing Urban Ministry of Palo Alto, Inc. to dispense services for homeless and very low income individuals from a mobile trailer in the Santa Clara County Transit District, aka Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) parking lot for a period not to exceed 120 days. Authorize the City Manager, on behalf of the City, to execute a temporary license agreement with the VTA and Stanford University allowing Urban Ministry of Palo Alto’s temporary mobile trailer to occupy a portion of the depot parking lot at the northwest end of Mitchell Lane from 7:00 a.m. to noon weekday mornings for a maximum of 120 days. Authorize funding in the amount of $3,722.00 to Urban Ministry for emergency expenses incurred in the leasing of a mobile trailer for the 120-day emergency period. CMR: 145:98 Page 1 of 4 BACKGROUND UMPA has provided services to homeless individuals for more than five years from its rented location.in the garage area of the Red Cross building at 400 Mitchell Lane in Palo Alto. The Red Cross was forced to close the building and suspend all operations as a result of the heavy rains and flooding during the first week of February 1998. Flooding from the storm caused a sewage backup and spill at the Red Cross building with the potential for bacterial contamination of the entire site. The Red Cross relocated its personnel to San Jose and informed Urban Mivdstry that the Palo Alto site would be closed for approximately three months while damage was assessed and renovations and repairs were completed. Urban Ministry of Palo Alto (UMPA) has requested the assistance ofthe City of Palo Alto in permitting and approving a temporary relocation of its services. (See attached letter dated February 13, 1998). UMPA has not been successful to date in identifying any other viable options for a temporary replacement site in the Palo Alto area. However, due to the critical nature of the emergency, UMPA has received conditional approval from VTA to locate a moveable trailer on a portion of the depot parking lot at the northwest end of Mitchell Lane, pending approval of the City of Palo Alto and Stanford University. DISCUSSION The homeless and very low income population served by Urban Ministry have been severely impacted by the storms, persistent rain and flooding. UMPA estimates that approximately 130 persons per day were utilizing its services prior to the evacuation of the Red Cross site. The need to pro.vide assistance, information and referral, mail, telephone, counseling and other basic needs services for UMPA clients has only increased as a result of the emergency conditions. UMPA proposes to place a mobile 20-foot trailer in the VTA’s parking lot at the northwest end of Mitchell Lane. The area is owned by Stanford University, leased to the City of Palo Alto, and subleased to VTA. It is approximately 45 feet in length, 17 feet wide, and is comprised of four striped parking spaces and a small triangular area adjacent to the spaces. The trailer will be transported to the site each weekday morning no earlier than 7:00 a.m., and removed each day by noon. The hours of operation of the drop-in center are lin~ted to 7:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. each weekday morning, Monday through Friday. The maximum length of stay at this site is limited by the Emergency Ordinance to 120 calendar days from the date of the license agreement, but no later than June 30, 1998. UMPA will be responsible for general housekeeping of the area and for keeping it, free of debris. VTA is drafting a license agreement with Urban Ministry of Palo Alto, Inc., to be signed by all parties, including VTA, Stanford University and the City of Palo Alto. CMR: 145:98 Page 2 of 4 RESOURCE IMPACT UMPA has incurred unanticipated expenses related to the emergency evacuation of its Red Cross address, and the search for a temporary location. The rental of the trailer and the additional insurance, as well as other emergency efforts to help clients during the crisis has strained UMPA’s budget. Staff proposes that the City Council grant Urban Ministry $3,722.00 as special flood related assistance. If Council authorizes the funding, the expenditure will be incorporated in the Mid-Year report scheduled for Finance Committee review on March 17, 1998. POLICY IMPLICATIONS The storms and flooding experienced the first week of February 1998 created a State of Emergency within the City of Palo Alto. The crisis in which Urban Ministry fmds itself at this time is a direct result of the storm related emergency. The provision of essential services for homeless and very low income persons is a priority of the City’s adopted U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Consolidated Plan and Annual Action Plan update. TIMELINE The attached ordinance would become effective immediately, but requires the permission from the landowner and all persons with a leasehold interest. It is anticipated that the earliest the VTA license agreement can be executed by all parties is Wednesday, February 25, 1998. Every effort is being made to expedite the request. ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW This project is exempt from the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). PREPARED BY: Suzanne Bayley ATTACHMENTS Urgency Ordinance Letter from Urban Ministry of Palo Alto, Inc. DEPARTMENT HEAD: KENNET[I R./SCHREIBER ~ Director, Planning & Community Environment CMR: 145:98 Page 3 of 4 JUN~LEMING City Manager cc~Palo Alt0 Human Relations Commission Red Cross of Palo Alto Santa Clara County Transit District, aka Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) Stanford University Urban Ministry of Pa|o Alto, Inc. CMR: 145:98 Page 4 of 4 ORDINANCE NO. ORDINANCE OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO PERMITTING PROVISION OF SPECIFIED SERVICES TO HOMELESS AND VERY LOW INCOME PERSONS AT A TEMPORARY LOCATION,AND DECLARING THE URGENCY THEREOF, TO TAKE EFFECT IMMEDIATELY The City Council of the City of Palo Alto does ordain as follows: SECTION I. Findings. The Council finds and declares: A. Severe storms and flooding occurring since the beginning of February resulted in disruption to the lives of many Palo Alto residents and damage tohomes and other structures, including the offices of the Red Cross located at 400 Mitchell Lane. The.Red Cross temporarily closed this facility due to the~ storm, damage. B. For approximately five years, Urban Ministry of Palo Alto, a nonprofit entity, has provided basic survival services to very low income persons, including homeless persons, ~at the Red Cross site. These services include job referral and counseling, local telephone calls, distribution of mail, messages, and bus passes, and interviews and registration for the church shelter program. C. Temporary closure of the Red Cross facility has displaced Urban Ministry services vital to Urban Ministry clients, who suffer acutely in inclement weather such as that experienced during the past several weeks. Urban Ministry has requested that it be permitted to provide essential services at a temporary location near the Red Cross site on a short-term basis, utilizing a mobile trailer which would be removed from the site each day. The proposed location is at the terminus of Mitchell Lane, on a portion of the parking lot for the University Avenue Transit Station. ~This site (the "Property") is located in the PF Public Facilities Zoning District. D. It is necessary as an emergency measure for the preservation of the public health and safety to enact an ordinance which permits the short-term use of the site identified below for the purposes hereinafter described. The reason for the urgency is that the zoning ordinance (Title 18, Palo Alto Municipal Code) does not currently include provisions which would permit expedited approval of such a short-term use in the PF Zoning District. The delays associated with review and adoption of a regular ordinance and issuance of permits to allow the specified short-term use would prevent the services from being provided in a timely manner to those homeless and low-income persons who have ~een adversely affected by the recent storm emergency. 1 980218 lae 0080659 SECTION 2. Temporary Use Permitted; Limitations. A. Temporary provision of basic survival services to persons who are homeless and/or very low income, conducted on the Property at the location depicted on Exhibit A, is a permitted use of the Property if conducted in accordance with all of the requirements of this Section. B. The permitted use consists of the provision of basic survival services to very low income and homeless persons, from a mobile trailer located on the Property in the location specified in Exhibit A. The location is at the northwest corner of the Property and includes four parking places and a small adjacent area. "Basic ~survival services" for the purposes of this Section includes the following: counseling, information and referral, local telephone calls, distribution of bus passes, distribution of mail and messages, issuance of checks for DMV identification cards, interviews and registration for temporary shelter, job referral and counseling, qualification of clients for food and clothing vouchers, and service of coffee, tea, and a light breakfast. C. The use shall not exceed a maximum of one hundred twenty (120) calendar days from the time of commencement and shall cease immediately following expiration of that time. In no event shall the use continue after June 30, 1998. ~D. The use may be conducted on weekdays (Monday through Friday) only, between the hours of 7:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. The mobile trailer and all associated equipment and materials shall not be brought to the Property before 7 a.m. and shall be removed from the Property no later than noon each day. E. The use shall be conducted by a bona fide provider of services to homeless and low income persons, such as Urban Ministry. The provider shall be responsible for keeping the area clean and shall comply with any life safety requirements identified by the Fire Department and for the Chief Building Official. No more than four (4) persons shall be allowed in the trailer at any time. .SECTION 3. The purpose of this ordinance is to provide zoning authorization for the described use. Appropriate permission from the land owner and all other persons/entities with a leasehold interest in the Property must be obtained prior to commencement of the use. .SECTION 4. This ordinance shall be effective immediately upon adoption and shall expire and be of no further force and effect on. June 30, 1998. SECTION 5. The Council finds that this project is exempt from the provisions of the Environmental Quality Act ("CEQA") because it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that this project will have a significant effect on the 2 9[~02 l~ la~ 0080659 environment, and because this ordinance falls within the emergency project exception to CEQA set forth in Section 15268 of the CEQA Guidelines. This ordinance was introduced at a regular meeting of the Council of the City of Palo Alto which commenced on Monday, February 23, 1998 and was passed by a four-fifths vote of all Council members present at the meeting as follows: INTRODUCED AND PASSED: AYES: NOES:~ ABSTENTIONS: ABSENT: ATTEST:APPROVED: City Clerk APPROVED AS TO FORM: Senior Asst. City Attorney Mayor City Manager Director of Planning and Community Environment 3 980218 la~ 0080659 LU Ziii XLLI Urban Pa& Alt P 0 Box213 Palo Alto, CA 94302-0213 (650) 853-8697 Feb 13, 1998 Lisa Grote, Zoning Administrator City of Palo Alto Planning Division 250 Hamilton Ave., Palo Alto, Ca. Dear Ms. Grote; The Urban Ministry of Palo Alto, (UMPA) is a non-profit service organization which provides basic survival services to the unhoused and very poor in our community. Our organization, and the very low income clients whom we serve, have been severely impacted by the storms and subsequent flooding during the past week. Occupying a garage behind the Red Cross building at 400 Mitchell Lane for more than five years, UM~A was forced to vacate’ this location because of storm damage. Heavy rains flooded the building and caused a sewage backup with risk of bacterial contamination. The Red Cross has closed the building for repair / renovation and relocated its personnel to San Jose. It is estimated that repairs could take up to four months. The 1998 storm emergency has been extremely difficult for our clients, who suffer acutely in inclement weather. We are unable to provide even the most basic of services without a temporary location from which to operate. This letter is to request an emergency permi~ to operate the services detailed on the attached page in the Valley Transit Authority parking lot. ( see attached map) for a maximum of 120 days. Your urgent atten~ion to this matter would be greatly appreciated.. Please let me know if any further information is required. Thank you for your attention and consideration. Sincerely, Daryl Urban Ministry of Palo Alto, Inc. Drop-In Center Proposed Emergency~emporary Relocation Plan Permission is requested to park a temporary motor home or trailer on the parking spaces in the Valley Transportation lot highlighted on the attached map. Urban Ministry will use the trailer to provide the emergency services for basic needs of unhoused and very low income clientele. Urban Ministry serves approximately 130 persons each weekday between the hours of 7:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. There are no services provided on Satflrday and Sunday. The types of services provided include the following: 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. Serve Coffee and tea and a light breakfast Counseling and information and referral Local telephone calls Toilet facilities (Portable toilet on Red Cross property) Distribution of bus passes Distribution of mail and message services Issuance of checks for DMV identification cards Interview and registration for rotating church shelter program Qualification of clients for food and clothing vouchers Job referral and counseling The entire operation will be closed down by noon Monday through Friday, and the motor home or trailer moved to another location for afternoon and overnight storage. Urban Ministry will also be responsible for keeping the area clean and for general housekeeping. At least three Urban Ministry staff persons will be on duty during the entire time the drop in center is open. Normally, there are two to three volunteers in addition to trained staff. Urban Minls P 0 Box 213~ Polo Alto, CA 94302-0213 (650) 853-8697 Feb. 18,1908 To : Whon~ it may concern From :Daryl Ogden, Director Urban Mhtisery of Palo Alto Subject- Temporar2, Drop in Center iocalion I,UMPA has negotiated approval with the City of Palo Al~o l¥om the Valley Transit Authority tt~ use four ~paces in the: real’ of the parking lot localcd by the Red Cross and mmlagcd by the Valk.¥ Tfan,~it Authority. "l’h~: puj’po.,ic is to sectuc a 120 day temporary space for the UMPA Drop ill Center. Wc wilt use a rented 20 fl, trailer as a tempura]T office space during ~his period. Specs on the trailer arc as follows: A. T-26FK 20 It. trailer lbr 120 days ti’om FamJ]y R,V. in San Jose," Self-contained with awnhlg" B. Renlal price is S 2,721.20 or $ 690.00 per rnontfi, plus a $ .~00. Reftmdabl¢ deposit for a grand t~tal of $ 3,721,20 . The UMPA red van will pull the trailer to the, Valley iransil site at 8:30 am each Moan, day tlu’ough Friday. "lhe van a~d trailer will be returned to the,st~gge space at an off-sit,: location after ¢Iosing of the Dt’op in Cenler at 12;00 noon. It will stay there on Saturday and Sund~ty. SUMMARY: It is hoped tl~at UMPA ~,ill have eilther a per~ttanenl ivcatio]i after the 120 days or bc able to return ~o the Red cross after repairs are completed. Daryl Ogdu’n, Director UMPA "