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HomeMy WebLinkAboutR-93-0371J- 93-53. 6/29/93 RFZOLUTION NO. M A RESOLUTION APPROVD i A I AN TO PgfitZOPCTf,ITAN DARE COUNTY ( "COUNTY") , IN THE AmOuNT OF s 1C10 , OOJ, FOR THE EXPANSION OF PRIMARY FACILITIES AND SERVICES AT THE IKXn,ESS ASSISTANCE CEN 'ER, SUBJ7~7C;T TO: (1) THE 0'I' M MUNICIPALITIES IN THE COUNTY 03T=UTING APPROPRIATE FAIR SHARES; (2) SAID UOAN TO BE REPAID TO THE CITY OF MIAMI BY DADE COUNTY NO LATER THAN DEC EMBER 31, 1993, PRJVIDI% THE ODUNTY LEVIES A PROPOSED ONE CENT SALES TAX; AND (3) IF SAID PROPOSED SALES TAX IS NOT LEVIED, THE LOAN SHALL CONVERT TO A GRANT; AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXWcTIE THE NECESSARY DOCUMENTS, IN A FFORM ACCEPTABLE TO THE CITY ATTORNEY, TO IMPIMMU SAID 10AN ME S• Er BY THE COMffSSICIN OF OF • • rr Section 1. A loan to Metropolitan Dade County ("County"), in the amount Of $100, 000, is hereby approved for the Vision of primary facilities w services at the Homeless assistance Center, subject to: (1) the other municipalities in the County contributing appropriate fair shares; (2) said loan to be repaid to the City of Miami by Dade County no Later than December 31, 1993, providing the County levies a proposed One Cent ($0.01) Sales Tax; and (3) if said proposed Sales Tax is not levied, the loan shall convert to a grant. Section 2. The City Manager is hereby authorizedY to execute the necessary documents, in a form aooeptable to the City Attorney, to implement said loan. Section 3. This Resolution shall become effective immediately upon its adoption. The herein authorization is further subject to sub requirements that may be imby the City j compliance with all not Attorney, including but not Limited to those prescribed by applicable City Charter and Code provisions. ------- Crry co'..' "UsraTO.'!d mrETING OF J I N 2 9 1993 A S-nuts I PASS F,D A1-D AD0=7 this d"ry of _cTwie 1PP,3. c .WAVIER L. MAYOR ATTEST : MATTY HIRAI. CrrY-JC= ,#tU M. ft ASSISTANT IbFM ATTOR�MY APPROM AS TO FUM AND CORRECTNESS: Jlj/ 1 �1_411"AMI 93- 071 1NTFF3-0F f 1(7;F ",EMUVinNDUM ' 11P 11()TY.)T:abl e 1'1,-3.- rani Jim- 14, 199 3 t'1rs of the City Ccxmission SrJEi IFC, r Discussion of establishing temporary Uv ing and waiting < DOM Ces �. � . 10 RFFERFt)GE S zones for use by the Cit, geir homeless of Miami ENCLOSURES At its meeting of May 27, 1993, the City Ccmnission requested the administration to creatively address the issue of designating homeless zones within the City of Miami, and to schedule a discussion item on the issue at its meeting of June 29, 1993. POSSIBLE CCXIRSES OF ACTION having studied the issue internally, both as a result of this request and as part of an ongoing effort to provide viable solutions to the homeless problem (see AttachTent #1 for a summary of previous efforts), the administration proposes the following alternative solutions: 1. Designate a portion of Bicentennial Park to be set aside for the use of the homeless. This requires advising Judge Atkins of the City's decision to establish such a zone (the court order issued by Judge Atkins on November 16, 1993, unilaterally allowed the City, as a consequence of said order, to designate a portion of Bicentennial Park for use by the homeless). After taking into account scheduled events in the park, the remaining most appropriate area within the park is that portion along the water's edge at it's southeasternmost corner (see attached Map #1). 2. using its own sovereign powers, and independent of the court order, the City may establish a separate area within the City for use by hmieless individuals; such an action could be taken as a temporary emergency pleasure while awaiting the County Hcmeless Task Force to implement its long term plan. This would also require consultation with the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and Judge Atkins prior to implementation and enforcement. N Scee possible viable sites include: A. Those portions of land under the 1-95 overpass that are adjacent to the Miami River (bisected by N.W. North River Drive) and generally bounded on the north by S.W. 2nd Street (see attached Map #2). 93- 371 'Yl- I Ti. A �u?Tti�>n Of }�� vr� ,t= ci(1r? of t.1 Tx�rttWtt1 i,al f r,:f w-j+_ «rl :f�larx1 tan_ ct� is pot crarren.tl.y deli catArl f nr anot ..I ur;e (S ettPached Map # 3) . it should be emphasized that if either of the abOvP courses of action are taken (numbers 1 and 2 abwe), they do not guaxantee that the homeless will or mist, in fact, use the designated sites. 'M-e administration has been advised by the I,aw Department that there is nothing the City can do without further court action to oblige the homeless to move into the areas designated for their use. (Attachment #2 to this mem, for your information only, is a al. outline for the establishrrnnt of the preliminary concept and propos teq)orary lxaneless zones). 3. Utilize City funds to establish a site outside of the City limits, within unincorporated Dade County. It should be noted that, given the court's should be established within proximity of preference that such a zone existing social and medical services, it is very likely that a remote site in unincorporated Dade County will not be acceptable to the judge or the ACLU. 4. A final alternative course of action is to do nothing pending the action on the City's motion to stay currently before the court. The Law Department has indicated that a response is expected within the next month or so. CONCI.VSIONS In conclusion, the following consequences may result upon action by the Commission creating temporary homeless zones: 1. There is always a possible permanency of any site chosen for such a zone, even when it is declared as a temporary solution. 2� The Canmission should consider what possible consequences may arise if the designated site is not big enough in size to handle the numbers of haneless persons who choose to utilize it. 3. Any action taken by this carmission has to be considered in light of the cc mission's previous instruction to the Law Department to appeal the Judge's order in every way, including the acceptance of, and creation of, the safe zones. Such an action may negatively in1pact ot►r current "stay" pending appeal. Attachments a 93- 371 If TJ `I'1� 'Nc it' F„ s PPOB F i 1 other municipality in Metro --Dade County, tl� City of Miami, More than any has been besieged by problems related to the especially the downtown area, anted to a� th that help e h�less elation. CDBG funds have been. gr F P� need f social ills, the or incr�sttci ed fuirtg has batreless, but, as with other rot been matched by the Federal funds allocated to the City. AtKIJST 1991: The City of Miami, together with Met DadesC unty and the State Assistance Pm�aram of Florida contributed funds to the Ccxriminity a lacement to '34 (CHAp 1) which implemented a plan to offer screening system ad'acto to homeless individuals laving under the I-395 expressway Biscayne Boulevard- SEPTF��BFR 1991: The City and Dade County joined forces to establish a am initiated by CHAP 1; inprovements on flaws continued version of the ro pgr discovered during the implemenen tation of CHAP 1 wincox porated. OW 2 as it was referred to, was tu?cler the direct leadership of the county and ing addressed the needs of those homeless persons am were� that e varlet Of under I-395 and LMMUs Park. The CHAP 2 progr assistance to a total of 170 hamless individuals. At the same time as CHAP 2 was being implemented, the City of Miami also initiated a Homeless Information and Referral Unit on the slurs site- Ttll Infonr,ation and Referral unit offered assistance to any fsavailable who came forward with questions on topics regarding anything food and shelter services to job training and placement programs. JANUARY 1992: The Downtown Development Authority funded the outreach Unit of ss the Comprehensive Homeless Integration Program (CHIP)• individuals were trained to link chronic homeless substance abuse/mentally ill individuals to treatment programis . In ack:.�t ion, a Care and Planning Unit was created to provide follow-up services. Current breakcbwn of referrals by unit: INFORMATION AND REFS' UNIT Shelter 1,384 Identification documents 123 524 Job Development 821 ImrLgration documents 147 Food Stars 176 62 Bus ticket home Substance Abuse treatment 32 Detox Medical treatment 61 Mental health treatment OUTREACH UNIT 1,548 individuals have been contacted in the streets of downtown. CARE AMID pl AMI% UNIT 118 chronically ill persons were placed in treatment programs . -1/ 9 3 -- 371 PRELIV11NARY CCiWEPT TEMPORARY AND PRJ. (CAI, Otm INE FOR THE F STABLISINEN'I' OF 7`fii� L,IVIt, AND WAITING AREAS FOR 'IliE i T,FSS Downtown property and busilless owners and organizations fram the area �iave s the problem of panhandling, window washing and been asking the City to addzes sleeping on the sidewalk by hcarnless individuals. The problem has l-��en osier which designated a portion of exacerbated by a federal court Bicentennial Park and the IMudflats", an area located along Miami Avenue (under the I-395 expressway) as "Safe Zones". There are approximately 800 homeless individuals living in the above mentioned and Watson Island. Most areas as well as ist several pockets of Downtown Miami. of this population appears to be suffering from chronic mental illness 'substance abuse. The previous assistance program for the bless which operated under I-395 did not have sufficient fund- to offer also individuals placement in appropriate rehabilitative progr. criminal element within this population which victimizes the homeless as well as the downtown community. Presently, Metro -Dade Comnissioner Alex Penelas and Mr. Alvah Chad, are co- chairing a County Task Force on the Homeless. The Task Force is ping a Plan to be presented to the Dade County Commission during the first week of July, 1993. The State Legislature approved a one cent Food and Zed the nge tax to ca to fund the long term plan. The Task Force has an og goon as possible. implement an emergency cponent of the long terse plan The Establishment of the requested "living/waiting area" could be such a component and therefore eligible for funding. Note that this will only be possible if the tax is passed by the County Commission. Concept: living/waiting area for hca-eless individuals. A designated temporary to treatment, Information, referral transitional housing, job services will be made available. other training/placement n;ng/placement and follow-up ated for churches, synagogues and within this area will also be dedic organizations to provide food to this population. The area will be fenced and its gates will remain open; twenty-four hour security will also be provided. purpose: 1. To provide a temporary location where the existing downtown hcmless population can be sheltered in order to allow the city to regain utilization of public parks and properties; and 60 93- 371 0 U A'T'T N-Jorr ' f 2 2. 'lb facilitate the provision of social. services to the needy wh_i_le keeping them from sleeping on the streets and being victimized - proposal: 1. A site or sites must be selected; h to accctmr�date approximately 300 .e is currently a choice of three viable sites that are largeenough individuals at any given tires. These sites include a) a portion of Bicentennial Park; b) portions of at least two city parking lots on North River Drive between S.W. 2nd and 3rd Streets, under the I-95 overpass; and c) a portion of the vvest side of the northern half of Watson Island. 2. Portable toilets and showers with changing room at a ratio of one (1) for every ten (1Q) to fifteen (15) persons. 3. Security (non -armed) to be provided by private security agency. Local police agency will issue "watch order". 4. Property will be well lit, fenced in with restricted access, and cleaned rwAarly. 5. Minimal shelter for sleeping. 6. offices for the staff will be located within lame trailer(s) to be set up within the designated area(s). 7. Budget will need to include funds for transportation, placemsnt in transitional housing programs, case management and follow-up services. 93- 371 s L IL lu uld ( Un HLJ _ j =m� (l / L�t�1 y E IT ST. 1 N E IT ST a i W - N N.E IE�S�T( ( NEE I! S7 ST Y E= nD fn _ On El nn a -�.� ED r* CF F,A F, vl. YENF.TIAH CAUSEWAY MACARTHUA CAUSEWAY n= POTENTIAL EXPANSION OF HOMELESS AREA IF DEEMED NECESSARY BICENTENNIAL PARK POSSIBLE SITE FOR TEMPORARY ST.LIVING/WAITING AREA o FOR THE HOMELESS W 7 O m W ST Z to w m — F.M TRJCT = BAYSIDE It DAYFRW HIM 193- 371 n- in Il MAP 1" 01 1 "A 11 Vi., I F L] ST, LUM US PARK - ---1 = F L A G L E R T. POTENTIAL EXPANSION OF HOMELESS AREA > IF DEEMED NECESSARY POTENTIAL 6TE IAL IF DEEMED =4F E 2 ST POSSIBLE SITE FOR TEMPORARYRARY -U� 7-LIVING/WAITING AREA FOR THE HOMELESS) < 4z, I *4-vl--wA-y BRICKELL PARK 171 0! MAP #-3: I! / I' F 04 0 14 7 !Lsc — n. v A Y R-3 SAN mac ARTHUF7 CAUSEWP,*f POSSIBLE SITE FOR TEMPORARY ----LIVING/WAITING AREA FOR ------ THE HOMELESSMIAMI CITY RAILROA DS HAN nu L U41 JI c- I P R Ci JL ao �4 LE G/I op 371