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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013-R-2 RESOLUTION NO. 2013 -R- BEFORE THE BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS AND SAFETY JEFFERSONVILLE, INDIANA A Resolution Adopting Policies and Procedures Involving Homelessness WHEREAS, the City of Jeffersonville, Indiana (the "City ") recognizes the need to implement certain policies and procedures for addressing issues that are unique to the homeless population in the City. WHEREAS, the policies and procedures set forth herein are intended to provide a mechanism for the City to manage the concerns of local residents and businesses, while also respecting the rights and needs of its homeless population. WHEREAS, while the City considers the implementation of the policies set forth herein necessary, it acknowledges that such policies and procedures are, at best, short term solutions to some of the issues created by homelessness. WHEREAS, for this reason, the long term goal of the City will not be to develop an exhaustive list of homeless policies and procedures, but rather, to develop a strategic plan for ending homelessness in our community. WHEREAS, in order to end homelessness in the City, the Mayor has created a Homeless Task Force to assess the state of homelessness in our community and to develop a strategic plan for its elimination. WHEREAS, the development of a strategic plan, and its implementation, will take time and require great effort and investment from every sector of the community. WHEREAS, in the meantime, this statement of policies and procedures will provide the City with a means of addressing some of the issues that stem from the homelessness that currently exists in our community. WHEREAS, this statement of policies and procedures is intended to be a "living" document that may be revised and modified as new issues and /or improvements to existing policies are identified. WHEREAS, the City, may at times, determine it necessary to direct its agents to remove temporary shelters on public property for the purposes of promoting and protecting public safety, health and welfare of the community. WHEREAS, the City acknowledges that certain policies and procedures are necessary to ensure the removal of temporary shelters and personal property is conducted in an orderly and consistent manner. NOW THEREFOR BE IT RESOLVED by the Jeffersonville Board of Public Works and Safety that the City hall adhere to the following policies and procedures when removing temporary shelters and personal property located on public property: Removal of Temporary Shelters on Public Property (a) Prior to removing any tent, hut, lean -to, shack or other type of temporary shelter found on public property, including public right -of -ways, the City shall conspicuously post a written notice in the immediate area that the item(s) should be removed within 48 hours. (b) After 48 hours, if the temporary shelter still remains, it may be removed by the City and stored for 30 days. Upon removal of such temporary shelter, a notice shall be conspicuously affixed to the ground in the area where the temporary shelter was located. The notice shall provide a telephone number and a location where information concerning the retrieval of such item can be obtained. Such notice may be removed after five (5) days. If the item is not claimed by the person supplying sufficient proof of ownership within the thirty (30) days of removal, it shall be deemed abandoned property and may be disposed of accordingly; provided, however, the City may, in its sole discretion, elect to store such item for longer than thirty (30) days. (c) When removing temporary shelters, any other personal property inside or around such shelter may be removed and stored with the shelter. II. Removal of Personal Property on Public Property (a) Prior to removing any items of personal property, including clothing, bedding, materials, equipment, furnishings, furniture and appliances, found on public property, including public right -of -ways, the City shall conspicuously post a written notice in the immediate that the item(s) should be removed within 48 hours. (b) After 48 hours, if the personal property still remains, it may be removed by the City and stored for 30 days. Upon removal of such items, a notice shall be conspicuously affixed to the ground in the area where the removed items were located. The notice shall provide a telephone number and a location where information concerning the retrieval of such items can be obtained. Such notice may be removed after five (5) days. If the items are not claimed by the person supplying sufficient proof of ownership within the thirty (30) days of removal, they shall be deemed abandoned property and may be disposed of accordingly; provided, however, the City may, in its sole discretion, elect to store such items for longer than thirty (30) days. III. Homeless Camp Sweeps; Notice to Local Service Agencies In addition to the notices described above, prior to undertaking a planned "sweep" to remove multiple temporary shelters and items of personal property from a homeless camp or camps that are set up on public property or public right -of -way, the City shall use reasonable efforts to send a notice of the date and location(s) of such planned sweep to one or more local agencies that serve the homeless population 48 hours prior to the date of the planned sweep. Such notices shall include a request that the agency post the notice in a conspicuous location. SO REOLVED this d l day of February, 2013. Moor Mayor Mike President, Board of Public Works and Safety ATTEST: Cad ; Vicki Conlin, Clerk