Chapter 18.66 — EMERGENCY SHELTERS[9 ]

This chapter sets forth a uniform set of standards for emergency shelters to provide temporary housing for the homeless pursuant to California Government Code Section 34070. (Ord. 969 Sec. 1, 2014)

Emergency shelters for homeless persons shall be subject to and comply with the following standards and regulations.

• (1) A single emergency shelter for 30 occupants, or a combination of multiple shelters with a combined capacity not to exceed 30 occupants, shall be allowed as a permitted use in the M-1 zone consistent with Section 65583(4)(A) of the State Government Code. All emergency shelters, regardless of the number of occupants, shall meet all applicable development standards to the zoning districts in which they are permitted by right and minimum standards contained hereinbelow. Any emergency shelter with a capacity greater than 30 occupants shall require approval of a conditional use permit as set forth in Chapter 18.45.

• (2) The facility shall operate on a first-come, first-served basis with clients only permitted on site and admitted to the facility between 6:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. during Pacific Daylight Time, and 5:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. during Pacific Standard Time. Clients must vacate the facility by 8:00 a.m. and have no guaranteed bed for the next night. A curfew of 10:00 p.m. (or earlier) shall be established and strictly enforced and clients shall not be admitted after the curfew.

• (3) Emergency shelter facilities are required to be not more than 300 feet from any other emergency shelter, as measured from the property line.

• (4) Emergency shelters shall not be located within 1,000 feet of a public or private school (preschool through twelfth grade), universities, colleges, student housing, senior housing, child care facilities, public parks, businesses licensed for on- or off-site sales of alcoholic beverages or parolee/probationer home as defined in Chapter 18.02 (Definitions) and as measured from the property line.

• (5) Service providers shall provide sufficient numbers of male and female toilets—restrooms for clients and prospective clients to have access to use on a 24-hour basis. For group housing and other similar shelter programs, adequate private male and female showers shall be provided along with lockers for clients to temporarily store their belongings.

• (6) Any outdoor storage, including, but not limited to, items brought on site by clients for overnight stays, shall be screened from public view by a minimum six-foot-tall decorative wall or fence. Pets and shopping carts are not permitted on site.

• (7) Adequate waiting areas must be provided within the premises for clients and prospective

9. Code reviser's note: Ordinance 969 adds the provisions of this chapter as 19.65. The chapter has been editorially renumbered to prevent duplication of numbering.

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City of Norco, CA

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clients including 10 square feet per bed, minimum 100 square feet, to ensure that public sidewalks or private walkways are not used as queuing or waiting areas.

• (8) Facility improvements shall comply with the Norco Municipal Code and the most current adopted building and safety code specific to the establishment of dormitories and shall additionally provide:

• (a) A minimum of one toilet for every eight beds per gender.

  • (b) A minimum of one shower for every eight beds per gender.

  • (c) Private shower and toilet facility for each area designated for use by individual families.

• (9) An emergency shelter facility shall provide off-street parking at the ratio of one space per four beds and/or 0.5 per bedroom designated as a family unit with children, plus one space per staff member. Service providers are responsible to provide and maintain adequate parking and freight loading facilities for employees, clients and other visitors who drive to the premises.

• (10) Bike rack parking shall be provided at the facility.

• (11) Exterior lighting shall be provided for the entire outdoor and parking area of the property.

• (12) The facility may provide the following services in a designated area separate from sleeping areas:

  • (a) A recreation area inside the shelter or in an outdoor area visually separated from public view by a minimum six-foot-tall visually screening decorative wall or fence.

  • (b) A counseling center for job placement, educational, health care, legal services, or mental health services.

  • (c) Laundry facilities to serve the number of clients at the shelter.

  • (d) Kitchen and dining area.

  • (e) Client storage area.

• (13) Similar types of facilities to address the needs of homeless clients, as determined by the Planning Director. A shelter management plan shall be submitted as a part of the permit application, which addresses all of the following:

  • (a) Service providers shall maintain sufficient monetary resources to enable them to operate the facility per the shelter management plan, and shall demonstrate to the City prior to approval of the permit application that such funds shall be available for use upon first occupancy of the proposed project and shall reasonably be expected to be available for the life of the project.

  • (b) A minimum of one staff member per 15 beds shall be awake and on duty when the facility is open. Facility staff shall be trained in operating procedures, safety plans, and assisting clients. The facility shall not employ staff who have been convicted of a felony or who are required to register as a sex registrant under Penal Code 290.

  • (c) Service providers shall maintain up-to-date information and referral sheets to give

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clients and other persons who, for any reason, cannot be served by the establishment.

• (d) Service providers shall provide criteria to screen clients for admittance eligibility, with the objective to provide first service to individuals with connections to the City of Norco.

• (e) Service providers will maintain information on individuals utilizing the facility and will ensure that the maximum stay at the facility shall not exceed 120 days in a 365-day period.

• (f) Service providers shall continuously monitor waiting areas to inform prospective clients whether they can be served within a reasonable time. If they cannot be served by the provider because of time or resource constraints, the monitor shall inform the client of alternative programs and locations where he or she may seek similar service.

  • (g) Service providers will educate on-site staff to provide adequate knowledge and skills to assist clients in obtaining permanent shelter and income, including referrals to outside assistance agencies. An annual report on this activity shall be provided to the City.

  • (h) Service providers shall provide for the timely removal of litter attributable to clients within the vicinity of the facility every 24-hour period.

  • (i) Service providers will maintain good communication and have procedures in place to respond to operational issues which may arise from the neighborhood, City staff, or the general public.

  • (j) Service providers shall establish standards for responding to emergencies and incidents involving the expelling of clients from the facility. Re-admittance policies for clients who have previously been expelled from the facility shall also be established.

  • (k) Alcohol and illegal drug use is prohibited on site. Service providers shall expel clients from the facility if found to be using alcohol or illegal drugs.

  • (l) The establishment shall implement other conditions and/or measures as determined by the City, in consultation with other City/County agencies, necessary to ensure that management and/or clients of the establishment maintain the quiet, safety and cleanliness of the premises and the vicinity of the use.

  • (m) Other requirements as deemed necessary by the City to ensure that the facility does not create an adverse impact to surrounding properties.

  • (n) On a monthly basis, provide an updated list of emergency shelter residents to the Sheriff's Department.

  • (o) All graffiti on the premises shall be removed by the business operator within 24 hours.

  • (p) Installation of anti-loitering signs.

  • (q) If there is conflict between code requirements, the most restrictive one shall apply.

• (14) The facility shall comply with all other laws, rules, and regulations that apply including, but not limited to, building and fire codes. The facility shall be subject to City inspections

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prior to the commencement of operation. In addition, the City may inspect the facility at any time for compliance with the facility's management plan and other applicable laws and standards.

(15) Emergency shelter operator shall obtain a City business license. (Ord. 969 Sec. 1, 2014)

Single-resident occupancy (SRO) units as defined in Chapter 18.02 shall be subject to and comply with the following standards and regulations:

• (1) Tenancy of SRO (efficiency) units shall not be less than 30 days and maximum period of 12 months.

• (2) Each facility shall comply with all applicable development standards for the applicable zoning district and minimum standards contained hereinbelow.

• (3) Units shall have a minimum size of 150 square feet and a maximum of 400 square feet.

• (4) Each unit shall accommodate a maximum of two persons.

• (5) Exterior lighting shall be provided for the entire outdoor and parking area of the property.

• (6) Laundry facilities must be provided in a separate enclosed room at the ratio of one washer and one dryer for every 20 units or fractional number thereof, with at least one washer and dryer per floor, which shall be enclosed.

• (7) A cleaning supply room or utility closet with a wash tub with hot and cold running water shall be provided on each floor of the SRO (efficiency) unit facility.

• (8) Each unit shall be required to provide a separate bathroom containing a water closet, lavatory and bathtub or shower.

• (9) Each unit shall be provided with a kitchen sink, functioning cooking appliance and a refrigerator, each having a clear working space of not less than 30 inches in front.

• (10) Each unit shall have a separate closet.

• (11) Units shall comply with all requirements of the California Building Code and all other codes. All units shall comply with all applicable accessibility and adaptability requirements. All common areas shall be fully accessible.

• (12) An SRO (efficiency) unit project shall not be located within 500 feet of any other SRO (efficiency) unit project, emergency shelter, or other similar program, unless such program is located within the same building or on the same lot.

• (13) An SRO (efficiency) unit project with 10 or more units shall provide on-site management. A project with less than 10 units may provide a management office on site. The City Manager or their designee may reduce this standard as necessary.

• (14) Off-street parking shall be provided for an SRO facility at a rate of one uncovered parking space per unit plus an additional space for the on-site manager and each employee.

• (15) Each efficiency unit shall be provided at least one lockable bicycle parking space in a

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location that is adjacent to that SRO (efficiency) unit. (Ord. 969 Sec. 1, 2014)

In addition to the notification required by the Norco Municipal Code, representatives of the Sheriff's Department shall be apprised of the proposed project in a timely fashion so that the Department may respond to any concerns they may have regarding the proposed project. (Ord. 969 Sec. 1, 2014)

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