Chapter 16.78 — EMERGENCY SHELTERS

(A) EMERGENCY SHELTER - Means housing with minimal supportive services for homeless persons; victims of domestic violence; persons requiring temporary housing; and other individuals and households made temporarily homeless due to natural disasters (e.g., fires and earthquakes) that is limited to occupancy of six months or less by a homeless person and operated by a government agency or private non-profit organization.

(B) HOMELESS PERSON - Has the same definition as set forth in 42 USC § 11302. (Ord. 1249, passed 5-6-13)

In addition to the standards specified in Chapter 16.21, emergency shelters are also subject to the following development standards:

(A) Each resident must be provided a minimum of 50 gross square feet of personal living space, not including space for common areas. In no case can occupancy exceed 30 residents at any one time.

(B) Off-street parking spaces must provided in the ratio of one parking space per ten adult beds, plus one parking space per employee on the largest shift. However, the required number of off-street parking spaces cannot exceed the spaces required for similar uses of the same size in the Commercial/Light Industrial (C/LI) zone.

(C) Outdoor activities such as recreation, drop-off and pick-up of residents, or similar activities may be conducted at the facility. Staging for drop-off, intake, and pick-up should take place inside a building, at a rear or side entrance, or inner courtyard. Emergency shelter plans must show the size and location of any proposed waiting or resident intake areas, interior or exterior.

(D) Before commencing operation, the emergency shelter provider must have a written management plan, which must be approved by the Planning Director. The management plan must at a minimum include: requirements for staff training; resident selection; process for identifying residents; neighborhood outreach; pet policies; scheduling outdoor activities; temporary storage of residents’ personal belongings; safety and security; management of outdoor areas; and counseling and social service programs for residents.

(E) Not more than one emergency shelter is permitted within a radius of 300 feet from another emergency shelter.

(F) Individual occupancy in an emergency shelter is limited to six months during any 12 consecutive month period. Extension(s) may be provided if a client is working with social services agencies to secure alternative housing, but no alternative housing is available.

(G) Exterior lighting must be provided at all building entrances and outdoor activity areas, and must be activated between sunset and sunrise of each day. All exterior lighting must comply with this code.

(H) Each emergency shelter must have an on-site management office. At least one employee must be present in the on-site management office at all times that the emergency shelter is operating.

(I) Each emergency shelter must have on-site security, with at least one person present at the emergency shelter while it is operating.

(J) Facilities must provide a storage area for refuse and recyclables that is enclosed by a six-foot high landscape screen, solid wall or fence, which is accessible to collection vehicles on one side. It must be large enough to accommodate the number of bins that are required to provide the facility with sufficient service so as to avoid the overflow of material outside of the bins provided.

(K) The emergency shelter facility may provide one or more of the following specific facilities and services including, without limitation:

• (1) Commercial kitchen facilities designed and operated in compliance with applicable law;

• (2) Dining area;

• (3) Laundry;

• (4) Recreation room;

• (5) Support services (e.g., training, counseling); and

• (6) Child care facilities.

(L) Applications for emergency shelters must be submitted to the Planning Director for consideration. Within 30

days after finding an application complete, the Director must issue an emergency shelter permit upon finding that the proposal complies with all applicable law including, without limitation, this code.

(Ord. 1249, passed 5-6-13; Am. Ord. 1304, passed 9-16-20)