TITLE
Recommendation to respectfully request that City Council request the City Attorney to prepare and present a draft amendment to Long Beach Municipal Code Section 16.16.010 (E) Prohibited acts, to reflect the Santa Barbara and Eugene initiatives, creating a provision for Councilmembers with the help of City staff to designate discrete and distinct areas of their Council Districts where people would be allowed to park and sleep overnight to help Long Beach Economic Refugees; and
Respectfully request that City Council request the City Manager to instruct City departments in 60 days to:
1) Identify possible parking lot locations (City, nonprofit and for profit) throughout the City that can be used for overnight parking. Explore funding opportunities that would allow such specially designated areas to be matched with staffing, security, and social services, as is done in Santa Barbara County;
2) Establish conditions on how many nights a vehicle can park overnight in one of the lots, where information will be provided on transitioning to a more permanent housing program. For each area we should assess helping these people in their time of need. Staff should establish quality controls on the behavior of the parking lot users to protect residential and commercial neighbors and others staying in the same lot. Establish an economic means test and requiring proof of former residency in Long Beach; and
3) Staff should recommend areas for overnight parking. Staff should consider parking impact, noise, issues relating to access to restooms and/or waste disposal, trash, security and access to social services for the overnight vehicle parking.
DISCUSSION
We are in a new era of poverty and homelessness in our nation, state and our great city. Everywhere I look, I see Long Beach economic refugees seeking basic assistance in support of their life. Food, shelter, health, and safety are the basic needs for our brothers and sisters. Our fellow residents often are faced...
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