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HomeMy WebLinkAboutStudy Session Agenda Packet 05-17-21STUDY SESSION AGENDA CITY COUNCIL CITY OF WHEAT RIDGE, COLORADO May 17, 2021 6:30 p.m. This meeting will be conducted as a VIRTUAL MEETING. No members of the Council or City staff will be physically present at the Municipal building for this meeting; the public may not attend in person. The public may participate in these ways: 1. Provide comment in advance at www.wheatridgespeaks.org (comment by noon on May 17, 2021) 2. Virtually attend and participate in the meeting through a device or phone: • Click here to join and provide public comment • Or call +1-669-900-6833 with Access Code: 916 8598 5814 Passcode: 849559 3. View the meeting live or later at www.wheatridgespeaks.org, Channel 8, or YouTube Live at https://www.ci.wheatridge.co.us/view 4. Individuals who, due to technology limitations, are unable to participate in the meeting virtually (via the Zoom platform) or by calling in on the telephone may contact Danitza Sosa, Assistant to the Mayor and City Council, at 303-235-2977 by noon on the day of the meeting. Arrangements will be made for those individuals to access City Hall during the meeting to view the meeting and provide public comment if desired. These comments will be heard and seen in real time by members of Council and City staff. Individuals accessing City Hall must practice social distancing, wear a mask or other facial covering and be free of COVID-19 symptoms. Individuals with disabilities are encouraged to participate in all public meetings sponsored by the City of Wheat Ridge. Contact the Public Information Officer at 303-235-2877 or wrpio@ci.wheatridge.co.us with as much notice as possible if you are interested in participating in a meeting and need inclusion assistance. Citizen Comment on Agenda Items 1. Strategic Priority - Homelessness 2. Pedestrians hindering the flow of traffic and pedestrian use of roadway center medians 3. Revisions to the City’s floodplain regulations 4. Staff Report(s) 5. Elected Officials’ Report(s) ADJOURNMENT Memorandum TO: Mayor and City Council THROUGH: Patrick Goff, City Manager Marianne Schilling, Assistant to the City Manager FROM: Rebekah Raudabaugh, Homeless Navigator DATE: May 17, 2021 SUBJECT: Strategic Priority - Homelessness ISSUE: The City of Wheat Ridge is committed to regional homeless navigation efforts to address the increasing number of individuals experiencing homelessness. During the City Council strategic planning retreat on February 20, 2021, homelessness was identified as a priority issue for the next two years. Heading Home will present an overview of homelessness in Jefferson County and City Staff will present current programming and proposed options for Council to consider moving forward. Staff is requesting feedback on a proposed workplan to realize this priority. PRIOR ACTIONS: City Council approved a 0.5 FTE Homeless Navigator in the 2020 Adopted Budget. In February 2020, Council passed Resolution No. 13-2020, which approved a regional MOU concerning homeless navigation efforts. On August 24, 2020, City Council passed Resolution No. 44-2020 approving a Homeless Navigation IGA to share one full-time Homeless Navigator between Wheat Ridge, Golden and Edgewater. WORK CURRENTLY UNDERWAY: A summary of current efforts, practices and initiatives follows. Homelessness in Jefferson County The counties surrounding the Denver-Metro Area, communities along the Front Range, the I-70 corridor and Western Slope are all experiencing challenges with homeless/transient populations. The reasons for homelessness are wide-ranging and complex; they generally include a lack of affordable housing, chronic substance abuse issues, severe mental health issues, military veterans, and victims of domestic violence. In addition, experts are finding that individuals experiencing homelessness are leaving larger cities to avoid being victims of crimes perpetrated by others who are homeless. To address homelessness both regionally and at a city level, it was first important to quantify the homeless population in Jefferson County and in each city. In August 2019, a Comprehensive Count was completed in the County to determine the total number of individuals experiencing Item No. 1 Staff Report – Strategic Priority - Homelessness May 17, 2021 Page 2 homelessness. For this count, homelessness was defined as individuals and families living in an emergency shelter, transitional housing, those who are unsheltered, and those who lack stable housing. In total, the Comprehensive Count homelessness number was 997 persons. Of the 93 persons counted in Wheat Ridge, 61% were unsheltered. While 28 were living completely unsheltered outside, 29 were living in their vehicles. Another 22 were precariously housed in a motel or hotel. Approximately 20% of persons were chronically homeless – or people with long histories of homelessness who also have a disability. These individuals are the most visible to the public, yet only represent a small portion of people experiencing homelessness. Additionally, 88% of those counted were in households without children (11% in households with children). Heading Home Heading Home is the County-wide stakeholder group committed to creating a systemic response to homelessness in Jefferson County that prevents and ends homelessness whenever possible. When homelessness cannot be prevented, Heading Home ensures it is a rare, brief and a one- time experience. In the last year, the group has actualized this vision by drafting Jeffco’s Homelessness Action Plan, which can be found on the Heading Home website. In this plan, four primary objectives were identified for the group to focus on in the next three years: 1. Optimize Crisis Response System (shelter, outreach, coordinated entry, diversion) 2. Increase Access to and Supply of Supportive Housing (for the 20% chronically homeless) 3. Increase Data Collection & Data Sharing (so we can have more reliable knowledge about this issue locally) 4. Increase Community Involvement in Support of Solutions. Since this plan was completed, Heading Home has completed a Gaps Analysis both for sheltering and supportive housing needs and identified the primary unmet needs in Jefferson County. The Gaps Analysis has been included in the Council packet. Those needs include: • Low Barrier, Year-Round, 24/7 Sheltering Options for adult-only households experiencing homelessness • Permanent housing units including: 1) Workforce, affordable housing units for households with incomes insufficient to secure housing and 2) Permanent supportive housing units for chronically homeless individuals. Aside from the Gaps Analysis findings, there is an increasing need to assist persons with medically fragile conditions and those discharged from the hospital with nowhere to stay. There is also an increasing need to support persons who are sleeping in their cars. Finally, Heading Home is currently developing recommendations to provide to cities and County leadership on how it can maximize American Rescue Plan Act dollars to increase local resources to meet these needs. Homeless Navigation Program As an outcome of the Comprehensive Count, Jefferson County and the cities within partnered on a Regional Homeless Navigation program as part of a regional effort to address the rise of Staff Report – Strategic Priority - Homelessness May 17, 2021 Page 3 individuals experiencing homelessness. Part of these efforts includes establishing a network of Homeless Navigator positions in individual jurisdictions that work in collaboration as regional partners. The Navigators deliver direct services to individuals and families in need, provide program and stabilization-related support, and collect and distribute information and resources to assist those experiencing homelessness. The Navigators throughout Jefferson County began working in early 2020. The Homeless Navigator for the City of Wheat Ridge started in December 2020 and the role is shared with the cities of Golden and Edgewater. The Homeless Navigator works closely with the local business community, constituents, metro-area non-profit providers and government agencies. The work of the Homeless Navigator includes (for all three cities): • Weekly outreach efforts which consist of contacting individuals living unsheltered and offering resources and basic need items such as socks, water, snacks, etc. to build rapport. • Attending Municipal Court • Completing intakes for Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) and assessing client’s needs • Assisting clients with obtaining vital documents • Making referrals for healthcare, mental health, substance misuse, legal issues, and benefits • Navigating clients to identify a pathway towards housing • Assisting clients with housing searches, applications, and deposits • Maintaining an actively growing caseload. Current caseload consists of 22 clients: seven in Golden, 14 in Wheat Ridge, and one in Edgewater. Of that number, two individuals have been matched with a housing voucher and are working to obtain the necessary documents to secure stable housing. IDEAS FOR NEW ACTIVITIES: To further support this priority, staff presents the following ideas to Council for consideration. 1. Hiring a Housing Navigator A Housing Navigator would be able to assist clients in their search by keeping an updated list of unit openings and assisting with filling out waitlist applications. Additionally, a Housing Navigator would be able to assist clients with filling out rental applications, interpreting leases and understanding tenant rights and responsibilities. This would allow the Homeless Navigator more time to provide intensive case management. An example job description from a recent City of Arvada posting has been included in the Council packet. Proposed Timeline: 2022 Resources Needed: Additional part-time or full-time position - Housing Navigator,2022 budget. 2. Implementing a Bridge Housing Program In the Sheltering Gaps Analysis completed by the Heading Home organization, emergency shelter was prioritized as an existing need for Jefferson County. As this time, all emergency shelters for individuals are in Denver County. Until a Navigation Center Staff Report – Strategic Priority - Homelessness May 17, 2021 Page 4 with an emergency shelter is established in Jefferson County, a bridge housing program or short-term motel or hotel vouchering could benefit Jefferson County residents in need of emergency shelter. This program would consist of an eight to twelve-week motel stay in a motel or hotel to bridge an individual or family into stable housing. The client would need to meet certain requirements for the program, one of them being securing employment. Once a client has met the requirements, the Homeless Navigator would fund the motel stay until the client receives their first paycheck. Once the client’s first paycheck has been received, they will be responsible for a portion of the motel cost. The client will continue to pay for a portion of the cost until they have secured stable housing. The Homeless Navigator will support the client with their deposit and first month’s rent to ensure the client is set up for success. This bridge program follows the Housing First Model which states that individuals need to have their basic needs met before they can focus on employment, drug misuse and mental health concerns. Proposed Timeline: 2022 Resources Needed: Will require funding in 2022 budget if direction is provided to proceed. RECOMMENDATIONS: Staff requests direction from Council to move forward with activities to support this priority. ATTACHMENTS: 1. Jefferson County Homelessness Action Plan (Heading Home) 2. Sheltering Gaps Analysis 3. Arvada Housing Navigator job description 4. Homeless Navigation Demographic Report, May 2021 JEFFERSON COUNTY HOMELESSNESS ACTION PLAN 2021-2023 Heading Home, A Committee of Jeffco Connections ATTACHMENT 1 Executive Summary.............................................................3 Guiding Principles................................................................4 State of Homelessness in Jefferson County....................5-7 Plan Objectives....................................................................8 Optimize Housing Crisis Resolution System............9-10 Increase Supportive Housing Units........................11-12 Increase Data Collection & Data Sharing...............13-14 Increase Community Involvement.........................15-16 Action Plan in Motion........................................................17 Impact.................................................................................18 T able of Contents 2 Homelessness is a community-wide crisis requiring a community-wide solution. For this reason, the Heading Home group formed in 2006 to work toward ending homelessness in Jefferson County. As the crisis has grown over the years, Heading Home is now revising its plan to focus on the greatest needs of our unhoused neighbors. This Plan, driven by data and guiding principles outlined herein, will serve as a blueprint for the work of Heading Home over the next three years. The vision of the Heading Home Collaborative is to implement a systemic response in Jefferson County that ensures homelessness is rare and prevented whenever possible and, when it cannot be prevented, it is a brief, and a one-time experience. Ensuring homelessness is a rare experience means that we build lasting systems, which include components that actively prevent housing crises that lead to homelessness. When homelessness cannot be prevented, the system is designed to ensure the experience is brief. This means at any given time we know who is experiencing homelessness in the community and ensure they are quickly engaged in a pathway to housing of their choice. Lastly, when homelessness does occur, the system is built to ensure it is a one-time only experience by connecting households with existing programs that support upward economic mobility through education, employment, and other essential services. The Jeffco Homelessness Action Plan seeks to realize this vision by focusing on four primary objectives. A distinct workgroup will be structured around each objective. As the Heading Home Committee moves towards a workgroup focused model, this document will serve as the roadmap and basis for accountability for each of the workgroups over the next three years. This document will be updated every three years in response to changing community needs and priorities. Executive Summary 3 Everyone has the right to live in safe, decent, affordable housing and to have access to services they need to survive and thrive. The following principles will guide the work of the Heading Home Committee: A community-wide problem necessitates a community-wide solution. The most effective and lasting solutions come when we bring our strengths as separate entities together to create collaborative solutions that put the best interests of those we serve first. Community-Level Approach We actively promote and implement antiracist policies and interventions that seek to resolve the racial and ethnic inequities experienced by persons of color who are disproportionately experiencing homelessness in Jefferson County. Racial Equity We develop and promote policies and interventions that respect the diverse cultures and beliefs of those we serve. We engage stakeholders from every sector, especially persons with lived experience of homelessness, in the development of solutions. Cultural Competence & Inclusivity We promote robust systems for collecting, sharing, and integrating data among homeless service providers and other intersecting systems so that we can effectively measure the community’s progress and adjust the approach as needed. Data Driven Decisions Housing is ultimately the solution to homelessness. A successful and effective homelessness response system quickly connects families and individuals experiencing a housing crisis to permanent housing without preconditions or barriers and provides ongoing opportunities for engagement in services to support long-term stability. Housing First We treat all individuals and families experiencing homelessness with dignity and respect, promoting self-determination and personal choice about one’s own life. We recognize that all persons are unique, and we must develop solutions driven by individual differences and needs rather than a one size fits all approach. Self Determination We prevent and end homelessness by working collaboratively with other systems that impact our ability to end homelessness, including, but not limited to, health care, education, criminal justice, and the metro Denver Continuum of Care. System Integration We recognize the role and impact of high levels of trauma in the past and present condition of homelessness and seek to design interventions that provide safety and actively avoid re-traumatizing individuals. Trauma Informed Care Guiding Principles 4 Comprehensive Homeless Count Data (August 2019) People experienced homelessness or lacked stable housing. Of this group were literally homeless, which means they were living in a temporary shelter program or unsheltered. Of those literally homeless were living outside or in another place not meant for human habitation. 997 67% 77% 5 Subpopulations Of those experiencing homelessness and lacking stable housing, the following notable subpopulations were identified. Parenting Youth 1% Unaccompanied Youth 4%15% Fleeing domestic violence 7% Veterans The primary sources of data on homelessness in Jefferson County used to compile the data in this section are the 2019 Comprehensive Homeless Count (“Comprehensive Count”) and the Point-in-Time Homeless Counts (“PIT Count”). These counts are both census events, which provide point-in-time snapshots of homelessness. Jefferson County is reliant on these census events due to current low utilization rates of the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) database throughout the county. While census and outreach events can hold value in providing snapshot data, a dynamic and shared database is the most reliable way to know real-time data on the full nature and extent of homelessness. All data included in these counts is self-reported. State of Homelessness in Jefferson County 0 25 50 75 100 American Indian/ Alaskan Native Black Multi- Racial Hispanic/ Latinx White Jeffco Homeless Population Jeffco General Population 1% 5% 8%2% 16%28% 63%92% 11% 3% Households without children are significantly more likely to experiencehomelessness, more likely to lack stable housing and have a higher proportion ofpersons literally homeless than households with children. Households with at least one child and one adult Unstably Housed 33% Chronically Homeless (subset of literally homeless) 21% Literally Homeless 67% Unstably housed refers to persons who were unable to sleep or stay in the sameplace for the next 14 days, could not pay for housing for the next 14 days, or hadinconsistent housing for the last 60 days. Chronic homelessness is used to describepeople who have experienced homelessness for at least a year, or repeatedly overseveral years, while struggling with a disabling condition such as a serious mentalhealth disorder, substance use disorder, or physical disability 0 100 200 300 400 500 Unstably Housed Literally Homeless Race & Ethnicity Homelessness disproportionately impacts persons of color in Jefferson County.Compared to the general population, persons experiencing homelessness weremore likely to be persons of color. Household Type Housing Status 6 Households without children Households without children Households with at least one child and one adult 49 50 156 449 86% 14% Disability Drug Use Mental Illness Chronic Health 300 200 100 0 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 600 400 200 0 Health Conditions & Disabilities Approximately two out of every three persons (62%) over 18 report having at leastone disabling condition. Persons experiencing chronic homelessness aredisproportionately afflicted with physical and behavioral health issues anddisabilities. A disabling condition in this context is one that is expected to be long-continuing or indefinite duration, substantially impedes the person’s ability to liveindependently; and could be improved by the provision of more suitable housingconditions. Who is Experiencing Homelessness in Jefferson County? Unlike the charts above, the following chart shows total persons counted in the PITCounts over the past five years (2017-2020). The totals of the PIT counts aresignificantly lower than the totals reported in the Comprehensive Count data abovebecause the PIT Count is a one-day event, while the Comprehensive Count wasconducted over the course of a month. Total Persons Literally Homeless – PIT Counts 7 68 90 113 83 41 60 94 90 62 100 93 78 Chronically Homeless Literally Homeless Unstably Housed Unsheltered Sheltered (not chronic) 162 282310 99 295 348 229 84 355 124 PH OTO BY MARTIN R. SM I T H The objectives of this Action Plan were identified using the results from the 2019 Comprehensive Count, 2020 PIT Count, a shelter gap and inventory analysis, 2020 Jefferson County Community Needs Assessment, the 2013 Heading Home Plan, and the 2015 Heading Home Collaborative Evaluation. Additionally, the authors reviewed similar plans from over 10 communities of various sizes and geographies. Key guiding framework documents also included the Jeffco Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP), the Jeffco Bright Futures Roadmap, Focus Strategies’ Housing Crisis Resolution System Briefs, and the United States Interagency Council on the Homeless’ Federal Strategic Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness. The Heading Home Governance Workgroup used this information to identify four primary objectives, which will focus and guide our efforts 1) Optimize the Housing Crisis Resolution System 2) Increase Access to and Supply of Supportive Housing Units 3) Improve System-Wide Data Collection and Data Sharing 4) Increase Community Involvement in Support of Homelessness Solutions Plan Objectives so that we can most effectively move Jefferson County towards its goals of ensuring homelessness is rare, brief, and one-time only. Throughout Fall and Winter 2020, each workgroup completed a logic modeling exercise, which identified not only the vision for each objective, but also the concrete activities and expected outcomes for those activities. The activities describe what Heading Home will do to achieve the vision and the outcomes are the changes we expect to see because of the activities. The first action step for each workgroup involves assessing available data to identify more specific gaps and subsequent activities.The results of this activity will allow the group to set clear, measurable benchmarks for progress and be held accountable to those metrics. Rare One-TimeBrief 8 Serving all persons who present with urgent needs, Assessing and prioritizing the most urgent needs, Providing immediate crisis relief where needed, Triaging to appropriate long-term services, and Coordinating with multiple departments and programs towards common goal of stabilization A housing crisis resolution system responds to the needs of all persons who are experiencing a housing crisis in Jefferson County. In such a system, the programs and resources that serve persons in a housing crisis function together with a common set of goals and performance measures. The system’s resources directly align with those goals. Effective housing resolution systems function similarly to an effective emergency department of a hospital by: The following vision, activities and outcomes aim to create a system that prevents homelessness whenever possible, ensures enough resources exist for persons seeking to resolve their immediate crisis, and connects all persons in crisis with a pathway to stable housing. The outcomes will be made measurable after the gaps analysis is completed and progress will be tracked towards the benchmarks set. OPTIMIZE THE HOUSINGCRISIS RESOLUTION SYSTEM 9 Maintains real-time data that illustrates unmet need for sheltering options. Able to respond nimbly to changes in need over time. Sufficient temporary sheltering programs exist that operate low barrier, housing-focused programming for persons experiencing homelessness with greatest unmet need. Programs that provide direct services primarily to persons experiencing homelessness actively connect persons with housing and diversion services. A coordinated street outreach team conducts outreach several times per week, consistently engaging unsheltered persons and connecting them with housing and health services. Complete shelter and services survey and gaps analysis. Create recommendations for integrated sheltering model(s) that provide a resource for residents to recover from and exit homelessness as quickly as possible and meet their basic health and hygiene needs. Conduct community meetings with residents experiencing homelessness to identify key causes of homelessness, barriers to exiting homelessness. Support organizations who seek to improve their capacity to connect persons with housing resources with training and technical assistance. Create a dynamic, hotspot map of unsheltered encampments and day sheltering locations. Launch coordinated street outreach team that provides connection to health, housing resources and mainstream benefits. Reduction in persons experiencing homelessness Reduction in persons experiencing unsheltered homelessness Increase in low barrier sheltering option(s) that serve population(s) with greatest unmet needs Increase in persons who have access to Jeffco sheltering options Increase permanent housing placements for residents experiencing homelessness Increased service and benefit connections for unsheltered residents 10 VISION All agencies that serve persons experiencing homelessness are equipped and able to stabilize a housing crisis and facilitate a pathway to housing. ACTIVITIES OUTCOMES Permanent supportive housing is a proven solution to resolve homelessness for persons experiencing chronic homelessness. It pairs housing with case management and supportive services so persons can achieve stability and health in that housing. A cost-effective solution, supportive housing has been shown to lower public costs associated with the use of crisis services such as shelters, hospitals, jails, and prisons. By taking a collaborative approach to increasing the supply of this type of housing, we can provide safe, decent, and affordable housing for those with the greatest service needs while reducing costs to public systems. The outcomes will be made measurable after the various supportive housing related assessments are completed. Progress will be tracked towards the benchmarks set. INCREASE ACCESS TO ANDSUPPLY OF SUPPORTIVEHOUSING UNITS 11 Maintains real-time data that shows unmet need for supportive housing and can respond nimbly to changing need over time. Local rental subsidy programs prioritize Jeffco residents experiencing homelessness. A variety of housing subsidy programs exist to meet the full spectrum of need including short-term term programs such as rapid rehousing and also long-term tenant and project based rental subsidies. All persons in need of permanent supportive housing (PSH) have access to supportive housing units. All programs serving persons experiencing literal homelessness actively enter eligible persons into the metro-wide Continuum of Care coordinated entry system (One Home). A collaborative group of service providers and housing developers provide leadership locally on understanding the gaps in supportive housing and developing and implementing County-wide supportive housing strategy to address these gaps. Conduct assessment to: Determine subpopulations with greatest unmet need for supportive housing, Determine utilization rates of existing voucher programs and assess for barriers to lease-up. Summarize current and potential One Home participation by Jeffco service providers Assess move-on strategies occurring with supportive housing providers. Create, advocate for and act on recommendations for development of supportive housing to address the greatest unmet need. Provide support to organizations developing supportive housing on aspects such as, but not limited to, community engagement, site identification, partner identification and service provision. Partner with local Public Housing Agencies (PHA) to advocate for increased housing preferences for residents experiencing homelessness. Increase Jeffco service providers who enroll persons in One Home. Reduction in persons experiencing chronic homelessness in Jeffco Reduction in homeless Veterans (Built for Zero initiative activities aligned with this workgroup) Reduction in persons experiencing unsheltered homelessness Increase in One Home enrollments and housing placements of Jeffco residents. Increase HMIS participation in Jeffco Increase positive exits from supportive housing Increase number of tenant and project based supportive housing units dedicated for homeless households.12 VISION The system has sufficient access to and supply of supportive housing ACTIVITIES OUTCOMES What gets measured gets done. Without having more objective data about the extent and characteristics of persons experiencing homelessness, it is difficult to design effective interventions and solutions. It is also difficult to understand the impact of the interventions we do create and to continue to invest in solutions that work. To reduce homelessness, we also need to know who is actively experiencing it at any given point in time. This objective focuses on expanding our County-wide data collection system beyond an annual point-in-time so that we can know who is experiencing homelessness at any given point in time. More specific outcome measures will be established once an initial HMIS participation assessment is completed. INCREASE SYSTEM-WIDEDATA COLLECTION ANDDATA SHARING 13 Homeless service programs use HMIS as a client database, and where not possible, programs partner to share basic data elements for use in aggregate, county-wide reporting. Dedicated team monitors HMIS coverage, identifies opportunities and strategies for increased use. At any given point-in-time, Heading Home has access to data reports with reliable data on persons experiencing homelessness as well as the causes and conditions of homelessness locally. Dedicated team regularly analyzes system-wide data to identify system gaps and trends, evaluates program and system effectiveness, uses data to revise strategy and responds to data requests. County-wide, real-time data on homelessness is posted publicly in data dashboard format. Homeless service providers and the broader community understand and value the importance of a robust data collection and sharing system. Coordinate data sharing process with Built for Zero Improvement team, specifically with active by- name list data, dashboard data and HMIS participation rates. Create and maintain list of agencies actively using HMIS and identify possible areas of increased HMIS coverage. Create recommendations on strategies to increase HMIS coverage. Assess County-wide data collection on homelessness outside of HMIS. Identify what data is being collected, by whom and in what systems. Create recommendations to explore data sharing opportunities. Pilot data integration project with one agency in at least two distinct systems (e.g., hospital, jail, court, school). Explore feasibility and strategies for creating data dashboards with MDHI. Develop strategies for creation and management of County-level data dashboard on homelessness. Increase in permanent housing placements of Jeffco residents through One Home. Increased number of Jeffco providers that use HMIS and One Home. Increased enrollments of Jeffco residents in HMIS. Increased understanding of barriers and opportunities to expand data integration with multiple public systems. Increased data integration with at least two public systems that do not use HMIS reporting and using data on homelessness, including quarterly reporting on progress on goals set, demographics analysis, current gaps, unmet need, and trends identified. 14 VISION A homeless response system that has access to real-time, comprehensive, and reliable data ACTIVITIES OUTCOMES Community-wide solutions to homelessness require the coordination, participation and shared commitments of all corners of the community including local government, social service providers, faith partners, businesses, as well as community residents. This objective seeks to bring more people with diverse experiences and expertise into Heading Home to participate in building the solutions necessary to reduce homelessness and the stigma surrounding it in Jefferson County. INCREASE COMMUNITYINVOLVEMENT IN SUPPORT OFHOMELESSNESS SOLUTIONS 15 A committed, active, and informed group unified in common purpose to end homelessness in Jefferson County works to increase public knowledge and compassion on this issue. Membership in quarterly meetings and workgroups represents the diverse demographics, life experiences and expertise of Jefferson County, including those with lived experience of homelessness. Community members have various means in which to obtain more accurate information on the issue of homelessness locally and have tangible opportunities to get involved in the solutions. Research examples of effective community engagement strategies on homelessness and provide recommendations for activities for this workgroup. Engage elected officials and other leadership by educating on issues directly related to homelessness to enable them to better understand, promote and support effective solutions. Create education event series targeted for the public on the extent, causes and conditions of homelessness regionally and locally, effective interventions and opportunities for further involvement. Create opportunities for public to get involved in solutions to homelessness at various levels and capacities. Provide support and/or facilitation for public events that solicit feedback on various homelessness related initiatives. Assess semi-annually the Heading Home member list, attendance list and workgroup participant list to determine deficiencies in meeting diversity and inclusivity goals. Make recommendations and implement strategies to diversify membership and include the perspective of persons with lived experience of homelessness in Heading Home membership and workgroups. Increased public support of solutions Increase in number of persons of color, persons with lived experience of homelessness and persons from other underrepresented groups/sectors participating in the work of Heading Home. Increased knowledge and understanding of the problems and solutions needed to address homelessness. Increased solutions, programs, and interventions in place to effectively address homelessness in Jefferson County.16 VISION A community that has productive conversations on the issue of homelessness, offers multiple opportunities for the public to learn and engage on the issue and includes people with lived experience in the development of solutions. ACTIVITIES OUTCOMES Community Solutions’ Built for Zero initiative includes more than 70 communities across the country working to measurably and sustainably end chronic and Veteran homelessness. In late 2019, Kaiser Permanente Colorado, the state Division of Housing and the nonprofit Community Solutions announced the expansion in Colorado of the Built for Zero initiative. Metro Denver counties have ramped up a regional approach while a new cohort of five additional Colorado communities have signed up. Participating communities collaborate on building tailored plans to address homelessness in their specific community, adopt proven best practices, use data to improve homelessness plan performance, and share and deploy existing resources more efficiently based on an evidence-based process improvement framework. Community Solutions also offers a useful definition of what it means to eliminate homelessness. It aims to reduce homelessness to “functional zero,” meaning that the number of people experiencing homelessness is smaller than the number that are successfully placed in housing in the average month. Many communities have reached functional zero for certain populations, such as Veterans. This does not mean that no Veterans will ever again experience homelessness in those communities, but that the communities have the resources and procedures in place to ensure that it happens rarely and when it does occur, it is quickly resolved. Jefferson County formed its own Built for Zero team in Fall of 2020 that works collaboratively with the metro regional efforts. The tasks of developing housing inventories, case conferencing, street outreach and increasing HMIS participation are now underway. This work will lay the foundation and further bolster the objectives and activities included in this Action Plan. Action Plan in Motion... Built For Ze ro 17 This Plan outlines some specific actions and outcomes we feel confident will make an impact on our larger desired impact of creating a system in Jefferson County where homelessness is a rare, brief, and non-recurring experience. While homelessness may seem an intractable problem to many, we know it has not always been this way. Many policies in health, housing and criminal justice systems have caused or contributed to this epidemic over the last several decades and it will require the same level of determination and decisions from these systems, residents, and leadership to reverse this trajectory. We acknowledge Heading Home has influence over only a small portion of these systems, but we commit to serving as a catalyst and leader in the Jefferson County community to further conversations on and development of solutions to homelessness locally. Using this plan as a roadmap, we hope to further realize Jefferson County’s mission to promote the safety, health, and well-being of the entire Jefferson County community. Impact Making Homelessness Rare, Brief and Non-recurring in Jefferson County 18 1 Gaps Analysis & Recommendations for Emergency Sheltering Options Jefferson County Executive Summary A housing crisis resolution system responds to the needs of all persons who are experiencing a housing crisis. Successful systems pull all the housing programs and resources together to work on a common set of goals. Effective housing resolution systems function similarly to an effective emergency department of a hospital by: • Serving all persons who present with urgent needs, • Assessing and prioritizing the most urgent needs, • Providing immediate crisis relief where needed, • Triaging to appropriate long-term services, and • Coordinating with multiple departments and programs towards common goal of stabilization All points of contact for persons experiencing homelessness stand ready to stabilize the housing crisis and facilitate pathways to housing. While temporary sheltering options are a necessary component of an effective crisis resolution system, temporary shelter alone will not reduce homelessness. The ultimate solution to homelessness is permanent housing. Sheltering options must be connected with permanent housing options in order to successfully serve its purpose as part of a response system that seeks to ensure homelessness is rare, brief, and non-recurring. This document serves to assess current temporary sheltering options in Jefferson County, review available data to determine specific needs for such options, and identify unmet need. It provides information on best practice and evidence-based approaches to meeting this need. Lastly, we offer a clear set of recommendations to address the unique needs within Jefferson County and concrete recommendations for how leadership can assist in supporting this effort. These recommendations were developed by the Crisis Resolution Workgroup of the Heading Home Committee and driven by the Jefferson County Homelessness 2021 Action Plan. Thank you to this group of thoughtful non-profit, government, and faith-based leaders for their time and commitment. Document Outline: • Gaps analysis o Summary of existing temporary sheltering inventory in Jefferson County o Summary of need for temporary sheltering options in Jefferson County o Description of unmet need • Homeless Crisis Resolution System: Key Components & Best Practices • Priorities for Effective Crisis Resolution System in Jefferson County • Leadership Recommendations o Possible Funding Sources o Budget Estimate ATTACHMENT 2 2 Gaps Analysis: Identifying Unmet Need for Emergency Sheltering Options in Jefferson County Summary of Existing Sheltering Inventory The table below includes a list of existing temporary shelter options for persons experiencing homelessness in Jefferson County as of February 2021. In addition to space capacity, we have provided information on the populations served by these programs and the relative barriers to entry for each program. We believe these combined data points present a more complete representation of the capacity of our existing sheltering programs in Jefferson County that serve the homeless population. Organization (Program) Subpopulation Served Eligibility Criteria Capacity (# rooms/ units/ spots) Transitional Housing (up to 2 year stay) Beyond Home Families w/ children High 206 Catholic Charities (Marisol 10th) Families w/ children Med-High Family Homestead Families w/ children Med-High Emergency Shelter- Severe Weather only Evergreen Christian Outreach (Evergreen Shelter Program) All households Low 98 Severe Weather Shelter Network Adult only households Low Jefferson County Human Services Families with children Low Emergency Shelter – Domestic Violence only Roots of Courage (Family Tree) All households Med-High 38 Safe Parking lots CO Safe Parking Initiative (Golden & Arvada lots) All households Low 17 359 Inventory Summary: • The majority (57%) of sheltering beds/units are dedicated for families with children, 96% of those units/beds are for families who have few barriers to obtaining housing relative to the general homeless population. • Jeffco’s overnight sheltering options for adult-only households is limited to severe weather nights only, which comprised only 15% of the nights in 2019-20 season. The severe weather response is activated when the low temperature at night is lower than 20 degrees Fahrenheit with no precipitation, or lower than 32 degrees with precipitation. Severe Weather Shelter Network does not provide housing-focused, wrap-around services to its guests, so these individuals typically return to unsheltered homelessness as soon as the temperature rises above freezing. • Safe parking lots allows persons to safely and legally reside in their vehicles overnight. It does not include indoor shelter options with some exceptions during extreme weather events. The 3 first two safe parking lots in Jefferson County launched in 2020 reside in church parking lots. Data does not yet exist on how many persons residing in their cars, if given a shelter option that meets their needs, would prefer to move indoors at night. The two safe parking lots in Jefferson County accept cars and trucks, but do not allow recreational vehicles. • Jefferson County relies heavily on a motel based sheltering model. Aside from severe weather vouchering, several local homeless service providers have small budgets to provide motel vouchers to persons in immediate need of shelter. Often the vouchers are used for overflow demand during severe weather nights, for persons recovering from acute medical conditions often referred by hospitals, or those who cannot access traditional shelters due not household composition (pets, couples, multiple adult households). Due to lack of system-wide data tracking on motel voucher utilization, motel voucher numbers were not included in the above table. For all vouchering across the County, it’s estimated about 100 households are vouchered during an average severe weather night at a total cost of $7,500 per night (based on average $75 per room cost). 4 Terminology: High Barrier vs. Low Barrier Programs: Sheltering programs have a lot of discretion in the eligibility criteria they choose to implement. High levels of eligibility criteria present barriers to accessing programs by most households experiencing homelessness. The result often is that these high barrier programs serve the households with the fewest challenges to obtaining stable housing. Households with minimal challenges are most efficiently and effectively served with minimal financial assistance and services to regain housing stability.i The households with the most barriers to obtaining stable housing would benefit the most from a more service-intense program, yet these are the very households that are often excluded from shelter programs with high barriers to entry and eligibility criteria. Some examples of these eligibility criteria include excluding persons with eviction histories, felonies on record, no/low income, no/underemployed, families with boys over 12, single father families, active drug and alcohol use, and those with pets. A low barrier program meets the needs of all members of a household and self-defined family and kinship groups. They do not turn people away or make access contingent upon sobriety, minimum income requirements or lack of criminal history. They do not require family members and partners to separate from one another in order to access shelter. Eligibility requirements are minimal and shelter rules are focused on maintaining a safe environment for residents. Indoor Sheltering Models: • Transitional Housing refers to a longer-term temporary, supportive shelter program that allows households to stay for up to two years. Programs typically have guests sign occupancy agreements instead of leases as the stay is temporary. While federal funding has dramatically decreased for transitional housing over the last ten years, HUD recognizes that transitional housing can be most beneficial for specific subpopulations such as persons in recovery from substance use disorders, persons experiencing domestic violence and unaccompanied youth. The setting is typically non-congregate. • Emergency Shelter refers to any facility in which the primary purpose is to provide a temporary shelter for households experiencing homelessness. Shelter stay limits can vary from night-by- night, week-by-week or up to several months. o Congregate model: The most common type of shelter setting, these provide a common facility and shared spaces such as dining areas, restrooms, living space and sometimes sleeping areas. o Non-congregate model: Households live in separate living spaces, most often in motel rooms. This model has gained popularity during COVID because of it’s effectiveness in reducing the spread of the virus. • Day Shelters are where persons experiencing homelessness can stay indoors during daytime hours but cannot stay overnight. These sites typically provide meals, showers, laundry, internet access and a range of co-located services. The primary day sheltering options in Jefferson County for persons experiencing homelessness are Mission Arvada (The Rising) and Mean Street Ministries in Lakewood. 5 Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) refers to a housing model that pairs housing/rent assistance with individualized, flexible and voluntary supportive services for people with high needs related to physical or mental health, most often those who experience chronic homelessness. A cost-effective solution, PSH has been shown to lower public costs associated with the use of crisis services such as shelters, hospitals, jails and prisons. PSH model can be located in one building (site-based) or be dispersed among multiple buildings or properties using portable vouchers/subsidies (scattered site). Housing First: Housing Firstii is an approach based in the idea that homelessness is foremost a housing problem. In other words, people need basic necessities like food and a place to live before attending to anything less vital, such as employment, budgeting or attending to substance use issues. Nothing in any person’s history or present precludes them from being able to be housed. Housing First does not equate to Housing Only. As persons are returned to or stabilized in permanent housing, many will need services to sustain that housing. Housing first is a philosophy that values flexibility, individualized supports, client choice and autonomy. It is not a “one-size-fits-all” approach. Summary of Need – Literally Homeless Population The tables below present an overview of the numbers and characteristics of persons experiencing literal homelessness in Jefferson County based on the Comprehensive Homeless Count conducted in August 2019. Literally homelessness is defined as persons who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence, including sleeping overnight in a public or private place not meant for human habitation, in an emergency shelter, transitional housing or motel/hotel paid for by an organization or government. The data below does not include those at risk of homelessness, couch surfing or doubled up. Data Limitations: A point-in-time based methodology of conducting a census of the homeless population has significant limitations in scope and reliability. This holds especially true for a population that is largely living outdoors and difficult to locate. To date, Jefferson County is reliant upon data from the annual Point-in-Time Count (January 2020) and the Comprehensive Homeless Count (August 2019). Although the one-day PIT Count was conducted more recently, the month-long Comprehensive Count is the most comprehensive County-wide data available. The data is still very likely an undercount of those experiencing homelessness and is of this writing over 1.5 years out of date, and does not provide information on post-COVID-19 homelessness. To improve our understanding of homelessness within Jefferson County at any given point in time, we need more homeless service providers to use the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS). Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) HMIS is a web-based database used by hundreds of homeless service providers across the state and 65 in metro Denver counties. It collects client-level data on households experiencing or at risk of homelessness. The US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) provides minimum data standards for all HMIS databases throughout the country. The software for Metro Denver HMIS is Clarity Human Services and the database is administered locally by Metro Denver Homeless Initiative (MDHI). When HMIS is used consistently by all programs in a community that serve persons experiencing homelessness, it provides a reliable understanding of who is experiencing homelessness, what caused their loss of housing and their basic condition. It also tells us changes over time as well as what interventions are most effective. In Metro Denver’s HMIS, HMIS is also used to enter persons 6 into the region’s coordinated entry system and queue for permanent supportive housing, also known as One Home. Heading Home is working diligently on increasing the number of programs that use the HMIS in Jefferson County so that we will be able to better understand the causes, conditions and needs of our unhoused residents at any point in time. The below data is pulled from the Comprehensive Homeless Count completed in August 2019. It summarizes key demographics, subpopulations and conditions of residents experiencing homelessness. The percentages in the call out boxes represent the percentage of persons/households unsheltered in that subpopulation (e.g., 88% of adult-only homeless households are unsheltered, 43% of homeless families with children are unsheltered). Persons living in unsheltered settings are more vulnerable to illness, injury, violence and unsanitary conditions. 43% 88% 0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400 450 500 Families with children Adult-only Households Households by Household Type Sheltered Unsheltered 7 *Other category refers to persons to identified as gender non-conforming (1), transgender (3), don’t identify (1) or did not respond (18). 41% 67% 84% 81% 0 100 200 300 400 500 600 Children (under 18) Young Adults (19-24) Adults (25-65) Seniors (65+) Persons by Age Sheltered Unsheltered 85% 66% 80% 0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400 450 Male Female Other* Persons by Gender Sheltered Unsheltered 8 Chronic homelessness is defined as people who have experienced homelessness for at least a year – or repeatedly over the course of several years – while struggling with a disabling condition such as a serious mental illness, substance use disorder, or physical disability. Disability was defined by having a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities. A chronic health condition is a condition that lasts one year or more and requires ongoing medical attention or limits activities of daily living or both. Approximately two out of every three persons over 18 surveyed (62%) reported having at least one disabling condition. 81% 68% 65% 91% 0 50 100 150 200 250 Veterans Fleeing Domestic Violence Unaccompanied Youth Chronic Homelessness Persons by Subpopulation Sheltered Unsheltered 82% 85% 73% 87% 0 50 100 150 200 250 Chronic Health Condition Disability Mental Health Problem Substance Use Problem Persons by Health Condition (self-reported) Sheltered Unsheltered 9 A total of 77% (516) of literally homeless Jefferson County residents were unsheltered and 23% (152) were sheltered. Summary: Unmet Needs The list below highlights the most pressing unmet sheltering needs in Jefferson County. In all cases, the need for low barrier sheltering options is highest. It is important that the persons with the highest barriers to (re)housing are not screened out from shelter programs and forced to live outside where their condition will likely worsen, barriers to exiting homelessness multiply and negative impacts to the community increase. 1. Low Barrier Sheltering Options for Adult only households: In Jefferson County, existing indoor shelter beds/units serve only 29% of the homeless population during severe weather nights. During non-severe weather nights, no shelter beds exist for adult-only households. Adult only households have greater health concerns, including mental health and substance use disorders, and rely on emergency health systems as their conditions worsen on the street. 2. Low Barrier Sheltering Options for Persons with Severe Health Needs: A disproportionately high percentage (average 82%) of homeless residents with one or more serious health conditions are living in a vehicle or in a place not meant for human habitation. Existing sheltering programs in Jefferson County are either not equipped or unable to accept persons with severe health conditions, therefore has a significant unmet need for medical respite temporary shelter programs.iii Such programs provide acute and post-acute medical care for individuals experiencing homelessness who are too ill or fail to recover from physical illness or injury on the street, but no longer need to be in a hospital. Without this resource, the cycle of crisis care and over-utilization of emergency departments continues, and hospital social workers are forced to discharge persons to the streets. 3. Low Barrier Sheltering Options for Families with Children: Inadequate low-barrier shelter beds exist for families with children. Existing transitional housing programs serving families maintain high eligibility criteria that would exclude many families experiencing homelessness from 8% 12% 3% 47% 30% Persons by Sleeping Location Hotel/motel paid for by a voucher Emergency shelter Transitional housing On the street/park/place not meant for habitation In a car/vehicle 10 entering. Because of this exclusion criteria, the data mask the need for increased low barrier emergency shelter options for families with children. 4. Low Barrier Safe Parking Spots: Only 9% of persons living in their vehicles in Jefferson County have safe parking spots available to them. People who are newly homeless retain their vehicle as their last asset, which provides shelter, personal privacy and autonomy, transportation for work and medical appointments, and connections to their community. But because sheltering in vehicles is illegal in many places and makes them a target for crime, people residing in vehicles often strive to “hide in plain sight” and do not connect with services, leaving them unserved or underserved. Additionally, no safe parking spots or affordable parking lots exist for people residing in recreational vehicles (RV’s), therefore a significant need exists for such parking lots. Medical Conditions of Unsheltered Persons in Jefferson County Living outside and unsheltered often exacerbates pre-existing health conditions and creates new ones. Alcohol and drug use is a common approach to numbing the daily experiences, stress, and trauma of life on the streets. Many individuals start using once on the street as a way to survive, which can ultimately inhibit their ability to get help. The stress resulting from sleeping outdoors may be eased by using drugs and alcohol to keep warm, suppress hunger and/or stay awake for extended periods, as well as a means of escape from physical and emotional pain associated with surviving on the streetiv. A low barrier shelter program would acknowledge these facts and would not conduct unnecessary drug tests during shelter stays. The municipal and County navigators, Metro Denver Homeless Initiative, and severe weather sheltering partners have reported increases in recent months in the number of unsheltered persons presenting with extremely medically fragile conditions. These individuals are often prioritized for available vouchers, but often need more time to recover than funding allows and often require more intensive medical support than available. Unsheltered persons have been found to have mortality rate 10 times larger than that of housed adult populationv. The below list briefly describes the medical condition of several Jeffco residents who were recently referred to homeless navigators: • Mr. A suffered a series of strokes and had limited mobility due to an accident in which he was hit by a car, crushing his pelvis. He was not able to maintain his activities of daily living and became septic, requiring a lengthy hospital stay. • Mr. N has cerebral palsy and was evicted from the motel due to inability to pay. He has no medical insurance and minimal benefits and was referred to navigators from hotel staff. • Mr. B has severe pulmonary issues and congestive heart failure. He could not maintain his employment in the gig economy after a medical setback. • Mr. P is visually impaired and has been living in and around businesses on West Colfax and Wadsworth and cannot navigate the bus system to retrieve vouchers from Severe Weather Shelter Network. • Mrs. C has terminal cancer and has less than a year to live. When undergoing treatment for the cancer, her ability to engage in case management was minimized. • Mr. M has been living on the streets of Lakewood for over 11 years. A Marine Veteran, he suffered a horrible on-the-job injury that left the bones in his legs and spine shattered. Unable to work, his disability income was not enough to keep up with cost of rent in the area. • Mr. K approached a service provider during the February sub-zero weather event seeking shelter because his tracheotomy was freezing. 11 • Ms. S presented with a hand infection that after seeking medical treatment required hourly soaking, of which she was unable to do while living outside in unsanitary conditions. Homeless Crisis Resolution System – Key Components & Best Practices What is a Crisis Response System? Emergency shelters, street outreach, and safe places to access crisis services are the critical front line of a community’s response to homelessness. These services meet basic survival needs like shelter, food, clothing, and personal hygiene, while also helping to resolve housing and other crises. To optimize the effectiveness of this system and to reduce the opportunity for residents to slip through the cracks, these components must work together in a coordinated system. This could mean they use standardized forms, assessment criteria, eligibility criteria, and a shared database. They also would commit to best practices by using a low barrier, housing first and client centered crisis response implemented with a trauma-informed approach. Key components includevi: • Street Outreach: Street outreach is critical to ensure the community actively seeks to identify and build relationships with all persons experiencing homelessness across the community. Developing relationships and trust with individuals averse to coming indoors takes time and a specialized skill set. o Jefferson County does not have an active street outreach team focused on housing. Currently, Jefferson County Public Health’s Points West team conducts street outreach to provide harm reduction services for those actively using drugs. Mean Street Ministries provides weekly outreach in Lakewood to various motels on West Colfax to provide food, toiletries, warm weather gear with a faith-based approach. Some of the municipal navigators conduct limited street outreach primarily in conjunction with law enforcement. • Diversion & Prevention: Centrally important to reducing inflow into the shelter system, prevention and diversion assistance helps residents to either preserve their current housing situation or find an immediate alternative housing arrangement and connection with services that will allow them to avoid homelessness. Diversion is also the most cost-effective intervention available toward the goal of ending homelessnessvii. Both prevention and diversion often require funding to use for short-term financial assistance (rent, move-in, storage, back- pay, motel vouchers, etc.). Many people, especially families, can exit or avoid homelessness with a light touch of services and assistance that these programs offer. o Some Jefferson County non-profits have diversion problem-solving conversations with clients during intake, however widespread or implementation of this tactic has not occurred. The Action Center has an active and small homelessness prevention Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) from the State Division of Housing. Additionally, the 12 rental assistance provided for eviction prevention through recent federal funding sources (e.g., CARES Act) will likely prevent homelessness for many households. • Coordinated Entry: A process designed to quickly identify, assess, refer, and connect people in crisis to permanent supportive housing and services. It ensures that all people experiencing a housing crisis have fair and equal access and it prioritizes those with the most severe service needs. It incorporates a system-wide Housing First approach and uses standardized tools and practices. o Approximately four organizations in Jefferson County participate in metro-Denver’s Continuum of Care’s (CoC) coordinated entry system, One Home, which is currently used to allocate permanent supportive housing resources. Beyond this limited scope participation of One Home, Jefferson County agencies do not maintain an active coordinated entry system. • Crisis Resolution/Housing-Focused Services: At the point of entry, interventions must be laser focused on the resolution of the current housing crisis. Services should be tailored to the unique strengths and needs of the household that will enable them to achieve and maintain permanent housing. o Some programs in Jefferson County provide housing-focused services, but many homeless service providers do not provide housing services. Many services exist to provide basic services, such as food, water, and clothing, but do not provide housing assistance. • Emergency Shelter & Other Basic Needs: In some circumstances, homelessness cannot be averted, and people need a safe, temporary place to stabilize and get connected with services and longer-term housing. Sheltering programs are most effective when open 24/7 as they allow safety and time for guests to take the steps needed toward obtaining more stable housing. Residents also need to meet basic hygiene and safety needs with access to publicly available showers and laundry. o As outlined in the inventory analysis in the gaps analysis, no year-round low-barrier shelter options exist in Jefferson County. Currently, The Rising offers publicly available, free showers in Arvada and the Wheat Ridge Rec Center offers showers for the public through vouchers provided by the Homeless Navigator. No known options exist for no charge laundry services. • Permanent Housing: An effective crisis response must be able to connect persons to permanent housing resources – whether it be through vouchers or temporary financial assistance. Without this requisite outflow, the crisis response system gets flooded and people stagnate at emergency shelters. o A supportive housing workgroup within Heading Home is actively working to increase access to and supply of supportive housing locally. Best Practices for Emergency Sheltering & Interim Housing Effective emergency shelters divert people from entering shelter when possible, provide access to crisis beds when not, and enable flow through the system to permanent housing. Shelter should be part of a 13 process of getting someone housed, not a destination. People must be able to get in and to get out (to housing). The response system should be actively working to engage people where they are and get more people indoors. Shelter models can be single site locations, rotating locations, partial motel leasing or scattered site motel vouchers. Some models can be used as short-term crisis housing, while others can be more of a bridge housing model, or one that is used as a short-term stay after permanent housing has been offered and accepted, but access to the housing is still being arranged. To summarize, the five key components to an effective emergency shelter include: 1. Housing First Approach 2. Safe and Appropriate Diversion 3. Immediate & Low Barrier Access 4. Housing-Focused, Rapid Exit Services 5. Data to Measure Performance Barriers to Accessing Shelter: Why do some people prefer to be on the street than in an emergency shelter? Many people who live outside do not access shelter due to the lack of available beds or they avoid shelters all together. A national surveyviii conducted of those who refuse to enter shelters, stated the following reasons: • Too crowded (37%) • Bugs (30%) • Too many rules (28%) • Full/not available (27%) • Would have to stay separate from partner/family (23%) • Germs (22%) • Do not accept my pet (22%) • Nowhere to store belongings (19%) • Too far away (18%) • Cannot stay with friends (13%) While a similar survey in Jefferson County has not been conducted, these same responses have been frequently reported anecdotally. Some other reasons provided locally for not accessing shelters include conflicts with work schedules, mental health and substance use struggles, fear of COVID-19, safety concerns, distrust of the system and lack of personal autonomy. As a shelter model is developed in Jefferson County, it is imperative that the process includes the voice and perspective of residents experiencing homelessness, and that their needs, including many of those listed above, are incorporated throughout the planning process. Additionally, the space must be safe, clean, trauma-informed and welcoming to all persons. The model must create an environment that makes persons feel welcome, especially those who are typically averse to accessing shelters and services. 14 Priorities for Effective Housing Crisis Resolution System in Jeffco The most effective interventions, programs and strategies in a housing crisis resolution system are ones where service models are standardized using all available best practice approaches such as motivational interviewing, progressive engagement, harm reduction and developed with a trauma-informed, client- centered, and strengths-based lens. Services are customized, remain flexible and seek to engage persons where they are in their crisis. Ultimately, interventions facilitate pathways to safe, stable housing. The following components and strategies are listed in order of priority, based on current need. PRIORITY 1: CREATE TWO HOUSING NAVIGATION CENTERS Develop two Housing Navigation Centers- one in North Jeffco and Central Jeffco - that use an integrated co-located service model. Navigation Centers contain the following core components: 1) Drop-in Center – Hold dedicated space for the following core services: a. Co-located housing and health service providers: behavioral health, primary care, public health vaccinations, harm reduction services, supportive employment program, benefits acquisition (VA, Human Services, etc.). b. Navigation services: Municipal & County homeless navigators, other community-based housing and health navigators. c. Basic needs: Access to showers, bathrooms, laundry, mail collection, temporary storage spaces, and phones. d. Open community space: Open safe space for rest and engagement with staff and guests. This space would also serve as overflow sleeping area for severe weather nights. e. Private office spaces/meeting rooms: Used for initial intake & diversion services. Also used for one-on-one meetings with community service providers, and temporary isolation rooms for persons symptomatic with infectious disease. 2) Housing-focused 24/7 shelter beds & spaces: Designate beds and activity rooms for each gender, multi-adult households, and/or persons needing to quarantine. Several units would be dedicated for persons with medical respite needs and those individuals would have access to medical personnel. Central to navigating a path towards housing, employment and health stability is the ability to have a reliable, safe place to sleep and recover. 3) Safe parking spaces for cars and RV’s: Select location for navigation center that has an adjacent parking lot to use for persons living in their vehicles who need a safe and legal place to park and sleep in their vehicles. These persons would be engaged by service providers and could access all services provided at the center. Families with children residing in their vehicles would be diverted to Human Services to receive services and voucher for a motel room. 4) Diversion: Diversion services must be consistently provided upon first entry to the navigation center using staff trained and skilled in this technique. Through a creative problem-solving and conflict resolution approach, this component stabilizes a housing situation and can prevent or reduce the length of time homeless. 5) Transportation Services: Depending on the location of the navigation centers, the center may need to operate a vehicle or have a budget for public transportation to assist guests in getting to the center and to needed appointments. 6) Data Collection & Coordinated Entry: The navigation centers would function as centralized access points for persons experiencing a housing crisis in the County. Primary to serving in this 15 role is using the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS). The HMIS allows service providers to communicate with one another across the metro area, puts guests in the queue for permanent supportive housing when appropriate, and reduces the trauma of asking redundant questions of guests. Lastly, it produces aggregate reports that help us understand the program’s performance and monitor the changing landscape of homelessness in Jefferson County. What is a Housing Navigation Center? The housing navigation center model meets people at all points on the spectrum of a housing crisis. It provides low barrier access to on-site housing navigation, supportive services, shelter beds, basic hygiene resources and a permanent housing pathway through coordinated entry. It functions as an efficient one-stop service center for residents of Jefferson County experiencing a housing crisis. The model especially engages long-term unsheltered residents who are often fearful of accessing traditional shelter and services. The core objectives of a navigation center include: - Diverting people from homelessness when possible, - Providing emergency shelter for most vulnerable individuals, - Rapidly assisting people in accessing permanent housing, - Maintaining or establishing connections with supportive services and employment, and - Providing essential services to help people survive homelessness. Successful navigation centers have access to sufficient permanent housing resources so that shelter beds are turned around as rapidly as possible to make room for others needing shelter. The low barrier model provides an opportunity for staff to engage shelter-averse populations during the day, build relationships and take the steps to build the trust necessary to engage them in services. Navigation Centers benefit the greater community by saving taxpayer dollars and reducing over-utilization of emergency departments, law enforcement contacts, and jail time as persons can get their basic needs met at the navigation center before those needs grow into crises. Locally, two local housing navigation centers exist including Weld County Navigation Center and Adams Countyix. The tri-city areas (Littleton, Englewood and Sheridan) are in discussions around the development of a navigation center. Two non-local examples include Hayward Housingx and San Diego.xi PRIORITY 2: CREATE COLLABORATIVE STREET OUTREACH TEAM Create collaborative street outreach team that includes housing and health focused expertise, data collection, encampment mapping and service connection to persons living outdoors. Use County and city staff as well as non-profit provider participation. Street outreach teams develop relationships with residents living outdoors and is central pillar in a functioning navigation center to ensure these individuals are connected with housing and health services. It is critical that we continue to understand the needs, names, and numbers of these underserved individuals. 16 PRIORITY 3: CREATE MOTEL-BASED EMERGENCY SHELTER FOR FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN Families experiencing homelessness are served best when they can maintain their family unit in a safe, non-congregate setting with customized services to support them on their pathway to stable housing. The current sheltering model for families is to provide temporary motel vouchers in a few designated hotels throughout Jeffco while providing navigation services to those individuals. We propose to move towards a single site family sheltering model of multiple rooms (up to 20) in one hotel in Jefferson County. The benefit of this model, as opposed to scattered site motel vouchers, is that families would build a support system with one another and services could be delivered more efficiently. We recommend starting in year one with one location by leasing 15-20 rooms continuously. After year one, we would assess the need for additional locations and consider scaling up to other areas of Jeffco so households would have choice and be closer to their home communities and support systems. In this model County and municipal navigators would serve as one referral source and work in partnership with on-site staff highly trained in best practice service models and approaches. Central to the success of this model is to provide intensive, individualized and high-level case management and navigation services. If funded in part or whole by County or municipal funds, we recommend operation of the shelter be put out to a Request for Proposal (RFP) process with clear requirements on staffing levels and service model. PRIORITY 4: WORK WITH EXISTING SHELTERING PROGRAMS TO LOWER BARRIERS TO ENTRY Leverage existing relationships with transitional housing programs to convert some or all units/beds to low-barrier, housing-focused models with space for emergency shelter beds. Use financial incentives and modify contracts. This leverage can also be used to require programs to participate in the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) as a condition of funding in order to increase and improve our County-wide data and knowledge of homelessness. 17 Leadership Recommendations Given the above priorities, Heading Home recommends that leadership best support these by taking the following steps: 1) Identify and secure physical site/building for one housing navigation center in Central Jefferson County and one in North Jefferson County using the building specifications listed below. This includes evaluating and supporting needed zoning waivers. 2) Assist in identifying and securing capital and operations funding to acquire/lease, rehab, operate site. 3) Provide leadership and support with community conversations / public hearings regarding navigation centers Navigation Center Site Specifications: Option A (smaller scale) Option B (larger scale) Potential building types Buildings purposed for similar use. Minor rehab may be needed. Churches, group residential, commercial space. Possible motel/hotel if congregate space Approx. Total Indoor Space 3,600 ft2 10,250 ft2 Sleeping Areas Sleeping space for 15 people (1200 ft2) - 10 beds/units for medical recuperation (hospital transition) - 5 beds/units for bridge housing (secured housing, waiting for move-in) Community space overflow sleeping area capacity of 10 people. Sleeping space for 45 people (3176 ft2) - Non-congregate units: (for medical recuperation /hospital transition) 4 non-congregate shared units, capacity 8 people. (800 ft2) - Men’s congregate space: 20 beds (1320 ft2) - Women’s congregate space: 16 beds (1056 ft2) Community space serves as overflow sleeping area during severe weather, space for 20 cots. Shelter Guest Living Spaces n/a 1 women (350 ft2) 1 men (350 ft2) Community Space (public day resource center; severe weather overflow) Fits up to 25 people (1200 ft2) Capacity 70 people (3600 ft2 ) Kitchen Communal kitchenette (100 ft2) Commercial kitchen (300 ft2) Laundry 2 stackable washer/dryer (50 ft2) 4 stackable washer/dryer (100 ft2) Bathrooms (toilets & showers) - Shelter guests – 2 men, 2 women. 1 ADA accessible restroom (150 ft2) - Men’s dorm area- 3 showers & 3 toilets, 1 ADA accessible (225 ft2) - Women’s dorm area- 3 showers & 3 toilets (225 ft2) 18 - Community room- 2 public toilets & showers, 1 ADA accessible (100 ft2) - Non-congregate units – 2 restrooms (100 ft2) Community room – 3 restrooms & 3 showers (225 ft2) Private Meeting Rooms (co-located service providers, case management meetings) 3 private offices (300 ft2 ) 2 small group meeting room (300 ft2) 6 private offices (600 ft2) 2 larger group meeting rooms (600 ft2) Storage space (for employment, medical appointments, shelter guests) 10 – 6X3X4 ft storage units outdoors (72 cubic ft) Secured access 20- 6X3X4 ft. storage units (72 cubic ft) 10- 3X2X3 ft. storage units (18 cubic ft) Secured access Staff offices 2 staff offices (200 ft2 ) 4 staff offices (400 ft2 ) Outdoor recreation space (smoking, etc) Secured/fenced courtyard (min. 350 ft2 ) Secured/fenced courtyard (min. 750 ft2) Other general requirements of sites: - Sites should be within one half mile of food and bus services so that persons can easily pursue employment opportunities, medical and other necessary appointments. - Utility connection points available - Reliable internet connection - ADA accessibility in bathrooms, laundry, kitchen, dormitories - 24-hour resident access and onsite management staff - Fire considerations: o Within 400 ft. of fire hydrant (verify with fire code) o Dorms must have 2 exits (verify with fire code) Examples of possible buildings that may be converted into navigation center Buildings already purposed/zoned for group living, church-related propertiesxii, motels/hotelsxiii, former schoolsxiv, modular units on vacant lots, unused government buildings, former medical offices/facilities, office buildings, warehouses, empty parking lots, and vacant big box or other commercial stores.xv Funding Sources Several private and public funding sources exist to support capital and operations expenses for the navigation center or family sheltering model. Funds would be needed for site acquisition/lease, possible renovations and operating expenses. Source Use Local administration American Rescue Plan Act Site acquisition, lease, rehab, TBD Jefferson County Lakewood Arvada 19 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and CDBG- Coronavirus (CDBG-CV) Site acquisition, lease, rehab Jefferson County Lakewood Arvada Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) Operations, services Jefferson County City and County General Funds Flexible All cities, County Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) Shelter operations and services, street outreach Rapid re-housing, homelessness prevention – temp. rental assistance & services State Division of Housing (DOLA- DOH) Metro Denver Homeless Initiative (MDHI) Section 811 Non-Elderly and Disabled Vouchers Permanent housing vouchers* Foothills Regional Housing Continuum of Care (CoC) Program Permanent supportive housing vouchers* Various metro providers, accessed through One Home State Housing Vouchers Permanent supportive housing vouchers* State Division of Housing Foundations: - Community First Foundation - Colorado Health Foundation - Daniels Fund Flexible Foundations Hospitals Flexible, per diem hospital transition beds (operations) TBD *funding source to assist in transitioning from navigation center to permanent housing 20 Budget Estimate for Navigation Center Annual Budget Option A: Small Navigation Center (capacity overnight 25, day 35) – 3600 ft2 Option B: Large Navigation Center (capacity overnight 65, day 75)- 10,000 ft2 Personnel Operations Staff (Option A: 7 FTE, Option B: 8 FTE, 4 PTE) $340,000.00 $450,000.00 Staff Training & Development $3,500.00 $5,000.00 Total Salary: $343,500.00 $455,000.00 Fringes @ 33% $113,355.00 $150,150.00 Total Personnel $456,855.00 $605,150.00 Operations Lease $15,180.00 $46,000.00 Food (one meal/day) $34,000.00 $100,000.00 Supplies (office) $3,500.00 $5,500.00 Insurance $5,000.00 $14,000.00 Utilities (water, gas, electricity, trash removal, internet, phone) $5,000.00 $15,000.00 Janitorial $0.00 $10,800.00 Property Maintenance $15,000.00 $30,000.00 Postage $1,000.00 $2,000.00 Pest Control $2,000.00 $4,000.00 Client Transportation $10,000.00 $20,000.00 Computers $4,800.00 $7,200.00 Mileage $3,600.00 $5,500.00 Client & Staff Clearances $2,500.00 $5,000.00 Diversion & Housing-related costs (security deposits, rental assistance, moving) $40,000.00 $60,000.00 Indirect Costs (10% of personnel) $45,685.50 $60,515.00 Contingency 10% $62,894.05 $94,466.50 Total Operations $172,085.50 $339,515.00 Total Personnel & Operations $628,940.50 $944,665.00 Acquisition & Rehab 21 Acquisition Motel (perm. housing) $2,000,000.00 Purchase of 2 vintage motels off Colfax. One has 23 rooms, asking $3million. The other has 18 rooms, asking $2million* Acquisition Church (navigation center) $1,000,000.00 Church in Lakewood with big open space, remodeled in 2007, 7,000 SF, sprinkler and kitchen. * Lease Warehouse Lease flex warehouse space under 10,000 sf. Upper range of lease costs is $20.00 per rentable sf (rent plus common area charges - triple net lease).* Renovation Ranges from $100-200 per sf, depending on building and type/extent of remodel* *Basis for Estimate: high level survey, no inspection of properties done. Also, zoning requirements vary and would affect process and timing going forward. Budget estimates based on following budgets: Denver protective action shelters, Jefferson County’s non-congregate shelter, The Rufuge (Broomfield), and The Rising (Arvada). i Dennis Culhane, “Testing a Typology of Family Homelessness Based on Patterns of Public Shelter Utilization in Four U.S. Jurisdictions: Implications for Policy and Program Planning,” 2007 ii Housing First https://endhomelessness.org/what-housing-first-really-means/ iii Colorado Coalition for the Homeless Non-COVID-19 Respite Care https://www.coloradocoalition.org/respite iv Factors associated with substance use among homeless young adults https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2856116/ v Mortality Among Unsheltered Homeless Adults, 2018 vi What is a Crisis Response System? https://endhomelessness.org/ending-homelessness/solutions/crisis-response/ vii Shelter Diversion: A best practice to prevent homelessness. https://www.strategiestoendhomelessness.org/shelter-diversion-a-best-practice-to-prevent-homelessness/ viii https://endhomelessness.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Emergency-Shelter-Role-of-Shelter_Webpage.pdf ix Colorado: Weld County Housing Navigation Center, Adams County Housing Navigation Center x Hayward Housing Navigation Center xi San Diego Navigation Center xii Proposal to convert St. Paul convent into homeless shelter: https://kstp.com/news/proposal-to-convert-former- st-paul-convent-into-shelter-for-families-experiencing-homelessness-under-consideration/6022892/ 22 xiii Fusion Studios: CCH converts hotel into housing for homeless individuals. https://denverite.com/2020/01/22/practically-instant-housing-this-was-a-hotel-now-its-a-place-for-people- whove-been-trying-to-find-a-place-to-live-in-denver/ xiv Shuttered Newark school building now becoming a homeless shelter. https://www.nj.com/essex/2021/02/this- newark-school-building-was-shuttered-in-2012-now-its-becoming-a-homeless-shelter.html xv Plan for converting vacant big-box stores into housing for homeless individuals. https://www.designboom.com/architecture/ktgy-vacant-big-box-stores-housing-for-homeless-10-25-2018/ Housing Navigator Job Description Position Purpose Provide housing navigation and placement to households enrolled in the Homeless Navigation Program. The Housing Navigator works closely with prospective property owners and managers to promote permanent housing opportunities for households experiencing homelessness. Work involves contacts with local and state government employees, community-based professionals, community residents, and adult and juvenile clientele. Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:00 am - 5:00 pm Job Functions / Scope of Authority ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS • Navigation includes providing services to clientele of all ages, including offering resources and strategic referrals for households in need of services and support; provides impartial and unbiased consultation, advocacy, and extensive independent review of clientele’s needs in support of successful exiting from homelessness; provides access to services offered by municipal, county, non-profit, and faith-based systems otherwise unattainable by customer’s efforts alone. • Provides direct service to customers by assisting with transportation and coordination of in-person meetings between customers, landlords and involved professionals for potential housing placements; facilitates communication via phone calls, emails, and other methods of communication, provides referral and resources support, entry and exit follow up plan development, and participation in individualized service and support teams. Follows up with individuals and families and provides resources. Applies knowledge of multiple individual and family serving agencies in the region to all these activities. • Gathers and maintains information on resources and eligibility requirements for services available to individuals and families. Gathers qualitative and quantitative data from individuals and families regarding services. Prepares and reviews documents (case notes, meeting information); collects and distributes information; responds to navigation inquiries from individuals, families and professionals. • Facilitates goal development, provides ideas and input for housing and stabilization outcome goals, and participates on subcommittees to carry out those goals, follows up with individuals and families, and provides resources; offers expertise around best and promising practices; works within the regional navigation team and other regional boards, committees, and groups to accomplish objectives. • Provides housing navigation support as a wraparound facilitator and/or liaison with any other system or professional the customer is involved with. • Networks and collaborates with area housing resources. • Assist clients in their search for housing, filling out rental applications, interpreting leases and understanding tenant rights and responsibilities. • Lease up newly enrolled clients. • Submit payment requests for payments with all proper documentation including but not limited to Lease, W-9 and Deposit Form. ATTACHMENT 3 • Coordinates and expedites services for customers in need through the following activities: researches and presents data collection tools; designs individual and family involvement opportunities through participation on subcommittees; gathers qualitative and quantitative data from individuals and families regarding services; manages and analyzes data in spreadsheets and databases. • Assists in planning, development, implementation and management of program strategies, policies, procedures, goals and performance measures; tracks and reports on the progress of goals and performance measures; makes recommendations for changes or improvements to achieve desired outcomes. • Promptly enter documentation and information into Client files, HMIS, and other respective tracking system as required • Attend trainings with government and community agencies that service individuals and families. • Collaborates and coordinates closely with Public Safety, Housing, Parks, Courts, City Manager’s Office, City Attorney’s Office and other city staff and work systems to accomplish city goals and objectives. • Collaborates with a variety of municipal, county, non-profit, faith-based systems, and other applicable agencies to coordinate systems and deliver on program goals. • Demonstrates a respectful attitude towards customers, coworkers and partners that promotes teamwork, open communication, and effective customer service. • Acts with the customer in mind, responds to requests promptly and provides effective services or solutions for customers. • Exercises appropriate level of initiative and judgment to make decisions within the scope of assigned authority. Working Environment / Qualifications ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES • Broad knowledge of poverty and homelessness causes, trends, issues, and solutions. • Knowledge of existing community resources available to assist individuals experiencing homelessness. • Training in trauma informed care. • Experience coordinating and collaborating with internal staff and external partners to accomplish objectives. • Knowledge or experience with developing and managing policies, procedures, goals, timelines and performance measures. • Ability to analyze and evaluate program data and make course corrections or recommendations as needed for successful outcomes. • Strong customer service and customer/client relationship skills. • Solid computer skills with ability to maintain databases and enter/organize data accurately. • Strong organizational skills and experience maintaining filing systems. • Ability to engage customers in the field with direct service provision. • Ability to interact and collaborate with others, share information, and provide consultation and advice. • Ability to consider different points of view and to use elements of persuasion to gain cooperation and acceptance of ideas, and to reach agreement. • Ability to apply comprehensive, practical and technical knowledge with use of analytical judgement and decision making abilities. • Ability to effectively communicate information, both verbally and in writing, to support organizational objectives and interact with all levels of personnel within the city and the public in a positive and cooperative manner. • Ability to read and comprehend a variety of written communications and publications. • Ability to research, interpret, analyze and evaluate data. • Ability to handle conflict and maintain composure under pressure. • Ability to drive a motor vehicle. • Available to work a regular Mon-Fri schedule with flexibility on evenings and weekends and willingness to be on-call to respond to emergent situations OTHER FUNCTIONS: • Other duties as assigned. —Employees are held accountable for all duties of this job— SCOPE OF AUTHORITY: Receives general supervision under the direction of the Manager of Housing Preservation and Resources. Plans and prioritizes daily work activities and tasks. Supports the preparation and/or development of plans for projects and programs involving coordination with other departments and/or outside organizations. Few established precedents and/or procedures exist. Employee is expected to follow procedures and handle difficult and specialized situations in functional area with support from supervisor. Financial Accountability: None WORKING ENVIRONMENT/PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES: The work environment/physical activities described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of the job. Work is primarily performed in an office environment with moderate noise levels. Will visit camps, parked cars, and other sites to meet people where they are as well as in-person visits in an office environment. Physical effort and activities include: occasionally operating a personal or City-owned motor vehicle to drive to and from meetings and business locations; ability to talk, hear and listen, use of hands/fingers to type and handle, feel or manipulate objects constantly; frequent sitting; occasional standing, walking, and reaching with hands and arms; visual acuity to focus on details at a close distance, and make general observations and inspections; frequent handling of objects weighing up to 10 pounds, and up to 50 pounds occasionally. MINIMUM REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS (EDUCATION, LICENSE, TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE): Bachelor’s degree in social work or a related field and three to five (3-5) years of related experience. Experience or training in trauma informed care and/or poverty or homelessness issues required. Background check and driver’s license required. Preferred Qualifications: Master’s Degree in social work or related field is preferred. Experience creating or developing programs, policies, procedures, goals, and performance measures preferred. Bilingual English/Spanish language skills preferred. WHEAT RIDGE • GOLDEN • EDGEWATER HOMELESS NAVIGATION DEMOGRAPHIC REPORT QUARTERLY MAY 2021 ATTACHMENT 4 May 2021 Introduction This quarterly Homeless Navigation Demographic Report contains details that are self-reported by individuals experiencing homelessness during the client intake process in the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS). During this process, the Homeless Navigator does not verify or validate the information as true or accurate. The Homeless Navigator serves the cities of Wheat Ridge, Golden and Edgewater. All data included in this report represents active client demographics. Once a client is housed or the relationship is inactive for 180 days, they are removed from the HMIS database. The following data points are included in this report: •Age Range •Gender •Race •Disability Status •Physical Disability •Chronic Health Condition •HIV/AIDS Status •Mental Health •Substance Abuse •Chronic Homeless Status •Homelessness Frequency •Veteran Status •Hispanic Ethnicity •Prior Living Situation •Prior Living Duration •Individual Income •Household Income Client Demographics Report Jeffco Homeless Navigator Collaborative Date Range: 02/01/2021 thru 05/01/2021 Veteran: All Client Project Stays: All active Age Range Chart Under 5 5 - 12 13 - 17 18 - 24 25 - 34 35 - 44 45 - 54 55 - 61 62+No Answer Unde r 5 5 - 1 2 13 - 1 7 18 - 2 4 25 - 3 4 35 - 4 4 45 - 5 4 55 - 6 1 62+ No A n s w e r Age Range 0 Nu m b e r o f C l i e n t s 0 0 0 0 3 2 9 5 0 0 Age Range # of Clients Under 5 0 5 - 12 0 13 - 17 0 18 - 24 0 25 - 34 3 35 - 44 2 45 - 54 9 55 - 61 5 62+0 No Answer 0 19Total: 1 / 21 Powered ByThu May 6 09:48:10 AM 2021 Client Demographics Report Jeffco Homeless Navigator Collaborative Date Range:02/01/2021 thru 05/01/2021 Veteran:All Client Project Stays:All active Gender Chart Female Male Client doesn't know 5.26% 63.16% 31.58% Gender #of Clients Female 6 Male 12 Trans Female (MTF or Male to Female)0 Trans Male (FTM or Female to Male)0 Gender Non-Conforming (i.e.not exclusively male or female)0 Client doesn't know 1 Client refused 0 No Answer 0 19Total: 2 /21 Powered ByThuMay609:48:10 AM 2021 Client Demographics Report Jeffco Homeless Navigator Collaborative Date Range:02/01/2021 thru 05/01/2021 Veteran:All Client Project Stays:All active Race Chart Black or African American Multiple races White Client Don't know / Refused 5.26% 84.21% 5.26% 5.26% Race #of Clients American Indian or Alaska Native 0 Asian 0 Black or African American 1 Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander 0 Multiple races 1 White 16 Client Don't know /Refused 1 No Answer 0 19Total: 3 /21 Powered ByThuMay609:48:10 AM 2021 Client Demographics Report Jeffco Homeless Navigator Collaborative Date Range:02/01/2021 thru 05/01/2021 Veteran:All Client Project Stays:All active Disabled (Adults & HoH) Chart No Yes 78.95% 21.05% Disabled (Adults &HoH)#of Clients No 4 Yes 15 Client doesn't know 0 Client refused 0 No Answer 0 19Total: 4 /21 Powered ByThuMay609:48:10 AM 2021 Client Demographics Report Jeffco Homeless Navigator Collaborative Date Range:02/01/2021 thru 05/01/2021 Veteran:All Client Project Stays:All active Physical Disability Chart No Yes 78.95% 21.05% Physical Disability #of Clients No 4 Yes 15 Client doesn't know 0 Client refused 0 No Answer 0 Total:19 5 /21 Powered ByThuMay609:48:10 AM 2021 Client Demographics Report Jeffco Homeless Navigator Collaborative Date Range:02/01/2021 thru 05/01/2021 Veteran:All Client Project Stays:All active Developmental Disability Chart No Yes 31.58% 68.42% Developmental Disability #of Clients No 13 Yes 6 Client doesn't know 0 Client refused 0 No Answer 0 Total:19 6 /21 Powered ByThuMay609:48:10 AM 2021 Client Demographics Report Jeffco Homeless Navigator Collaborative Date Range:02/01/2021 thru 05/01/2021 Veteran:All Client Project Stays:All active Chronic Health Condition Chart No Yes 52.63% 47.37% Chronic Health Condition #of Clients No 9 Yes 10 Client doesn't know 0 Client refused 0 No Answer 0 Total:19 7 /21 Powered ByThuMay609:48:10 AM 2021 Client Demographics Report Jeffco Homeless Navigator Collaborative Date Range:02/01/2021 thru 05/01/2021 Veteran:All Client Project Stays:All active HIV/AIDS Chart No 100% HIV/AIDS #of Clients No 19 Yes 0 Client doesn't know 0 Client refused 0 No Answer 0 Total:19 8 /21 Powered ByThuMay609:48:10 AM 2021 Client Demographics Report Jeffco Homeless Navigator Collaborative Date Range:02/01/2021 thru 05/01/2021 Veteran:All Client Project Stays:All active Mental Health Problem Chart No Yes 52.63% 47.37% Mental Health Problem #of Clients No 9 Yes 10 Client doesn't know 0 Client refused 0 No Answer 0 Total:19 9 /21 Powered ByThuMay609:48:10 AM 2021 Client Demographics Report Jeffco Homeless Navigator Collaborative Date Range:02/01/2021 thru 05/01/2021 Veteran:All Client Project Stays:All active Substance Abuse Chart No Alcohol Abuse Drug Abuse 10.53% 15.79% 73.68% Substance Abuse #of Clients No 14 Alcohol Abuse 3 Drug Abuse 2 Both Alcohol and Drug Abuse 0 Client doesn't know 0 Client refused 0 No Answer 0 Total:19 10 /21 Powered ByThuMay609:48:10 AM 2021 Client Demographics Report Jeffco Homeless Navigator Collaborative Date Range:02/01/2021 thru 05/01/2021 Veteran:All Client Project Stays:All active Chronic Homeless (Adults & HoH) Chart No Yes 47.37% 52.63% Chronic Homeless (Adults &HoH)#of Clients No 10 Yes 9 Clients Entering from Homelessness #of Clients 16Yes 3No Approximate Date Started #of Clients 365 Days or More 10 Less Than 365 Days 6 Missing 0 Not applicable 3 Times Homeless in the Past Three Years #of Clients One Time 9 Two Times 4 Three Times 1 Four or more times 2 Client doesn't know 0 Client refused 0 11 /21 Powered ByThuMay609:48:10 AM 2021 Client Demographics Report Jeffco Homeless Navigator Collaborative Date Range:02/01/2021 thru 05/01/2021 Veteran:All Client Project Stays:All active Times Homeless in the Past Three Years #of Clients No Answer 3 Total Months Homeless in the Past Three years #of Clients One month (this time is the first month)1 Two Months 0 Three Months 0 Four Months 0 Five Months 0 Six Months 0 Seven Months 1 Eight Months 0 Nine Months 1 Ten Months 1 Eleven Months 0 Twelve Months 1 More than 12 Months 11 Client doesn't know 0 Client refused 0 No Answer 0 Not Applicable 3 19Total: 12 /21 Powered ByThuMay609:48:10 AM 2021 Client Demographics Report Jeffco Homeless Navigator Collaborative Date Range:02/01/2021 thru 05/01/2021 Veteran:All Client Project Stays:All active Veteran Status (Adults Only) Chart No Yes Client doesn't know 5.26% 5.26% 89.47% Veteran Status (Adults Only)#of Clients No 17 Yes 1 Client doesn't know 1 Client refused 0 No Answer 0 19Total: 13 /21 Powered ByThuMay609:48:10 AM 2021 Client Demographics Report Jeffco Homeless Navigator Collaborative Date Range:02/01/2021 thru 05/01/2021 Veteran:All Client Project Stays:All active Hispanic Ethnicity Chart Non-Hispanic/Non-Latino Hispanic/Latino Client doesn't know 5.26% 15.79% 78.95% Hispanic Ethnicity #of Clients Non-Hispanic/Non-Latino 15 Hispanic/Latino 3 Client doesn't know 1 Client refused 0 No Answer 0 19Total: 14 /21 Powered ByThuMay609:48:10 AM 2021 Client Demographics Report Jeffco Homeless Navigator Collaborative Date Range:02/01/2021 thru 05/01/2021 Veteran:All Client Project Stays:All active Prior Living Situation (Adults & HoH) Chart Place not meant for habitation (e.g., a vehicle, an abandoned building, bus/train/subway station/airport or anywhere outside) Emergency shelter, including hotel or motel paid for with emergency shelter voucher, or RHY-funded Host Home shelter Safe Haven Foster care home or foster care group home Hospital or other residential non-psychiatric medical facility Jail, prison or juvenile detention facility Long-term care facility or nursing home Psychiatric hospital or other psychiatric facility Substance abuse treatment facility or detox center Residential project or halfway house with no homeless criteria Hotel or motel paid for without emergency shelter voucher Transitional housing for homeless persons (including homeless youth) Host Home (non-crisis)Staying or living in a friend's room, apartment or house Staying or living in a family member's room, apartment or house Rental by client, with GPD TIP housing subsidy Rental by client, with VASH housing subsidy Permanent housing (other than RRH) for formerly homeless persons Rental by client, with RRH or equivalent subsidy Rental by client, with HCV voucher (tenant or project based) Rental by client in a public housing unit Rental by client, no ongoing housing subsidy Rental by client, with other ongoing housing subsidy Owned by client, with ongoing housing subsidy Owned by client, no ongoing housing subsidy Interim Housing (RETIRED)Client doesn't know Client refused No Answer Pla c e n o t m e a n t f o r h a b i t a t i o n ( e . g . , a v e h i c l e , . . . Em e r g e n c y S h e l t e r Saf e H a v e n Fo s t e r c a r e h o m e o r f o s t e r c a r e g r o u p h o m e Hos p i t a l o r o t h e r r e s i d e n t i a l n o n - p s y c h i a t r . . . Jai l , p r i s o n o r j u v e n i l e d e t e n t i o n f a c i l i t y Lon g - t e r m c a r e f a c i l i t y o r n u r s i n g h o m e Psy c h i a t r i c h o s p i t a l o r o t h e r p s y c h i a t r i c f a c i l i t y Su b s t a n c e a b u s e t r e a t m e n t f a c i l i t y o r d e t . . . Res i d e n t i a l p r o j e c t o r h a l f w a y h o u s e w i t h . . . Ho t e l o r m o t e l p a i d f o r w i t h o u t e m e r g e n . . . Tra n s i t i o n a l h o u s i n g f o r h o m e l e s s p e r s o . . . Hos t H o m e ( n o n - c r i s i s ) Sta y i n g o r l i v i n g i n a f r i e n d ' s r o o m , a p a r t m e n t . . . Sta y i n g o r l i v i n g i n a f a m i l y m e m b e r ' s r o o . . . Ren t a l b y c l i e n t , w i t h G P D T I P h o u s i n g s u b s i d y Re n t a l b y c l i e n t , w i t h V A S H h o u s i n g s u b s i d y Per m a n e n t h o u s i n g ( o t h e r t h a n R R H ) f o r f o r m e r . . . Ren t a l b y c l i e n t , w i t h R R H o r e q u i v a l e n t s u b s i d y Ren t a l b y c l i e n t , w i t h H C V v o u c h e r ( t e n a n t . . . Ren t a l b y c l i e n t i n a p u b l i c h o u s i n g u n i t Re n t a l b y c l i e n t , n o o n g o i n g h o u s i n g s u b s i d y Re n t a l b y c l i e n t , w i t h o t h e r o n g o i n g h o u s i . . . Ow n e d b y c l i e n t , w i t h o n g o i n g h o u s i n g s u b s i d y Ow n e d b y c l i e n t , n o o n g o i n g h o u s i n g s u b s i d y Int e r i m H o u s i n g ( R E T I R E D ) Clie n t d o e s n ' t k n o w Clie n t r e f u s e d No A n s w e r Prior Residence 0 Nu m b e r o f C l i e n t s 10 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Prior Living Situation (Adults &HoH)#of Clients 15 /21 Powered ByThuMay609:48:10 AM 2021 Client Demographics Report Jeffco Homeless Navigator Collaborative Date Range:02/01/2021 thru 05/01/2021 Veteran:All Client Project Stays:All active Prior Living Situation (Adults &HoH)#of Clients Place not meant for habitation (e.g.,a vehicle,an abandoned building,bus/train/subway station/airport or anywhere outside)10 Emergency shelter,including hotel or motel paid for with emergency shelter voucher,or RHY-funded Host Home shelter 3 Safe Haven 0 Foster care home or foster care group home 0 Hospital or other residential non-psychiatric medical facility 0 Jail,prison or juvenile detention facility 0 Long-term care facility or nursing home 0 Psychiatric hospital or other psychiatric facility 0 Substance abuse treatment facility or detox center 0 Residential project or halfway house with no homeless criteria 0 Hotel or motel paid for without emergency shelter voucher 5 Transitional housing for homeless persons (including homeless youth)0 Host Home (non-crisis)0 Staying or living in a friend's room,apartment or house 1 Staying or living in a family member's room,apartment or house 0 Rental by client,with GPD TIP housing subsidy 0 Rental by client,with VASH housing subsidy 0 Permanent housing (other than RRH)for formerly homeless persons 0 Rental by client,with RRH or equivalent subsidy 0 Rental by client,with HCV voucher (tenant or project based)0 Rental by client in a public housing unit 0 Rental by client,no ongoing housing subsidy 0 Rental by client,with other ongoing housing subsidy 0 Owned by client,with ongoing housing subsidy 0 Owned by client,no ongoing housing subsidy 0 Interim Housing (RETIRED)0 Client doesn't know 0 Client refused 0 No Answer 0 19Total: 16 /21 Powered ByThuMay609:48:10 AM 2021 Client Demographics Report Jeffco Homeless Navigator Collaborative Date Range:02/01/2021 thru 05/01/2021 Veteran:All Client Project Stays:All active Prior Living Duration (Adults & HoH) Chart One night or Less Two to six nights One week or more, but less than one month One month or more, but less than 90 days 90 days or more, but less than one year One year or longer Client doesn't know Client refused No Answer One n i g h t o r L e s s Two t o s i x n i g h t s One w e e k o r m o r e , b u t l e s s t h a n o . . . One m o n t h o r m o r e , b u t l e s s t h a n 9 0 d a y s 90 d a y s o r m o r e , b u t l e s s t h a n o n e y e a r One y e a r o r l o n g e r Clien t d o e s n ' t k n o w Clien t r e f u s e d No A n s w e r Prior Duration 0 Nu m b e r o f C l i e n t s 2 4 1 2 5 5 0 0 0 Prior Living Duration (Adults &HoH)#of Clients One night or Less 2 Two to six nights 4 One week or more,but less than one month 1 One month or more,but less than 90 days 2 90 days or more,but less than one year 5 One year or longer 5 Client doesn't know 0 Client refused 0 No Answer 0 19Total: 17 /21 Powered ByThuMay609:48:10 AM 2021 Client Demographics Report Jeffco Homeless Navigator Collaborative Date Range:02/01/2021 thru 05/01/2021 Veteran:All Client Project Stays:All active Individual Income (Adults & HoH) Chart $0 $1 - $10K $10K - $20K $20K - $30K $30K - $40K $40K - $50K $50K - $60K $60K+No Answer $0 $1 - $ 1 0 K $10K - $ 2 0 K $20K - $ 3 0 K $30K - $ 4 0 K $40K - $ 5 0 K $50K - $ 6 0 K $60K + No A n s w e r Individual Income 0 Nu m b e r o f C l i e n t s 8 3 7 1 0 0 0 0 0 Individual Income (Adults &HoH)#of Clients $0 8 $1 -$10K 3 $10K -$20K 7 $20K -$30K 1 $30K -$40K 0 $40K -$50K 0 $50K -$60K 0 $60K+0 No Answer 0 19Total: 18 /21 Powered ByThuMay609:48:10 AM 2021 Client Demographics Report Jeffco Homeless Navigator Collaborative Date Range:02/01/2021 thru 05/01/2021 Veteran:All Client Project Stays:All active Household Income Chart $0 $1 - $10K $10K - $20K $20K - $30K $30K - $40K $40K - $50K $50K - $60K $60K+No Answer $0 $1 - $ 1 0 K $10K - $ 2 0 K $20K - $ 3 0 K $30K - $ 4 0 K $40K - $ 5 0 K $50K - $ 6 0 K $60K + No A n s w e r Household Income 0 Nu m b e r o f C l i e n t s 8 3 7 1 0 0 0 0 0 Household Income #of Clients $0 8 $1 -$10K 3 $10K -$20K 7 $20K -$30K 1 $30K -$40K 0 $40K -$50K 0 $50K -$60K 0 $60K+0 No Answer 0 19Total: 19 /21 Powered ByThuMay609:48:10 AM 2021 Memorandum TO: Mayor and City Council FROM: Patrick Goff, City Manager Chris Murtha, Police Chief Jerry Dahl, City Attorney DATE: May 12, 2021 (for Study Session of May 17, 2021) SUBJECT: Pedestrians hindering the flow of traffic and pedestrian use of roadway center medians ISSUE: Staff has prepared two new ordinances regulating pedestrian behavior along roadways which are intended to reduce danger to persons and property, prevent traffic delays, and otherwise avoid pedestrian interference with traffic flow. PRIOR ACTIONS: These code amendments were first raised with City Council at the October 19, 2020 study session. Consensus was reached by City Council to bring forward two ordinances for consideration to address pedestrians hindering the flow of traffic and pedestrian use of roadway center medians. Both ordinances were approved on first reading at the December 14, 2020 council meeting. However, motions were made and approved at the January 25, 2021 council meeting to cancel the public hearings on both ordinances and republish for future public hearings after the items were reviewed again in study session. FINANCIAL IMPACT: Enacting these ordinances is not expected to have any significant fiscal impact. BACKGROUND: Pedestrian use of roadway center medians and roadways for various reasons is continuing to increase in Wheat Ridge. The two following photos are recent evidence of such activity in separate locations in the City. These ordinances are intended to reduce auto/pedestrian accidents by regulating center medians that are unsafe for occupation by pedestrians and other pedestrian behaviors that interfere with traffic, including entering the roadway in a way that obstructs or hinders traffic flow, and soliciting in areas that are unsafe for such activity. The ordinances adopt new sections of the Code governing pedestrian and traffic safety and amending the current section on solicitation activities to add a legislative declaration. These ordinances provide Wheat Ridge police officers with an enforcement tool to maintain separation between automobiles and pedestrians, thereby reducing auto/pedestrian accidents and improving overall traffic safety in the City. Item No. 2 Staff Report – Pedestrians hindering flow of traffic and use of medians May 17, 2021 Page 2 RECOMMENDATIONS: Staff is asking City Council for direction and consensus on these two proposed ordinances to increase the safety of pedestrians in the City. ATTACHMENTS: 1. Use of roadway medians draft ordinance 2. Pedestrians hindering the flow of traffic draft ordinance ATTACHMENT 1 CITY OF WHEAT RIDGE, COLORADO INTRODUCED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ___________ COUNCIL BILL NO. 27 ORDINANCE NO. _________ Series 2020 TITLE: AN ORDINANCE ADOPTING SECTION 16-70 OF THE WHEAT RIDGE CODE OF LAWS CONCERNING PEDESTRIAN USE OF ROADWAY CENTER MEDIANS, AND AMENDING SECTION 16-113, SALES AND SOLICITATION IN CERTAIN PLACES PROHIBITED WHEREAS, the City of Wheat Ridge is a home rule municipality having all powers conferred by Article XX of the Colorado Constitution; and WHEREAS, pursuant to its home rule authority and C.R.S. § 31-23-101, the City, acting through its City Council (the “Council”), is authorized to adopt ordinances for the protection of the public health, safety or welfare; and WHEREAS, traffic safety statistics for the City demonstrate that traffic crashes involving pedestrians have increased significantly; and WHEREAS, traffic safety statistics for the City also demonstrate that traffic crashes resulting in pedestrian fatalities occur along roadways that carry higher volumes of vehicles or that are posted with higher speed limits; and WHEREAS, conduct by a pedestrian that distracts a driver’s attention from a roadway, that hinders traffic, or that otherwise obstructs a roadway, increases the dangers to both pedestrians and to those traveling in vehicles; and WHEREAS, the dangers associated with interactions between vehicles and pedestrians increase the government’s interest in controlling pedestrian interactions with vehicles in the traveled portion of a roadway; and WHEREAS, working to maximize the distance between the traveled portion of a roadway and pedestrians will increase pedestrian and traffic safety; and WHEREAS, the primary purpose of a roadway center median is to enhance the safety of and ensure the free flow of traffic on roadways by separating opposing lanes of vehicular traffic, channeling traffic for turning purposes, and, within designated areas, to provide a temporary refuge for pedestrians crossing busy or wide roadways; and WHEREAS, an individual who occupies or uses a roadway center median area that is not designed or suitable for pedestrian use creates a safety hazard danger for himself or herself and for traffic in the adjacent roadway; and WHEREAS, working to reduce the circumstances and minimize the time during which pedestrians are in close proximity to traffic will increase pedestrian and traffic safety; and WHEREAS, the use by pedestrians of entry and exit ramps along Interstate highways for sales or collection transactions with passing motorists poses a special safety hazard to the pedestrians where no safe pull-out or parking areas exist, and also creates a distraction for passing motorists which can inhibit the free flow of traffic; and WHEREAS, alternative means and locations for the sales and solicitation are available elsewhere throughout the City; and WHEREAS, prohibiting the use of certain areas along certain highways for sales or solicitations will directly advance the safety and welfare of the public; and WHEREAS, the City Council finds that adoption of laws relating to the regulation of pedestrians who are in close proximity to roadways within the City is necessary to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the public. NOW THEREFORE BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF WHEAT RIDGE, COLORADO: Section 1. Section 16-70, Pedestrian Use of Roadway Center Medians, is adopted within Chapter 16 of the Wheat Ridge Code of Laws, to read as follows: Sec. 16-70. Pedestrian use of roadway center medians. a. Legislative declaration; purpose. The city council hereby finds that collisions between pedestrians and vehicles in Wheat Ridge have increased and declares it necessary to clearly delineate the responsibilities of pedestrians to allow for safer pedestrian and vehicle interactions throughout the city. Certain higher speed roadways in Wheat Ridge have center medians that are designed to separate traffic and channel the flow of traffic through turns and intersections. Except for crosswalk refuge areas, such center medians were not designed and are not suitable for access, occupation, or use by pedestrians. Pedestrians who use center medians not designed for pedestrian use may distract or even startle drivers, especially along higher speed roadways. This endangers the pedestrian as well as drivers and their passengers. The purpose of this section is to reduce the number of situations during which pedestrians are in close proximity to the traveled portion of a higher speed roadway. The city council finds this ordinance will promote pedestrian and traffic safety and is necessary to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the public. b. Definitions. The following words or phrases, when used in this section, shall have the meaning ascribed to them in this section, except where the context Higher speed roadway means a roadway within the city within which a center median is present. Center median means the raised area that divides a roadway carrying traffic in opposite directions, and which is defined by curbing, landscaping, or other obstacles. Center median does not include traffic calming devices. Temporary pedestrian refuge area means that part of a crosswalk that is located within or at the end of a center median that is designed to allow a pedestrian to safely pause before continuing to cross from one side of a roadway to the other. Traffic calming device means a speed bump or speed bump placed upon the roadway, as well as landscaped or other median located on side of pedestrian crosswalks, the purpose of which is to slow traffic. c. Unlawful act. It shall be unlawful for any person to access, occupy, use, assemble or congregate on or about any center median not designed or suitable for pedestrian use that has been posted, either on such center median not designed or suitable for pedestrian use or at the crosswalk access points to such center median, with a sign pursuant to this section prohibiting such access, occupancy, use, assembly, or congregation. Exceptions: This section shall not apply to: 1. A person using that portion of a center median designed as a temporary pedestrian refuge along a crosswalk if the person was not able to safely cross the entire roadway during the traffic signal pedestrian phase or green light signal phase. This exception allows a person to occupy the pedestrian refuge area for the duration of one traffic signal cycle before crossing the entire roadway; 2. A local, state, or federal law enforcement officer or authorized first responder engaged in the performance of his or her official duties; 3. A city or state employee or contractor authorized by the city manager or designee thereof, or by the state, to access the center median to perform construction, landscaping, maintenance, repair, or similar duties thereon; or 4. An employee or contractor of a utility company authorized by the city or the state to access the center median to perform construction, landscaping, maintenance, repair, or similar duties thereon. d. Determination. The traffic engineer may prohibit pedestrian access, occupancy, use, assembly, or congregation on or about any center median not designed or suitable for pedestrian use by having posted or placed upon, or at the crosswalk access points to, such center median not designed or suitable for pedestrian use a sign that reads “unlawful to occupy center median,” or that contains similar language. Only a raised center median that lies along a higher speed roadway may be posted under this section. A sign posted or placed under this section must be posted or placed in a way that is reasonably calculated to provide effective notice to an ordinarily observant person entering upon the center median. However, there is no requirement that the sign be visible from every position on or about the center median or from every position at or about the crosswalk access points to such center median. e. Sign constitutes prima facie evidence of notice. The posting or placement of a sign reading “unlawful to occupy center median” or similar language upon a center median or at the crosswalk access points to such center median shall be prima facie evidence that the notice was sufficient. The prosecution is not required to prove that the sign was visible from every position on or about the center median or at the crosswalk access points to such center median. f. Strict liability. A violation of any provision of this section is strict liability in nature. No culpable mental state or mens rea of any type or degree shall be required to prove a violation of this section. g. Penalty. Any violation of this section shall be punished by a fine or imprisonment not to exceed the limits in section 1-5 of this Code. Section 2. Section 16-113, Sales and solicitation in certain places prohibited, of the Wheat Ridge Code of Laws is hereby amended as follows: Sec. 16-113. Sales and solicitation in certain places prohibited. a. LEGISLATIVE DECLARATION; PURPOSE. UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, PEDESTRIAN SOLICITATION DIRECTED AT VEHICLES OPERATING ON A ROADWAY CREATES SAFETY HAZARDS TO THE PUBLIC. IN ADDITION, THE PRESENCE OF PEDESTRIANS ON INTERSTATES 70 AND 76, AND ON ENTRANCE AND EXIT RAMPS THERETO CAUSES SAFETY CONCERNS AS A RESULT OF THE HIGH RATES OF SPEED PERMITTED AND THE LACK OF PULL-OFF LOCATIONS OR VEHICLE PARKING AREAS THAT WOULD OTHERWISE FACILITATE TRANSACTIONS IN THESE AREAS. THE PURPOSE OF THIS SECTION IS TO PROVIDE FOR THE SAFETY OF THE PUBLIC RELATED TO SOLICITATION ACTIVITY AS DESCRIBED BELOW. THE CITY COUNCIL FINDS THIS ORDINANCE WILL PROMOTE PEDESTRIAN AND TRAFFIC SAFETY AND IS NECESSARY TO PROTECT THE HEALTH, SAFETY, AND WELFARE OF THE PUBLIC. b. It shall be unlawful for any person to solicit employment, business, contributions, or sales of any kind, or collect monies for same, from the occupant of any vehicle traveling upon any street or highway or entrance to or exit from any highway included in the interstate highway system within the city when such solicitation or collection: (1) causes the person performing the activity to enter onto the traveled portion of a street or highway; or (2) Involves the person performing the activity to be located upon any median area which separates traffic lanes for vehicular travel in opposite directions; or (3) The person performing the activity is located such that vehicles cannot move into a legal parking area to safely conduct the transaction. c. No person shall solicit on private property if the owner, tenant, or person in lawful control of the property has asked the person to leave or has asked the person to refrain from soliciting on the property or has posted a sign clearly indicating that solicitations are not welcome on the property. d. The words and phrases used herein, unless the context otherwise indicates, shall have the following meaning: Soliciting shall mean any solicitation made in person requesting an immediate donation of money or other thing of value. Purchase of an item for an amount far exceeding its value, under circumstances where a reasonable person would understand that the purchase is in substance a donation, is a donation for the purpose of this section. Traveled portion of the street or highway shall mean that portion of the road normally used by moving motor vehicle traffic. INTERSTATE HIGHWAY MEANS ANY PORTION OF A ROADWAY WITHIN THE CITY THAT HAS BEEN DESIGNATED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AS PART OF THE INTERSTATE HIGHWAY SYSTEM, OR THAT IS A CONTROLLED ACCESS HIGHWAY OR BELTWAY, AND INCLUDES ANY ENTRANCE TO OR EXIT FROM THAT ROADWAY. e. Penalty. Any violation of this section shall be punished by a fine not to exceed the limits established in section 1-5 of this Code. Section 3. Severability, Conflicting Ordinances Repealed. If any section, subsection or clause of this Ordinance shall be deemed to be unconstitutional or otherwise invalid, the validity of the remaining sections, subsections and clauses shall not be affected thereby. All other ordinances or parts of ordinances in conflict with the provisions of this Ordinance are hereby repealed. Section 4. Effective Date. This Ordinance shall take effect fifteen (15) days after final publication, as provided by Section 5.11 of the Charter. INTRODUCED, READ, AND ADOPTED on first reading by a vote of ___ to ___ on this ____ day of ____________, 2020, ordered published in full in a newspaper of general circulation in the City of Wheat Ridge, and Public Hearing and consideration on final passage set for ____________________, 2021 at 7:00 o’clock p.m., as a virtual meeting, and that it takes effect 15 days after final publication. READ, ADOPTED AND ORDERED PUBLISHED on second and final reading by a vote of ___ to ___, this _____ day of ______________, 2021. SIGNED by the Mayor on this _____ day of ____________, 2021 _________________________ Bud Starker, Mayor ATTEST: ________________________ Steve Kirkpatrick, City Clerk Approved as to Form ________________________________ Gerald Dahl, City Attorney 1st publication: December 17, 2020 2nd publication: Jeffco Transcript Effective Date: Published: Jeffco Transcript and www.ci.wheatridge.co.us ATTACHMENT 2 CITY OF WHEAT RIDGE, COLORADO INTRODUCED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ___________ COUNCIL BILL NO. 28 ORDINANCE NO. _________ Series 2020 TITLE: AN ORDINANCE ADOPTING SECTION 16-69 OF THE WHEAT RIDGE CODE OF LAWS CONCERNING PEDESTRIAN HINDERING THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC WHEREAS, the City of Wheat Ridge is a home rule municipality having all powers conferred by Article XX of the Colorado Constitution; and WHEREAS, pursuant to its home rule authority and C.R.S. § 31-23-101, the City, acting through its City Council (the “Council”), is authorized to adopt ordinances for the protection of the public health, safety or welfare; and WHEREAS, traffic safety statistics for the City demonstrate that traffic crashes involving pedestrians have increased significantly; and WHEREAS, conduct by a pedestrian that distracts a driver’s attention from a roadway, that hinders traffic, or that otherwise obstructs a roadway, increases the dangers to both pedestrians and to those traveling in vehicles; and WHEREAS, the dangers associated with interactions between vehicles and pedestrians increase the government’s interest in controlling pedestrian interactions with vehicles in the traveled portion of a roadway; and WHEREAS, working to maximize the distance between the traveled portion of a roadway and pedestrians will increase pedestrian and traffic safety; and WHEREAS, working to reduce the circumstances and minimize the time during which pedestrians are in close proximity to traffic will increase pedestrian and traffic safety; and WHEREAS, the City Council finds that adoption of laws relating to the regulation of pedestrians who are in close proximity to roadways within the City is necessary to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the public. NOW THEREFORE BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF WHEAT RIDGE, COLORADO: Section 1. Section 16-69, Pedestrian Hindering the Flow of Traffic is hereby adopted within Chapter 16, Miscellaneous Offenses, of the Wheat Ridge Code of Laws, to read as follows: Sec. 16-69. Pedestrian hindering the flow of traffic. a. Legislative declaration; purpose. The city council hereby finds that collisions between pedestrians and vehicles in Wheat Ridge have increased significantly and ATTACHMENT 1 declares it necessary to clearly delineate the responsibilities of pedestrians to allow for safer pedestrian and vehicle interactions throughout the city. The purpose of this ordinance is to reduce dangers to persons and property, to prevent traffic delays, and to avoid interference with traffic. Efforts to reduce the possibility that pedestrians may interfere with vehicular traffic are key to promoting pedestrian and traffic safety. The city council finds that this ordinance is necessary to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the public. b. Definition. The following word, when used in this section, shall have the meaning ascribed to it in this section, except where the context clearly indicates otherwise: • Obstruct means to render impassable or to render passage unreasonably inconvenient or hazardous, and includes but is not limited to, conduct such as extending objects into the traveled portion of a roadway. c. Unlawful act. It shall be unlawful for any person to willfully and unnecessarily hinder, obstruct, or delay traffic, or to willfully and unnecessarily attempt to hinder, obstruct, or delay any other person who is lawfully driving or traveling along or upon any roadway so as to interfere with the effective movement of traffic. d. Exception: This section shall not apply to any person within a crosswalk who lawfully entered the crosswalk and is crossing from one side of the traveled portion of the roadway for that period of time reasonably necessary to cross over the roadway. e. Penalty. Any violation of this section shall be punished by a fine not to exceed the limits established in section 1-5 of this Code. Section 2. Severability, Conflicting Ordinances Repealed. If any section, subsection or clause of this Ordinance shall be deemed to be unconstitutional or otherwise invalid, the validity of the remaining sections, subsections and clauses shall not be affected thereby. All other ordinances or parts of ordinances in conflict with the provisions of this Ordinance are hereby repealed. Section 3. Effective Date. This Ordinance shall take effect fifteen (15) days after final publication, as provided by Section 5.11 of the Charter. INTRODUCED, READ, AND ADOPTED on first reading by a vote of ___ to ___ on this 14th day of December, 2020, ordered published in full in a newspaper of general circulation in the City of Wheat Ridge, and Public Hearing and consideration on final passage set for January 25, 2021 at 7:00 o’clock p.m., as a virtual meeting, and that it takes effect 15 days after final publication. READ, ADOPTED AND ORDERED PUBLISHED on second and final reading by a vote of ___ to ___, this _____ day of ______________, 2021. SIGNED by the Mayor on this _____ day of ____________, 2021 _________________________ Bud Starker, Mayor ATTEST: ________________________ Steve Kirkpatrick, City Clerk Approved as to Form ________________________________ Gerald Dahl, City Attorney 1st publication: December 17, 2020 2nd publication: Jeffco Transcript Effective Date: Published: Jeffco Transcript and www.ci.wheatridge.co.us 1 Item No. 3 Memorandum TO: Mayor and City Council THROUGH: Steve Nguyen, Engineering Manager Kenneth Johnstone, Community Development Director Patrick Goff, City Manager FROM: Mark Westberg, Projects Supervisor DATE: May 7, 2021 (for May 17 study session) SUBJECT: Revisions to the City’s Floodplain Regulations ISSUE: Mile High Flood District (MHFD) is a valuable stormwater and floodplain management resource to not just the City but to the entire Denver Metro area. Their goal is to create innovative solutions that address stormwater and watershed holistically in order to protect people, property, and the environment through preservation, mitigation, and education. MHFD provides assistance, guidance, and regulations for the Denver Metro area. The Mayor is the City’s representative on the MHFD Board of Directors. MHFD regulations specifically prohibit tents and makeshift structures in the floodplain due to numerous public safety issues. Although camping has been prohibited within City parks since 2004, staff now is requesting that Council amend the City’s floodplain regulations in Chapter 26 to also specifically prohibit tents and makeshift structures in the City’s floodplains. In addition, staff is seeking to improve the approval process for Class II Floodplain Permits and the appeal process of Floodplain Manager’s decisions. Among the changes, staff is proposing to remove the Board of Adjustment (BOA) as the review and approval body for floodplain permits and to add the Building Code Advisory Board (BCAB) as the body to hear appeals. BACKGROUND: 1. No Camping in the City’s Floodplain Section 17-33 of the City Code states that “It shall be unlawful to camp overnight, or to park any vehicle, trailer or camper for overnight camping purposes.” However, this prohibition onlyapplies to City parks. While much of our floodplain is within City owned property, almost half isnot, including several areas that are within the right-of-way for Interstate 70 that are popular andhazardous locations for camping. In October 2019, the MHFD Board passed a resolution expressly prohibiting tents and makeshift structures within the floodplain. MHFD’s enabling statutes state, “In the event of any conflict between this floodplain regulation and any floodplain regulation adopted by any other public body within MHFD, the more restrictive regulation shall control.” This means that the MHFD’s October 2019 camping ban is the controlling regulation. While staff can and should enforce the more stringent MHFD regulations, having the regulations in the City Code allows more direct enforcement by staff. These floodplain regulation changes were made for the sole purpose of public safety. The dangers of allowing tents and other makeshift structures for human habitation within floodplains are as follows: 1. Individuals living in these structures put themselves at grave risk of serious injury and death by drowning during flooding. On July 21, 2019, a 38-year-old woman drowned in North Dry Gulch during a high water event. Her body was found the next morning in an area that was 10 feet underwater during the event. 2. Swift-water rescues of inhabitants of these makeshift structures during times of flood puts the lives of first responders at risk. 3. The building materials and furnishings of tents and makeshift structures within floodplains add to the debris load of the flood, potentially clogging bridge and culvert openings, thereby endangering the rest of the community. 4. The byproducts of human habitation of these structures (feces and trash) pollute the floodwaters with fecal bacteria and other hazardous substances, endangering the rest of the community. 2. Approval of Class II Floodplain Permits Currently the floodplain regulations in Article VIII of Chapter 26 require that the BOA provide the final approval for Class II Floodplain Permits. Class II permits are for construction of new habitable structures or new dwelling units. Before a Class II permit can be issued, a public hearing by the BOA is required. Staff ensures all technical issues have been resolved and code requirements have been met either during or as part of the building permit review process. Only after a request meets all applicable regulations is a BOA public hearing scheduled. Therefore, having the BOA conduct a public hearing adds an additional, seemingly unwarranted layer, to the process. The BOA does not have any technical training in floodplain regulations and does not provide any additional substantive review to the process. In addition, since the BOA only meets once a month, an additional month is often added to the approval process for Class II permits due to the need for the public hearing in front of the BOA. The BOA typically hears cases that involve variances to the City’s regulations due to some kind of hardship alleged on the part of the applicant. Any variance from the floodplain regulations is not allowed without going through a lengthy state and federal review process. This difficult process is intentional due to the fact that variances to floodplain regulations inevitabley put life and property at risk of flooding. Approval of Class II floodplain permits should be a ministerial (not discretionary) based on compliance with local, state, and federal floodplain regulations. Staff is recommending that the Floodplain Administrator, who holds a certification issued by the American Society of Floodplain Managers, be the final approval authority for Class II permits as currently occurs with Class I permits. Staff checked with both State and FEMA staff on the need to have any approval beyond the staff level for Class II permits. They confirmed that staff level approval only is sufficient and that they did not know of another jurisdictions that required some kind of board approval. Also, due to the very technical nature of the review of any potential appeals to the Floodplain Administrator’s decisions on floodplain permits, staff is suggesting that the current appeal process be revised to refer appeals to the BCAB instead of the BOA. This would then be consistent with the appeals process for decisions made by the Chief Building Official related to the building code. Lastly, a review of the floodplain variance procedures currently contained in subsection 26-808.D of the City’s floodplain regulations found that the procedure is not in compliance with the state floodplain variance process. The City’s variance procedures can be amended along with these other proposed amendments. RECOMMENDATIONS City staff is requesting authorization to proceed with working with the City Attorney to amend the floodplain regulations to incorporate into City Code the existing MHFD prohibition on tents and makeshift structures within the floodplain, to remove the BOA from their role in the review of Class II permits and appeals related to floodplain permits, and to correct the City’s floodplain variance procedures to be in compliance with the state process. ATTACHMENTS: 1. MHFD Floodplain Regulations 2. Floodplain Map Project No. 105939 1 URBAN DRAINAGE AND FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT d/b/a FLOODPLAIN REGULATION SECTION 1: PURPOSE To promote the public health, safety, and general welfare, to minimize flood losses in areas subject to flood hazards, and to promote wise use of the floodplain through the development of sound floodplain management practices that assist the Mile High Flood District (MHFD) and the communities it serves with implementation of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and the Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB) Rules and Regulations for Regulatory Floodplains in Colorado; this Floodplain Regulation has been established with the following purposes intended: 1.1 To reduce the hazards of floods to life and property; by: 1.1.1 Prohibiting certain uses which are dangerous to life or property in times of flooding. 1.1.2 Restricting uses which would be hazardous to the public health in times of flooding. 1.1.3 Restricting uses which are particularly susceptible to flood damage, so as to alleviate hardship and eliminate demands for public expenditures for relief and protection. 1.1.4 Requiring permitted floodplain uses, including public facilities which serve such uses, to be protected against floods by providing floodproofing where applicable, and general flood protection at the time of initial construction. 1.2 To alert floodplain occupants or potential occupants of the potential for flood damages which may result from their land uses; (or that of others) by: 1.2.1 Regulating the manner in which structures designed for human occupancy may be constructed so as to prevent danger to human life within such structures. 1.2.2 Regulating the method of construction of water supply, sanitation systems and other utilities, so as to prevent disease, contamination and unsanitary conditions. 1.2.3 Delineating and describing areas that could be inundated by floods so as to protect individuals from purchasing floodplain lands for purposes which are unsuitable for those areas. ATTACHMENT 1 Project No. 105939 2 1.3 To protect the public from the burden of avoidable financial expenditures for flood control and relief; by: 1.3.1 Regulating all uses within the floodplain so as to produce a method of construction and a pattern of development which will minimize the probability of damage to property and loss of life or injury to the inhabitants of the flood hazard area. 1.4 To protect the flood storage capacity of floodplains and to assure retention of sufficient floodway area to convey flood flows which can reasonably be expected to occur; by: 1.4.1 Regulating the filling, dredging, and alteration of channels by deepening, widening, or relocating. 1.4.2 Prohibiting unnecessary and damage-creating encroachments. 1.4.3 Encouraging floodplain uses such as open space, natural areas, agriculture and recreation. 1.5 To protect the hydraulic characteristics of the small watercourses, including the gulches, sloughs and artificial water channels used for conveying flood waters, which make up a portion of the urban drainage system; by: 1.5.1 Regulating the filling and channelization of watercourses so as to maintain natural storage capacity and slow flow characteristics. 1.5.2 Prohibiting encroachment into the small watercourses to maintain their water carrying capacity. 1.5.3 Encouraging uses such as open space, natural areas, recreation and trails. SECTION 2: GENERAL PROVISIONS 2.1 Authority: Per 32-11-218(1)(f)(I) C.R.S., MHFD has the power to adopt, amend, repeal, enforce, and otherwise administer this Floodplain Regulation. In the event of any conflict between this floodplain zoning regulation and any floodplain regulation adopted by any other public body within MHFD, the more restrictive regulation shall control. Most local governments within MHFD also have floodplain regulations and processes in place to administer and enforce those regulations. For this reason, the MHFD Floodplain Administrator will generally defer to the floodplain administrators appointed by those local governments for the administration of routine floodplain management activities such as granting grading and floodplain development permits, etc., and will not be involved in these matters unless directed to do so by the MHFD Board of Directors. 2.2 Jurisdiction: The jurisdiction of this section includes all lands adjacent to any watercourse within MHFD that would be inundated by the one-percent annual chance flood for that watercourse (as defined in Section 10, Definitions), and areas removed from the Floodplain by the placement of fill. 2.3 Floodplain Components: The Floodplain covers the mapped area corresponding to the one-percent annual chance flood (a.k.a. the 100-year flood). This is the area susceptible to inundation during a flood that has a one percent chance of being equaled or exceeded in any given year. Where deemed to be in the public interest by the MHFD, and to promote wise use of the Floodplain, the Floodplain may be subdivided into the Floodway and the Flood Fringe. The Floodplain is defined by computing the limits of the one-percent annual chance flood under existing channel and Floodplain conditions, and typically with consideration of future runoff potential from full development of the watershed. Project No. 105939 3 Subdivision of the Floodplain into the Floodway and the Flood Fringe must not cause a one-percent annual chance rise of more than one-half foot in either the flood water surface elevation or corresponding energy grade line (as defined in Section 10, Definitions) elevation above that for the Floodplain unless requirements of or comparable to those in 44 CFR. § 65.12 of the NFIP regulations have been met. This ensures that alternative options have been considered and documentation of individual legal notice (as defined in Section 10, Definitions) to all impacted property owners has been provided. This also requires certification that no structures will be impacted by the rise in water surface elevation profile. The subdivision of the Floodplain and accompanying hydraulic studies shall be based upon computational hydraulic analyses which consider a portion (to be determined by the Floodplain Administrator) of the Flood Fringe reach being filled. Determination of the Floodway and Flood Fringe must be made only with the full understanding that such subdivision may tend to increase flood peaks downstream. 2.4 Boundaries: The boundaries of the Floodplain shall be as they appear on the floodplain maps kept on file with the Floodplain Administrator. The boundary lines on the map shall be determined by the use of the scale appearing on the map. Where there is a conflict between the boundary lines illustrated on the map and actual field conditions, the dispute shall be settled according to Section 7.3, Mapping Disputes. 2.5 Interpretation: In the Floodplain Administrator's interpretation and application, the provisions of this Regulation shall be held to be minimum requirements and shall be liberally construed in favor of the governing body and shall not be deemed a limitation or repeal of any other powers granted by Colorado Statutes. 2.6 Warning and Disclaimer of Liability: The degree of flood protection intended to be provided by this section is considered reasonable for the regulatory purposes and is based on engineering and scientific methods of study. Larger floods can and will occur on occasions, and the depth of any flood may be increased by man-made or natural causes, such as ice jams and bridge openings restricted by debris. This Regulation does not imply the areas outside Floodplain area boundaries or land uses permitted within such areas will always be free from flooding or flood damage. Nor shall this section create a liability on the part of or a cause of action against MHFD or any officer or employee thereof for any flood damages that may result despite reliance on this Regulation. 2.7 Adoption of Floodplain Maps: The location and boundaries of the Floodplain established by this regulation shall be as they appear on the maps and profiles contained in engineering reports adopted after a public hearing by the MHFD Board of Directors, and any subsequent revisions to these maps and profiles as approved or designated by FEMA or CWCB. The MHFD Board of Directors may designate Floodways and Flood Fringes by adopting floodway tables and corresponding delineations contained in the above mentioned engineering reports, or subsequent map revisions after a public hearing. Each change in the official maps shall be subject to the Amendment procedure as required in Section 7.3, Mapping Disputes. The adopted maps and flood profiles shall be on file with the Floodplain Administrator and also with the County Clerk and Recorder of the county in which the Floodplain is located. SECTION 3: NONCONFORMING USES 3.1 The existing lawful use of a structure or premises which is not in conformity with the provisions of this Regulation may be continued, subject to the following conditions: 3.1.1 No such use shall be expanded or enlarged except in conformity with the provisions of this Regulation. Project No. 105939 4 3.1.2 Substantial improvement (as defined in Section 10, Definitions) to any nonconforming structure or use must result in the permanent change of the structure or use to a conforming use. 3.1.3 If such use is discontinued for twelve (12) consecutive months, any future use of the building and premises shall conform to this Regulation. 3.1.4 Uses or adjuncts thereof which are public nuisances shall not be permitted to continue as nonconforming uses. These shall include, but not be limited to, tents and makeshift structures, enclosures, or other shelters used for human habitation; except in locations expressly permitted by the local government (as defined in Section 10, Definitions) and having adequate sanitation facilities and flood evacuation plans (also as defined in Section 10, Definitions). 3.1.5 Any alteration, addition, or repair to any existing nonconforming structure shall be protected, where applicable, by floodproofing measures pursuant to Section 7.44(1), Floodproofing. SECTION 4: THE FLOODPLAIN 4.1 Application: These provisions shall apply to all Floodplains of watercourses in MHFD, for which one- percent annual chance flood limits have been determined. 4.2 Description: The Floodplain shall include the areas so delineated on the maps and profiles for the one-percent annual chance flood limits along the watercourses adopted by the MHFD Board of Directors in accordance with Section 2.7, Adoption of Floodplain Maps, and subsequent map revisions approved and/or designated by FEMA or CWCB. 4.3 Special Provisions: The following regulations shall apply to all uses within the Floodplain, notwithstanding that such uses may be permitted under the terms of this Regulation. 4.3.1 No new construction; substantial improvement; fill, including fill for roads and levees; deposit; obstruction (as herein defined); storage of materials, or other Floodplain uses shall be permitted that decreases the efficiency or the capacity of the Floodway, unless requirements of or comparable to those in 44 CFR. § 65.12 of the NFIP regulations have been met. This ensures that alternative options have been considered, documentation of individual legal notice to all impacted property owners is provided, and requires certification that no structures will be impacted by the rise in the one-percent annual chance water surface elevation profile. 4.3.2 No Floodplain use shall adversely affect the efficiency of or unduly restrict the capacity of the channels or Floodways of any tributaries to the main stream, drainage ditches, or any other drainage facilities or systems, unless requirements of or comparable to those in 44 CFR. § 65.12 of the NFIP regulations have been met. This ensures that alternative options have been considered, documentation of individual legal notice to all impacted property owners is provided, and requires certification that no structures will be impacted by the rise in water surface elevation profile. 4.3.3 All new construction and substantial improvements shall be anchored to prevent flotation, collapse, or lateral movement of the structure. 4.3.4 All new construction, substantial improvements, and utility equipment shall be constructed with materials resistant to flood damage. Flood-resistant material is defined in Section 10, Definitions. Project No. 105939 5 4.3.5 All new construction or substantial improvements shall be constructed by methods and practices that minimize flood damage. 4.3.6 All new and replacement water supply systems shall be designed to minimize or eliminate infiltration of flood waters into the system; and all new and replacement sanitary sewage systems shall be designed to minimize or eliminate both infiltration of flood waters into the system and discharges from the system into flood waters. 4.3.7 Onsite waste disposal systems shall be located to avoid impairment to them or contamination from them during flooding. 4.3.8 Except as allowed under Section 4.5.3, mobile homes and recreational vehicles should not be placed in the Floodplain. Mobile homes and recreational vehicles already placed within the Floodplain shall be anchored to resist flotation, collapse, or lateral movement by providing over the top and frame ties to ground anchors. Specific requirements shall be that: (1) Over-the-top ties be provided at each of the four corners of the mobile home, with two additional ties per side at intermediate locations and mobile homes less than fifty feet long requiring one additional tie per side. (2) Frame ties be provided at each corner of the home with five additional ties per side at intermediate points and mobile homes less than fifty feet long requiring four additional ties per side; (3) All components of the anchoring system be capable of carrying a force of 4,800 pounds; and (4) Any additions to the mobile home be similarly anchored. 4.3.9 Tents and makeshift structures, enclosures, or other shelters used for human habitation, shall not be permitted in the Floodplain, except in locations expressly permitted by the local government (as defined in Section 10, Definitions) and having adequate sanitation facilities and flood evacuation plans (also as defined in Section 10, Definitions). 4.4 Description of Uses Permitted Uses: The following uses shall be permitted within the Floodplain to the extent that they are not prohibited in a particular area by any underlying county or city zoning ordinance or regulation. 4.4.1 Agricultural uses such as: general farming, livestock grazing, forestry, sod farming, and wild crop harvesting; 4.4.2 Industrial-commercial uses such as: loading areas, parking areas, airport landing strips, and temporary storage of equipment or machinery easily moved or not subject to flood damage; 4.4.3 Public and private recreational uses not requiring "permanent or temporary structures" designed for human habitation such as: parks, swimming areas, golf courses, picnic grounds, wildlife and nature preserves, fish hatcheries, hunting, fishing and hiking areas; and 4.4.4 Utility facilities such as: flowage areas, transmission lines, pipelines, water monitoring devices, roadways, and bridges. Project No. 105939 6 4.5 Special Exceptions: Any use enumerated in Subsections 4.51 through 4.55 may be permitted only upon the issuance of a special exception letter by the Floodplain Administrator as provided in Section 7.4, Special Exceptions. 4.5.1 Residential Construction. New construction or substantial improvement of any residential structure may be permitted only upon a finding by the Floodplain Administrator that the lowest floor, including basement, is to be elevated to or above the flood protection elevation (as defined in Section 10, Definitions). As a condition of such finding, such condition shall be certified by a Colorado-licensed professional engineer, architect, or land surveyor to the Floodplain Administrator. This includes structures placed on areas removed from the Floodplain by fill. 4.5.2 Nonresidential Construction. Critical facilities shall be regulated in accordance with Section 6.3, Special Provisions. New construction or substantial improvement of any other commercial, industrial or other nonresidential structure may be permitted only upon a finding by the Floodplain Administrator that the lowest floor, including basement, is to be elevated to or above the flood protection elevation or, together with attendant utility and sanitary facilities, is to be floodproofed so that below the flood protection elevation, the structure is water tight and contains adequate structural components having the capability of resisting hydrostatic and hydrodynamic loads and effects of buoyancy. This includes structures placed on areas removed from the Floodplain by fill. A Colorado-licensed professional engineer or architect shall certify to the Floodplain Administrator that the standards of this subsection are satisfied. 4.5.3 Mobile Homes. New mobile home parks and mobile home subdivisions, expansions of existing mobile home parks and mobile home subdivisions, and existing mobile home parks and mobile home subdivisions where the repair, reconstruction, or improvement of the street utilities and pads equals or exceeds 50 percent of the value of the streets, utilities and pads before the repair, reconstruction or improvement has commenced and for mobile home subdivision, may be permitted only upon a finding by the Floodplain Administrator that: a) Stands or lots will be elevated on compacted fill or on pilings so that the lowest floor of the mobile home will be elevated to or above the flood protection elevations; and b) Adequate surface drainage and access for a hauler will be provided. This includes mobile home parks placed on areas removed from the Floodplain by fill. 4.5.4 Fills or Deposits of Materials. This may be permitted only upon a finding by the Floodplain Administrator that: (1) Any fill or deposit of materials will comply with the Section 4.3, Special Provisions; (2) The fill or deposit of materials will have some beneficial purpose and the amount thereof will not be greater than is necessary to achieve that purpose, as demonstrated by a plan submitted by the owner showing the final dimensions of the proposed fill or other material and the use to which the filled land will be put; (3) The fill or deposit of materials does not imprudently reduce the flood storage capacity of the waterway and the other requirements of this section are met; and the fill or deposit of materials does not encroach on that portion of the Floodplain which would have significant flow during the flood, and which for that reason would Project No. 105939 7 help convey the flood waters. Any filling that reduces the hydraulic capacity requires appropriate hydraulic studies and a review of the impact of such reduction; (4) The fill or other materials will be protected against erosion in conformance with stabilization best management practices as described in the Urban Storm Drainage Criteria Manual; and (5) The fill or deposit of materials does not otherwise adversely impact upstream, downstream, and/or adjacent property owners. 4.5.5 Storage or Processing of Hazardous Materials. Materials that are buoyant, flammable, toxic, explosive, or in times of flooding, could be injurious to human, animal, or plant life, shall be at or above the flood protection elevation for the particular area. Solid waste disposal facilities, such as junkyards or areas for the dumping of refuse shall also require a permit from the Floodplain Administrator. 4.5.6 Uses Similar in Nature to Permitted Uses. These may also be allowed provided that they are consistent with the provisions of this Regulation. SECTION 5: THE FLOODWAY 5.1 Application: Section 4.1, Application, Floodplain, shall also apply hereto. 5.2 Description: The Floodway shall include the areas so delineated on the maps and profiles for the one-percent annual chance flood limits along the watercourses adopted by the MHFD Board of Directors in accordance with Section 2.7, Adoption of Floodplain Maps, and subsequent map revisions approved and/or designated by FEMA or CWCB. 5.3 Special Provisions: The following additional provisions shall apply to all uses within the Floodway. 5.3.1 No encroachments, including fill, new construction, substantial improvements, or other development shall be permitted within the Floodway that would result in any increase in flood levels during the occurrence of the one-percent annual chance flood unless requirements of or comparable to those in 44 CFR. § 65.12 of the NFIP regulations have been met. This ensures that alternative options have been considered, documentation of individual legal notice to all impacted property owners is provided, and requires certification that no structures will be impacted by the rise in water surface elevation profile. 5.3.2 No mobile homes or recreational vehicles shall be placed in the Floodway. 5.3.3 No buildings or structures designed or intended for human occupancy shall be placed in the Floodway. 5.3.4 No floatable or buoyant material, nor any material that could easily become dislodged and move downstream during a flood, shall be stored or placed in the Floodway. 5.3.5 No storage or processing of materials that are flammable, toxic, explosive, or in times of flooding, could be injurious to human, animal, or plant life, shall be stored or placed in the Floodway. 5.3.6 No solid waste disposal facilities, such as junkyards or areas for the dumping of refuse shall be placed in the Floodway. Project No. 105939 8 5.4 Description of Uses: The uses that are permitted in Section 4.4, Description of Uses, Floodplain, are permitted, provided that such use does not include any filling or deposit of materials, and the capacity of the Floodway is left unimpaired. SECTION 6: THE FLOOD FRINGE 6.1 Application: All provisions of Section 4.1, Application, Floodplain, shall also apply hereto. 6.2 Description: The Flood Fringe shall include the areas so delineated on the maps and profiles for the one-percent annual chance flood limits along the watercourses adopted by the MHFD Board of Directors in accordance with Section 2.7, Adoption of Floodplain Maps, and subsequent map revisions approved and/or designated by FEMA or CWCB. 6.3 Special Provisions: 6.3.1 The provisions of Sections 4.3 and 4.5 shall apply to all uses in the Flood Fringe. 6.3.2 Within shallow flooding areas, all new construction and substantial improvement of residential structures may be permitted only upon a finding of the Floodplain Administrator that the lowest floor, including basement, will be elevated one foot above the crown of the nearest street or one foot above the flood depth specified on the map, whichever is higher. 6.3.3 Within shallow flooding areas, all new construction and substantial improvement of nonresidential structures may be permitted only upon a finding of the Floodplain Administrator that the lowest floor, including basement, will be elevated one foot above the crown of the nearest street; or the highest adjacent grade of the structure will be one foot above the flood depth specified on the map, whichever is higher; or together with attendant utility and sanitary facilities, will be completely floodproofed to or above that level so that any space below that level is watertight and contains adequate structural components having the capability of resisting hydrostatic and hydrodynamic loads and effects of buoyancy. 6.3.4 All new critical facilities shall be located outside the Floodplain whenever possible. 6.3.5 All new critical facilities which are unable to be located outside the Floodplain, substantially improved critical facilities, and new additions to existing critical facilities in the Flood Fringe shall be elevated or floodproofed to at least one foot above the flood protection elevation. 6.3.6 New critical facilities shall, when practicable, have continuous non-inundated access (ingress and egress for evacuation and emergency services) during a one-percent annual chance flood event. SECTION 7: ADMINISTRATION 7.1 Floodplain Administrator: The MHFD Executive Director is the Floodplain Administrator who shall administer the provisions of this Regulation. 7.2 Special Exception Letter: A special exception letter must be obtained from the Floodplain Administrator before any new land use not expressly allowed by this Regulation may be initiated. 7.3 Mapping Disputes: The following procedure shall be used by the Floodplain Administrator in deciding contested cases in which the location of a Floodplain boundary is disputed: 7.3.1 In all cases the person contesting the location of the Floodplain boundary shall be given the opportunity to submit technical evidence certified by a Colorado-licensed professional engineer that demonstrates the Floodplain is scientifically or technically incorrect, or that an Project No. 105939 9 indisputable error has occurred. The Floodplain Administrator shall not allow deviations from the boundary line as mapped unless the evidence clearly and conclusively establishes that the mapped location of the line is incorrect. 7.3.2 The Floodplain Administrator shall render a written opinion within 30 days following receipt of the applicant's technical evidence setting forth the findings of fact and the reasons for the decision. 7.3.3 Contestants shall have the right to appeal such decisions to the MHFD Board of Directors. Such appeal must be made within 30 days. 7.4 Special Exceptions: 7.4.1 Application: Any use listed in this Regulation as requiring a special exception may be allowed only upon the issuance of a special exception letter by the Floodplain Administrator. 7.4.2 Procedure to be followed in Passing on Special Exception Letters: Pursuant to a Special Exception Letter Application the Floodplain Administrator may: (1) Require the applicant to submit, at the time of application, a geo-referenced topographic work map, certified by a Colorado-licensed engineer competent in open channel hydraulics. This work map shall show vertical datum, horizontal datum, and mapping projection used. This map shall be required to accurately locate the proposed Floodplain and/or Floodway boundaries with respect to the effective Floodplain and/or Floodway limits (as defined in Section 2.7, Adoption of Floodplain Maps), the pre-project or existing Floodplain and/or Floodway limits, channel of stream, and existing Floodplain development. This map shall further be required to include, as attachments, all other pertinent information such as the nature of the proposal; legal description of the property; fill limits and elevations; building floor elevations; and floodproofing measures, as applicable. (2) Require the applicant to furnish the following additional information, as deemed necessary by the Floodplain Administrator for the evaluation of the effects of the proposal under flood flows and Floodplain storage and to render a decision of the proposed Floodplain use: (a) Cross-sections (as appropriate), showing the channel of the stream, the Floodplain and/or Floodway adjoining each side of channel, cross-sectional area to be occupied by the proposed development, and high water information. (b) Plan (surface view), a geo-referenced map showing vertical datum, horizontal datum and mapping projection, elevations or contours of the existing and proposed ground; pertinent structure, fill or storage elevations; size, location and spatial arrangement of all proposed and existing structures on the site; location and elevations of streets, water supply, sanitary facilities, and soil types, water surface elevations, and other pertinent information. (c) Profile (as appropriate), showing the slope of the bottom of the existing and proposed channel or thalweg of the stream and existing and proposed one- percent annual chance water surface profiles. Project No. 105939 10 (d) Specifications for building construction and materials, floodproofing, filling, dredging, grading, channel improvement, storage of materials, water supply, and sanitary facilities. (e) Hydrologic and Hydraulic Analyses and/or supplemental calculations for all proposed development within the Floodplain. The Floodplain Administrator shall render, within 30 days of receipt of all necessary application documents and materials, a written decision granting or denying a permit application. If a denial is made, the decision shall set forth the Floodplain Administrator's findings of fact and reasons for the denial. Applicants shall have the right to appeal any adverse findings or decision to the MHFD Board of Directors. Such appeal must be made within 30 days. 7.4.3 Bases for the Floodplain Administrator’s Determination: The determination of the Floodplain Administrator on each special exception letter application shall be based on the effects of the proposed land use with respect to the objectives and purposes of this Regulation. 7.4.4 Conditions Attached to Special Exception Letters: Upon consideration of the factors listed above and the purposes of this Regulation, the Floodplain Administrator may attach such conditions as he deems necessary in furthering the purposes of this Regulation. Such conditions may include specifications for, without limitation because of specific enumeration, modification of other waste disposal methods and facilities, landscaping, periods of operation, operational controls, sureties, deed restriction and adequate floodproofing, where applicable. (1) Floodproofing. Special exceptions requiring floodproofing measures such as the following shall be designed consistent with the flood protection elevation for the particular areas and flood velocities, forces and other factors associated with the flood protection elevation. Methods shall be in conformance with the latest FEMA guidance relative to floodproofing practices. The Floodplain Administrator shall require that the applicant submit a plan or document certified by a Colorado-licensed professional engineer that the floodproofing measures are consistent with the flood protection elevation for the particular area. (a) Anchorage to resist flotation and lateral movement. (b) Installation of watertight doors, bulkheads, and shutters. (c) Reinforcement of walls to resist water pressures. (d) Use of paints, membranes, or mortars to reduce seepage of water through walls. (e) Addition of mass or weight to structures to resist flotation. (f) Installation of pumps to lower water levels in structures. (g) Construction of water supply and waste treatment systems to prevent the entrance of flood waters. (h) Pumping facilities for subsurface drainage systems for buildings to relieve external foundation wall and basement floor pressure. Project No. 105939 11 (i) Construction to resist rupture or collapse, caused by water pressure or floating debris. (j) Backflow prevention valves on sewer lines, or the elimination of gravity flow basement drains. SECTION 8: ENFORCEMENT AND PENALTIES 8.1 Any structure, building, fill, or development placed or maintained within any Floodplain in violation of this Regulation is a public nuisance and the creation thereof may be enjoined and maintenance thereof may be abated by action at suit of the City, Town, or County in which it is located or by MHFD, or any citizen thereof. Any person who places or maintains any structure, building, fill, or development within any Floodplain in violation of this Regulation may be fined not more than $500 for each offense. Each day during which such violation exists is a separate offense. SECTION 9: AMENDMENTS 9.1 The MHFD Board of Directors may from time to time alter, supplement, or change the Floodplain, Floodway, and Flood Fringe boundaries and the provisions contained in this Regulation in the manner provided by law. 9.1.1 Amendments to this Regulation may be made on petition of any interested party in accordance with the provisions of the Colorado Revised Statutes. 9.1.2 The subdivisions of the Floodplain into the Floodway and Flood Fringe will be made only by action of the MHFD Board of Directors. SECTION 10: DEFINITIONS Unless specifically defined below, words or phrases used in this Regulation shall be interpreted so as to give them the same meaning as they have at common law and to give this Regulation its most reasonable application. 10.1 Channel: That area of a watercourse where water normally flows and not that area beyond where vegetation exists. 10.2 Critical Facility: A structure or related infrastructure, but not the land on which it is situated, that if flooded may result in significant hazards to public health and safety or interrupt essential services and operations for the community at any time before, during, or after a flood. Typical critical facilities include hospitals, fire stations, police stations, storage of critical records, similar facilities, and all other facilities and uses identified in Rule 6 of the Colorado Water Conservation Board’s Rules and Regulations for Regulatory Floodplains in Colorado. These facilities should be given special consideration when formulating regulatory alternatives and floodplain management plans. A critical facility should not be located in a Floodplain if at all possible. 10.3 Energy Grade Line: The line representing the elevation of the potential energy for water flowing in a conduit or channel that is indicative of a change in how fast water is moving under given conditions. 10.4 Flood: A general and temporary condition of partial or complete inundation of normally dry land areas from (a) the overflow of streams, rivers, or other inland water, or (b) the unusual and rapid accumulation or runoff of surface waters from any source. 10.5 Flood Evacuation Plan: A document describing the procedures for evacuating an area inundated by a flood. Such document shall include, at a minimum: (a) Conditions that will activate the plan; Project No. 105939 12 (b) Chain of command during a flood event; (c) Emergency functions and who will perform them; (d) Specific evacuation procedures, including routes and exits; and (e) Procedures to account for personnel, customers, and visitors. 10.6 Flood Fringe: The Fringe portion of the Floodplain in which flows are characteristically of shallow depths and low velocities. 10.7 Flood Profile: A graph or a longitudinal profile showing the relationship of the water surface elevation of a flood event to the location along a stream or river. 10.8 Flood Protection Elevation: An elevation one foot above the elevation of the one-percent annual chance flood under existing channel and Floodplain conditions. It is one foot above the elevation of the Floodplain, as shown on the floodplain maps in the office of the Floodplain Administrator, and at www.mhfd.org. 10.9 Flood-Resistant Material: Flood-resistant material includes any building product capable of withstanding direct and prolonged contact with floodwaters without sustaining significant damage. Prolonged contact means at least 72 hours. Significant damage is any damage requiring more than low-cost cosmetic repair (such as painting). 10.10 Floodplain: An area both including and adjacent to a watercourse, which area is subject to flooding as the result of the occurrence of the one-percent annual chance flood and which area is so adverse to past, current, or foreseeable construction or land use as to constitute a significant hazard to public health and safety or to property. The Floodplain may be further subdivided into the Floodway and the Flood Fringe. The term includes, but is not limited to: (a) Mainstream Floodplains; (b) Debris-fan Floodplains; and (c) Dry wash channels and dry wash Floodplains. 10.11 Floodplain Administrator: That individual appointed by the MHFD Board of Directors to administer the provisions of these Regulations. MHFD Resolution No. 5, series of 1979, designates the MHFD Executive Director as the Floodplain Administrator. 10.12 Floodplain Maps: Those maps that accurately indicate the boundaries of the Floodplain. 10.13 Floodproofing: A combination of structural provisions, changes, or adjustments to properties and structures subject to flooding primarily for the reduction or elimination of flood damages to properties, water and sanitary facilities, structures, and contents of buildings in a flood hazard area. 10.14 Floodway: That portion of the Floodplain required for the reasonable passage or conveyance of the one-percent annual chance flood which is characterized by hazardous and significant depths and velocities. The Floodway limits are based on the cumulative encroachment into the Floodplain resulting in a maximum water surface increase of one-half foot (unless the requirements of Section 2.3, Floodplain Components are met). 10.15 Individual Legal Notice: Public notice distributed by MHFD to all affected property owners by publication in a newspaper of general circulation within the boundaries of MHFD and by mailing an individual notice to each affected property owner. Project No. 105939 13 10.16 Local Government: The town, city, county, or city and county having regulatory police power over the use of property covered by this Regulation. 10.17 Obstruction: Sandbars formed by the natural flow of a watercourse, temporary structures, planks, snags, and debris, in and along an existing channel, which cause a flood hazard. 10.18 Occupancy: The use or possession of a building by humans for purposes including, but not limited to, residential, office, hospital, or commercial. 10.19 One-Percent Annual Chance Flood: Also known as the one-percent annual exceedance probability flood and more colloquially as the 100-year flood, a flooding event of this magnitude has a one- percent chance of occurring in any given year, giving it an average return period (recurrence interval) of one hundred years, as determined from an analysis of floods on a particular watercourse and other watercourses in the same general region. 10.20 Public Nuisance: A public nuisance is defined as an act or omission that has the potential to affect the health, safety, welfare, and/or comfort of the general public. 10.21 Reach: A hydraulic engineering term to describe longitudinal segments of a stream or river. 10.22 Shallow Flooding Area: An area subject to inundation by the one-percent annual chance flood with average depths of less than three feet, and not typically related to the flood profile. These are areas where no clearly defined channel exists, where the path of flooding is indeterminate, but where conveyance may be evident. 10.23 Storage Capacity of a Floodplain: The volume of space above an area of floodplain land that can be occupied by flood water of a given stage at a given time, regardless of whether the water is moving. Storage capacity tends to reduce downstream flood peaks. 10.24 Structure: Anything constructed or erected, the use of which required a more or less permanent location on or in the ground. Includes, but is not limited to, walled and roofed buildings (including gas or liquid storage tanks), that are principally above ground, as well as a manufactured homes. The terms "structure" and "building" are interchangeable for the purposes of this Floodplain Regulation. 10.25 Structure, Permanent: A structure which is built of such materials and in such a way that it would commonly be expected to last and remain useful for a substantial period of time. 10.26 Structure, Temporary: A structure which is built of such materials and in such a way that it would commonly be expected to have a relatively short useful life, or is built for a purpose that would commonly be expected to be relatively short-term. 10.27 Substantial Improvement: Any repair, reconstruction, or improvement of a structure, the cost of which equals or exceeds fifty (50) percent of the actual cash value of the structure either (a) before the improvement has started, or (b) if the structure has been damaged and is being restored, before the damage occurred. Substantial improvement is started when the first alteration of any structural part of the building commences and is cumulative over a ten (10) year period. 10.28 Watercourse: A channel, natural depression, slough, artificial channel, gulch, arroyo, stream, creek, pond, reservoir, or lake in which storm runoff and flood water flows either regularly or infrequently. This includes major drainageways for carrying urban storm runoff. CO58 EB HWY CO58 WB HWY STA T E H W Y 1 2 1 44TH AVE 32ND AVE 26TH AVE 38TH AVE 52ND AV KI P L I N G S T 52ND AVE RIDGE RD WA R D R D IN D I A N A S T PI E R C E S T WA D S W O R T H B L V D YO U N G F I E L D S T GRANDVIEW AVE GA R R I S O N S T TA B O R S T EL D R I D G E S T 55TH AVE CA R R S T 56TH AVE 48TH AVE KI P L I N G P K MA R S H A L L S T AL K I R E S T IN D E P E N D E N C E S T AL L I S O N S T 27TH AVE CS H 1 2 1 BA L S A M S T 50TH AVE BERRY RD I70 ON EB RAMP SH E R I D A N B L V D I76 ON WB RAMP 40th AVE V A N C E S T I70 O N W B R A M P TA B O R S T AL L I S O N S T SH E R I D A N B L V D 38TH AVE RIDGE RD 26TH AVE 52ND AVE SH E R I D A N B L V D 3095000 3095000 3100000 3100000 3105000 3105000 3110000 3110000 3115000 3115000 3120000 3120000 3125000 312500017 0 0 0 0 0 17 0 0 0 0 0 17 0 5 0 0 0 17 0 5 0 0 0 17 1 0 0 0 0 17 1 0 0 0 0 17 1 5 0 0 0 17 1 5 0 0 0 ¯City of Wheat Ridge, Colorado 7500 West 29th Avenue Wheat Ridge, CO 80033-8001 303.234.5900 Open Space AnalysisSpecial Flood Hazard Area 0 2,100 4,2001,050 Feet Pa t h : G : \ G I S \ P r o j e c t s \ F Y 2 0 1 6 \ J u l - S e p t \ F Y 0 0 8 9 _ E N G _ F E M A m a i l l i s t \ d a t a \ M X D \ S F H A _ O p e n S p a c e _ e d i t 1 . m x d Date: 08/24/2016 Disclaimer:This data is intended for information purposes only.The City of Wheat Ridge provides this information onan "as is" basis and makes no representation or warrantythat the data will be error free. WR is not responsible toany user for costs or damages arising from inconsistenciesin its data. Legend City Limits (6,155 Acres) Open Space (294 Acres) Impervious Areas Removed (11 Acres)** Hydro Feature Removed > 10 Acres (61 Acres) Floodway in Open Space - 123 Acres Floodway - 262 Acres **Impervious Areas: Buildings Footprint (.96 ac,) Driveways (.11 ac) Parking Lots (9.6 ac), Sport Facilities (.36) ATTACHMENT 2