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HomeMy WebLinkAboutOrdinance-1983-0519INTRODUCED BY COUNCILMEMBER ORE ORDINANCE NO. 519 Series of 1982 TITLE: AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTION 27 OF APPENDIX A, REGULATIONS APPLYING TO ALL DISTRICTS,BY ADDING SECTION 27.H. EMERGENCY SHELTERS OPERATED BY CHURCHES, OF THE CODE OF LA14S OF THE CITY OF WHEAT RIDGE, COLORADO BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF WHEAT RIDGE, COLORADO: Section 1. The Code of Laws of the City of Wheat Ridge, Colorado, is hereby amended by adding Section 27.H., as follows: Section 27.H. Emergency Shelters Operated by Churches Within any district which permits churches that were existing in the City at the time of passing of this Ordinance, a church corporation or a non-profit corporation with church-sponsorship may operate an emergency shelter under the following limitations. This section describes an additional church function which may take place in a church facility for the purpose of meeting an urgent community need to shelter the homeless families. The shelter shall be only for families with either one or both parents and one or more children. A pregnant woman would be considered to have a child. The maximum stay of any family grouping shall be three weeks. There shall be a maximum of ten families allowed per shelter on any night. This shall be a use by right in any church building or in any church owned facility. The structure must meet the building code, the health codes of the county and state, and conform to all City codes. License Requirements Any church organization wishing to operate an emergency shelter shall apply for and receive a license through the Community Develop- ment Department. The fee for such license application shall be $5.00. Along with the application shall be information indicating the name of the organization operating the shelter, the related church sponsorship, the name of the on site manager(s) with identifying information, the phone number at the site, the address of the sponsoring organization, the address of the shelter location, the maximum number of people to be housed in the shelter relating to building code requirements, the maximum number of families up to ten that will be placed in the shelter, a letter from the Jefferson County Health Department indicating that their facility meets all of the applicable health requirements, a certificate of inspection from the Wheat Ridge Code Enforcement Division indicating that the facility meets all current codes, and a certificate of inspection from the Wheat Ridge Building Division indicating that all building codes and the fire code requirements are met. The applicant shall reapply for the license annually. The facility and/or its personnel will be responsible for the following: a. A written established policy for acceptence into the shelter. This policy will either provide that all shelter occupants will be pre-screened by recognized social agencies or that the facility will employ a counselor with the training and competency to screen out and refer elsewhere persons with drug, alcohol, personal or emotional problems which make them un- suitable for this kind of minimal-care facility. b. 24 hour availability, including 24 hour supervision of the premises and inhabitants. c. Provision of all meals; however, meals may not be provided to other than inhabitants, staff and visiting church and social agency personnel. d. Proper care and supervision of children. This will include a fenced yard and arrangements for suitable activity for pre-school children and school children while not in school. e. An established referral network and transportation to existing health, job counseling, housing, police, legal, welfare and other social agencies. f. On site or liaison personnel with the training and/or experience to establish an individualized plan of services or treatment necessary for each family to improve its ability to function independently in the community. 2. Signatures on License The following officials shall sign each license that is issued: a. The Director of Community Development. b. The Mayor. 3. Public Hearing for Revocation of License to Operate All complaints shall be referred to the Department of Community Development. If three or more complaints are received which upon investigation by the proper agency indicate actual problems of operation of the facility a public hearing shall be set before the City Council to review the complaints and accept any additional evidence which may be submitted at the hearing to determine if the license should be revoked. The Director of Community Development may initiate a public hearing based on a single incident if it is considered to be serious enough to justify a hearing before the City Council. The Council shall judge the evidence to determine if the shelter is meeting the requirements in the Ordinance. If Council after receiving evidence at such public hearing determines that the provision of this section are being violated so that operation of the shelter creates a situation detrimental to health, safety or welfare, such license shall be revoked. Such notice of public hearings shall be by a sign being placed on the premises and a notice in a local newspaper of general circu- lation, at least seven (7) days prior to the hearing. Section 2. Safety Clause. The City Council hereby finds, determines, and declares that this ordinance is promulgated under the general police power of the City of Wheat Ridge; that it is promulgated for the health, safety and welfare of the public, and that this ordinance is necessary for the preservation of health and safety and for the protection of public convenience and welfare. The City Council further determines that the ordinance bears a rational relation to these objectives. Section 3. Severability. If any clause, sentence, paragraph, or part of this ordinance or the application thereof to any person or circumstances shall for any reason be adjudged by a court of competent jurisdiction invalid, such judgment shall not affect, impair or invalidate the remainder of this ordinance or its application to other persons or circumstances. Section 4. This ordinance shall become effective on February 18 , 1983 INTRODUCED, READ, AND ADOPTED ON first reading by a vote of 5 to 1 on this 27th day of December, 1982 ; ordered published in full in a newspaper of general circulation in the City of Wheat Ridge and Public Hearing and considera- tion on final passage set for January 24, 1983 at 7:30 o'clock, p.m., at Council Chambers, 7500 West 29th Avenue, Wheat Ridge, Colorado. SIGNED by the Mayor on this 27th day of January 19 83 ATTEST: Frank Stites, Mayor Panda Sanq, City Clerk APPROV AS TO FQRM ?Y CITY ATTORNEY a --8 1st publication: Dec. 30, 1982 Wheat Ridge Sentinel 2nd publication: Feb. 3, 1983 WhLtat Ridge Sentinel Effective date Feb. 18, 1983