Pierce County Council to Consider Temporary Ordinance to Remove Barriers at Emergency Shelters – The Suburban Times

Pierce County is currently grappling with a public health and safety crisis related to homelessness. The 2024 Point-in-Time Count showed a 23% increase in homelessness year over year, with 30% of people living without shelter. The closure of FOB (Forward Operating Base) Hope Veterans Village, the only approved tent camp for veterans in the county, will further increase the need for emergency shelter for our most vulnerable neighbors.

To address this state of emergency, the Pierce County Council is considering a temporary emergency ordinance to amend three chapters of the Pierce County Code (PCC) to eliminate regulatory barriers to temporary housing communities, or THCs, in unincorporated Pierce County areas. The Pierce County Council will hold a public hearing on the proposal on Tuesday, July 9, at 3:00 p.m. or soon thereafter to hear public testimony and take final action.

What: Public hearing on Proposal No. O2024-538, Interim Amendments to Sections 17C.30, 18.25, and 18A.38 of the PCC Act
When: Tuesday, July 9, 3:00 p.m. or soon thereafter
Where: 930 Tacoma Avenue South, Room 1046 in Tacoma or remotely via Zoom:

Remote participation is available by calling (253) 215-8782 and providing the webinar ID: 976-6178-7423 or by using this link: https://piercecountywa.zoom.us/j/9215903381

Proposal
Proposal No. O2024-538 establishes the process for authorizing a Transitional Housing Community (THC) through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the applicant and the Pierce County Human Services Department. The MOU will include conditions of approval, an operational and safety plan, a code of conduct, a transition plan, public comment, and more. All of the required elements contained in the MOU can be read in Appendix C, Section F of the Ordinance.

The proposed temporary changes to the Pierce County Code Update regulations regarding THC are as follows:

Allow the creation of temporary housing communities that can accommodate up to 100 people.

Authorizing temporary housing communities for a period of 180 days, with the possibility of extension based on compliance and relationship with the community.

Mandate a community meeting as part of the authorization process. The meeting must be held at least seven days prior to finalizing the MOU that establishes the Temporary Community Housing Agreement, with notices posted and mailed at least 14 days in advance.

Determine health and safety requirements for temporary housing developments, including water, sewerage, sanitation, security and emergency plans.

Exempt small structures and tents under 150 square feet from obtaining a building permit if they are used as overnight accommodation in temporary housing developments.

The County Planning and Public Works Department identified existing regulations as impediments to the creation of emergency shelters during this year’s Comprehensive Plan Periodic Update and Review. These amendments provide an interim process to mitigate these regulatory obstacles until final regulations are adopted as part of the Comprehensive Plan Update.

A temporary emergency ordinance must receive five votes to be passed as an emergency ordinance and then signed by the County Executive. The temporary ordinance will remain in effect for six months or until renewed, repealed by the Council or replaced by a permanent ordinance. The permanent ordinances are currently being developed by the Department of Planning and Public Works and it is anticipated that the Council will consider the permanent ordinances by the end of 2024.

Process
Regulations typically go to a Council Committee for review and recommendation before final action. Emergency regulations are not subject to normal legislative procedures because they are intended to address an emergency situation that requires immediate attention.

These changes build on the county’s safe parking requirements and are modeled after Tacoma’s successful emergency shelter regulations to ensure consistency of services across communities and emergency shelter providers.