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HomeMy WebLinkAbout(0003) IR 21-10556 - Responsibility for Clean-Up Under Bridges DowntownINFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 21-10556 To the Mayor and Members of the City Council March 23, 2021 Page 1 of 2 SUBJECT: RESPONSIBILITY FOR CLEAN-UP UNDER BRIDGES DOWNTOWN The City Council has requested information on clean up along highways and under bridges around downtown. The proximity to organizations that serve the homeless results in homeless camps and litter, with a high frequency of repeat and in some cases, near perpetual violations and problems. In addressing these issues, there is a complex mixture of maintenance agreements between the State and City and there are multiple agencies that assist the homeless and address such problems. Typically, agencies work on a proactive basis and often times the problems are resolved without input from the community. However, sometimes the problems are large enough or linger long enough to attract the attention of the public. In these cases, staff recommends that the public report their concern to the City: 1. Call the City Call Center at (817) 392-1234; or 2. Send an e-mail to the City Call Center at 1234(a-)FortWorthTexas.gov; or 3. Report the concern on the City's Smart App: MyFW The Call Center has an application that receives, distributes, tracks, and upon completion closes the reported concern. During this process, departments work together to respond to the homeless needs, enforce violations and clean up the camps. All of this occurs with a single communication to one of the contact points listed above. Even so, some members of the public want to contact the responsible department directly and will make calls to Police, Directions Home, TPW, Code Compliance and others. This is one of those situations where no single department is responsible. Police/Hope Team generally make the first contact, other agencies might be brought in to assist with outreach and finally Code Compliance will be called to arrange for the clean-up (working with TxDOT or City crews alone depending on the areas/type of clean-up). While contacting the Call Center is the most efficient way to handle these, a call to Police, Directions Home or Code Compliance will also trigger the abatement process; however, calling Code Compliance first will not result in a faster or immediate clean-up unless the outreach and enforcement has already been conducted. Effects of CDC Covid Guidelines and 2021 Winter Storm The CDC COVID guidelines for the homeless recommend non-congregant living where possible including allowing outdoor living arrangements. This has been exacerbated by the reduction in beds at shelters as they attempt to meet social distancing and other safety protocols indoors. This has led to greater outreach, longer compliance times and more leniency for camps on public property. The 2021 Winter Storm, with historic low temps into the single digits, resulted in even more camps under bridges as the homeless sought out more protected camping areas and closer proximity to services and warming stations. During the storm and for about one week after the storm, the public, churches and others responded with an overabundance of blankets, clothes, food and other items which resulted in a lot of waste. While some of the items provided comfort and assistance, the large quantity in a short period of time resulted in litter. ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 21-10556 To the Mayor and Members of the City Council March 23, 2021 Page 2of2 SUBJECT: RESPONSIBILITY FOR CLEAN-UP UNDER BRIDGES DOWNTOWN Maintenance Agreements and Responsibility The City has Municipal Maintenance Agreements (MMA) with TxDOT for maintenance and cleaning under the bridges and alongside roadways within the 1-30, 1-35 and Lancaster overpasses. Responsibility for cleaning up litter and camps in the underpass areas is shared between TxDOT and the City (Code Compliance) with the lead agency for each area varying by location. For this reason, the City always recommends contacting the City Call Center and allowing pertinent staff to determine responsibility and coordinate a clean-up. While TxDOT and its contractors are responsible for mowing rights -of -way and maintaining litter and debris along and underneath State of Texas highways, this occurs on a limited and infrequent basis. Mowing and deep litter clean-up only occurs four times a year. On highways, debris and larger litter occurs more frequently with clean-up on an ad hoc basis as the need arises. The City, by agreement, supplements some mowing and litter abatement around the downtown interchanges. This includes twice a day litter clean-up along Lancaster by Presbyterian Night Shelter and supplemental mowing during the summer months. Homelessness Clean-up Process Specific activities related to the homeless camping under the bridges and within the rights -of -way begins with coordinated education and outreach efforts through the Police Department's Hope Team, Directions Home and partnering homeless organizations. Upon communicating all the available resources, safety concerns, trespassing and additional violations to the homeless camping, they are given a brief time period to collect their belongings and locate acceptable housing. Once the areas are vacated, the Code Compliance Litter Abatement Team coordinates cleaning the areas in conjunction with TxDOT, Presbyterian Night Shelter and/or Upspire Program and other contractors as needed. Homeless camp management is not a linear process. City agencies, non -profits and the greater community attempt to balance humanitarian needs with public health, welfare and safety considerations. Camping under bridges and along highways is dangerous and agencies address these on a proactive and ongoing basis. Even so, early intervention is key to timely abatement. The City encourages residents to be our eyes and ears and report camps, illegal dump sites and other hazards through the City Call Center. For questions regarding this information, please contact Brandon Bennett, Director of the Code Compliance Department, at 817-392-6322. David Cooke City Manager ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS