THE STANTON CIVIC CENTER complex (OC Tribune photo).

Taking steps to deal with problems stemming from the homelessness crisis, the Stanton City Council on Tuesday night passed two related measures.

On a 5-0 vote, the council approved a resolution declaring a “local emergency” related to how homelessness has been connected to health and safety concerns, increases in criminal activity, open-air drug use, people sleeping and camping in ways that obstruct the public’s use of right-of-way and other public facilities.

The resolution empowers the city manager with “additional powers” as director of emergency services to “take necessary steps to address the homelessness crisis.”

Also approved on a 5-0 vote was approval for introduction of and first reading of an ordinance prohibiting “sleeping, sitting, laying and/storing personal property in a manner that interferes with the public’s access to public streets, sidewalks, right-of-way and facilities.”
Second reading and adoption of the ordinance is scheduled for the Dec. 10 meeting of the council.