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Resolution Opposing the Establishment of a Needle Exchange Program in Santa Ana <br />April 16, 2024 <br />Page 2 <br />4 <br />1 <br />9 <br />9 <br />On May 10, 2023, the Director of the Orange County Health Care Agency (Local Health <br />Officer) wrote to CDPH advising of the negative experiences with NEP’s including with <br />HRI and the overwhelming burden of used syringes littering the community. <br />The County’s Local Health Officer recommended CDPH require HRI incorporate three <br />key mitigation measures including: (1) demonstrating safe and effective methods of <br />appropriate syringe disposal and collection; (2) providing counseling services, linkage to <br />behavior health and medical services, and provide follow-up to referrals placed; and (3) <br />community collaboration, data collection, and monitoring to identify positive and <br />negative impacts. <br />Despite the City’s strenuous opposition to HRI’s application to operate a NEP in the <br />City, on August 11, 2023, CDPH approved HRI’s application. <br />On August 23, 2023, the City demanded CDPH rescind its authorization for HRI to <br />operate a NEP in the City based on CDPH’s failure to engage in meaningful <br />collaboration with the City pursuant to Health and Safety Code §121349. This prompted <br />CDPH to rescind its authorization for HRI to operate an NEP in the City and placed their <br />application into pending status on August 30, 2023. <br />On December 20, 2023, HRI submitted a new application to CDPH to operate a NEP in <br />the City and revised its estimate of the number of syringes they would be providing to <br />300,000 and collecting to 180,000, leaving 120,000 syringes unaccounted for. HRI’s <br />latest application is currently pending with CDPH and CDPH has not yet engaged in the <br />mandatory consultation process pursuant to the Health and Safety Code with the City. <br />The Santa Ana City Council desires to ensure that NEP operations, which are <br />detrimental to the health, safety, and welfare, are not authorized and established in the <br />City. <br /> FISCAL IMPACT <br />There is no fiscal impact associated with this action <br />EXHIBIT(S) <br />1. Resolution <br />Submitted By: Ken Gominsky, Homeless Services Division Manager <br />Approved By: Alvaro Nuñez, Acting City Manager