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RESOLUTION NO. 2024-010 <br />A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF <br />SANTA ANA ANNOUNCING ITS STRENUOUS <br />OPPOSITION TO THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A NEEDLE <br />EXCHANGE PROGRAM IN THE CITY <br />BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA ANA AS <br />FOLLOWS: <br />WHEREAS, on January 5, 2023, Harm Reduction Institute ("HRI") submitted an <br />application with the California Department of Public Health ("CDPH") to operate a <br />Needle Exchange Program ("NEP") in the City that includes mobile delivery of syringes; <br />WHEREAS, in the January 5, 2023 application, HRI noted they would be <br />providing 500,000 syringes and collecting only 300,000; <br />WHEREAS, on May 10, 2023, the Director of the Orange County Health Care <br />Agency ("Local Health Officer') wrote to CDPH advising of the negative experiences <br />with NEP's including with HRI and the overwhelming burden of used syringes littering <br />the community; <br />WHEREAS, the County's Local Health Officer recommended CDPH require HRI <br />incorporate three key mitigation measures including: (1) demonstrating safe and <br />effective methods of appropriate syringe disposal and collection; (2) providing <br />counseling services, linkage to behavior health and medical services and provide follow- <br />up to referrals placed; and (3) community collaboration, data collection and monitoring <br />to identify positive and negative impacts; <br />WHEREAS, on May 19, 2023, the City's Former City Manager and Retired Police <br />Chief submitted a joint letter strenuously opposing HRI's application to operate a NEP in <br />the City; <br />WHEREAS, on August 11, 2023, CDPH approved HRI's application to operate a <br />NEP in the City; <br />WHEREAS, on August 23, 2023, the City demanded CDPH rescind its <br />authorization for HRI to operate a NEP in the City based on CDPH's failure to engage in <br />meaningful collaboration with the City pursuant to Health and Safety Code §121349; <br />WHEREAS, on August 30, 2023, CDPH rescinded its authorization for HRI to <br />operate an NEP in the City and placed their application into pending status; <br />WHEREAS, on December 20, 2023, HRI submitted a new application to CDPH <br />to operate a NEP in the City and revised its estimate of the number of syringes they <br />Resolution No. 2024-010 <br />Page 1 of 3 <br />