Item 10 - Ten-Day Written Report Following the Adoption of Urgency Ordinance NS-3064

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Ten-Day Report Describing Measures Taken to Alleviate the Conditions which Led to the Adoption of Urgency Ordinance No. NS-3064 (Transit Zoning Code Moratorium Extension) April 1, 2025 Page 3 4 9 1 2 and members of the community posed additional questions and provided input on topics of key importance surrounding land use, code violations, the role of outside agencies and their enforcement, and financial and legal implications that required staff to carry out additional research. On February 24, 2025 and March 6, 2025, the Planning Commission held a public hearing and recommended approval of the TZC ordinance and map amendments with clarifying edits. However, this recommendation is advisory and the City Council retains the ultimate authority to approve, modify, or reject the proposed amendments after their own review and consideration of all presented information, including the Planning Commission's recommendations, staff reports, and public input. Measures Taken Review of City Department Activities During the initial 45-day moratorium and the moratorium extension of ten (10) month and fifteen (15) days, City staff conducted interagency meetings that included representatives from multiple City departments: the Planning Division, Building Safety Division, Code Enforcement Division, Business License, and Information Technology. Additionally, engagement with agencies such as the Santa Ana Police Department (SAPD), Public Works Agency, and the Community Development Agency’s Economic Development Division has produced critical information illustrating the extent to which industrial activities interface with residential land uses in the TZC area, specifically and most concentrated in the Logan and Lacy neighborhoods. Data based on Business License and Economic Development records indicate that application of the moratorium affects up to 127 industrial businesses in the TZC. Of the affected businesses, approximately three have active applications for permits, primarily seeking to legalize unpermitted work on industrial properties. City staff has continued to review public safety data from SAPD and Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA) to assess community concerns regarding emergency responses in the TZC. SAPD records show a total of 18,736 calls for service between March 2023 and July 2024, with 226 of those occurring between April and July 2024 within the Logan and Lacy neighborhoods. These calls encompassed a wide range of incidents, including patrol checks, disturbances, and traffic-related issues. Notably, 1,909 calls involved collisions, vehicle impoundments, domestic violence, and SAMC violations. OCFA data from 2022 to August 2024 indicates 238 calls for advanced life support emergencies. In 2022, 29 calls were related to respiratory issues, chest pain, and cardiac arrest, with a subsequent 7% increase in health-related calls in 2023. While the data reflects a broad spectrum of emergency responses, the concentration of industrial businesses in the TZC raises the possibility that some of these calls, particularly those related to respiratory issues and traffic incidents, may be influenced by industrial operations.