50A - EMERGENCY ORD - CAMPING & STORAGE CIVIC CENTER

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ORANGE COUNTY PUBLIC LAW LIBRARY September 22, 2017 outside. The toilets are often clogged, sometimes by clothes or other solid objects stuffed into them. The sinks do not accommodate the 10 gallon buckets individuals are using to have fresh water at the campsite, so the inevitable spills create a slipping hazard inside the Library building. (It is notable that when one of the glass walls of the Library was broken into this past month, a security camera captured a number of homeless walking through the broken glass simply to use the Library's drinking fountain.) Unsanitary and flooded conditions in the restrooms regularly require the restrooms be closed to use by the public. Even with restrooms available, there have been multiple occurrences of individuals urinating and defecating inside the elevator and hallways of the Law Library building. The presence of so many homeless people at the Library's doorstep is more than a mere annoyance; it is a danger to Library staff and patrons. The risk of disease from feces on the Library carpets and literally scores of hypodermic needles discarded in various areas of the Library within the past year is not imaginary. San Diego County recently suffered an outbreak of hepatitis A that killed 16 people, and sickened 421 more. This outbreak occurred primarily within the homeless population, but also affected a substantial number who associated closely with that community. Disease is not the only risk faced by library staff and patrons. Combative, mentally -ill transients routinely challenge library staff, both verbally and physically. Staff members arriving early in the morning entered the library and found it has been broken into during the night and left unsecured. Given the safety risks almost daily encountered over the past two or more years, only sheer luck has prevented serious harm to staff and patrons. That luck ran out, however, on July 13, 2017. On that day, a transient was found in the restroom mixing some type of chemical which created a strong odor that spread into the adjacent hall and entryway. It took 20 minutes of staff and guard intervention just to get the person out of the restroom. The odor persisted for days until a hazmat contractor came to clean the location. Most importantly, the security guard, day porter, and three staff members suffered adverse physical reactions to the incident, including burning eyes, breathing difficulties, vision problems, and throat irritation. Two staff members filed workers' compensation claims as a result of their injuries. Our Library staff should not have to face daily threats to their physical health just to perform their jobs. Despite declining revenues, the Library's Board of Trustees voted last year to hire a security guard. After the harm suffered by staff due to the July incident, suggestions have been made to hire a second guard, primarily to police the public restrooms. The cost of doing so, however, would require further cuts to library services. 50A-16