City Manager Office
www.santa-ana.org/city-managers-office/
Item # 27
City of Santa Ana
20 Civic Center Plaza, Santa Ana, CA 92701
Staff Report
April 16, 2024
TOPIC: Resolution Opposing the Establishment of a Needle Exchange Program in Santa Ana
AGENDA TITLE
Resolution of the City Council of the City of Santa Ana Announcing Its Strenuous Opposition to the Establishment of a Needle Exchange Program in the City
RECOMMENDED ACTION
Adopt a Resolution opposing the establishment of a needle exchange program in the City of Santa Ana as proposed by the Harm Reduction Institute’s application to the California Department of Public Health.
RESOLUTION NO. 2024-XXX entitled A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF
THE CITY OF SANTA ANA ANNOUNCING ITS STRENUOUS OPPOSITION TO THE
ESTABLISHMENT OF A NEEDLE EXCHANGE PROGRAM IN THE CITY
GOVERNMENT CODE §84308 APPLIES: No
No
DISCUSSION
Needle distribution programs have historically been associated with increased public health risks. A needle distribution program that operated in Santa Ana from 2016 to 2018 resulted in 250,000 used syringes being discarded in public areas frequented by children, including the Civic Center, library, senior center, neighborhoods, and businesses. Harm Reduction Institute (HRI) plans to operate a needle distribution program in Santa Ana that would, on an annual basis, provide 300,000 syringes and collect 180,000, potentially leaving 120,000 needles annually that could be discarded in public areas.
On January 5, 2023, HRI submitted an application with the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) to operate a Needle Exchange Program (NEP) in the City that included mobile delivery of syringes. In their application, HRI noted they would be providing 500,000 syringes and collecting only 300,000.
Resolution Opposing the Establishment of a Needle Exchange Program in Santa Ana April 16, 2024
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On May 10, 2023, the Director of the Orange County Health Care Agency (Local Health Officer) wrote to CDPH advising of the negative experiences with NEP’s including with HRI and the overwhelming burden of used syringes littering the community.
The County’s Local Health Officer recommended CDPH require HRI incorporate three key mitigation measures including: (1) demonstrating safe and effective methods of appropriate syringe disposal and collection; (2) providing counseling services, linkage to behavior health and medical services, and provide follow-up to referrals placed; and (3) community collaboration, data collection, and monitoring to identify positive and negative impacts.
Despite the City’s strenuous opposition to HRI’s application to operate a NEP in the City, on August 11, 2023, CDPH approved HRI’s application.
On August 23, 2023, the City demanded CDPH rescind its authorization for HRI to operate a NEP in the City based on CDPH’s failure to engage in meaningful collaboration with the City pursuant to Health and Safety Code §121349. This prompted CDPH to rescind its authorization for HRI to operate an NEP in the City and placed their application into pending status on August 30, 2023.
On December 20, 2023, HRI submitted a new application to CDPH to operate a NEP in the City and revised its estimate of the number of syringes they would be providing to 300,000 and collecting to 180,000, leaving 120,000 syringes unaccounted for. HRI’s latest application is currently pending with CDPH and CDPH has not yet engaged in the mandatory consultation process pursuant to the Health and Safety Code with the City.
The Santa Ana City Council desires to ensure that NEP operations, which are detrimental to the health, safety, and welfare, are not authorized and established in the City.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact associated with this action
EXHIBIT(S)
1. Resolution
Submitted By: Ken Gominsky, Homeless Services Division Manager Approved By: Alvaro Nuñez, Acting City Manager