Stanton Cracks Down on Problematic Motels

Stanton City Council members are continuing the citywide crackdown connected problematic motels by strengthening existing laws to curb cause use, prostitution and different thoroughfare crimes. 

It comes much than a twelvemonth since metropolis officials archetypal imposed a moratorium connected caller motels being built successful 1 of Orange County’s smallest cities amid concerns that the establishments are becoming hotspots for transgression successful Stanton.

[Read: Stanton Extends Ban connected New Motels]

It besides comes arsenic officials successful Stanton – with assistance from authorities backing – person converted 3 motels into lodging for stateless radical done California’s Project Homekey initiative.

At the Jan. 14 meeting, metropolis assembly members unanimously voted to overhaul metropolis ordinances regarding zoning, permits, and operational standards for nationalist lodging. 

Councilman Donald Torres said these establishments are present to stay, but amended absorption and guidelines are needed to code ongoing concerns. 

“Motels arsenic a concern successful Stanton are not going anywhere, truthful it’s important to person strict standards successful place,” Torres said successful a Jan. 21 email. 

The ordinance updates operational, security, and sanitary regulations, which were past revised successful 2014.

All motels on Beach Boulevard and Katella Avenue wrong the metropolis are present required to get a conditional usage permit, providing the metropolis with greater oversight. 

It comes aft Stanton City Council members earmarked $16.2 cardinal – astir fractional of the $34.7 cardinal wide money – for instrumentality enforcement. 

Orange County Sheriff deputies respond to hundreds of calls to motels each year, according to the staff report. 

The ordinance states sheriff deputies “respond annually to hundreds of calls related to illicit intersexual activities, suspected quality trafficking, narcotics violations, stolen vehicles, limb possession, probation and parole violations, burglary, robbery, pack activity, assaults, and assaults with deadly weapons.” 

Under the beefed up ordinance, radical looking to enactment astatine motels indispensable present supply their imperishable code and valid photograph ID earlier being rented a room, and operators indispensable support records of each guests, according to the staff report. 

The overhauled regulations besides code quality trafficking concerns, prohibit minors from staying astatine motels unless accompanied by a genitor oregon ineligible guardian and necessitate operators station accusation for victims of trafficking to question assistance and resources. 

Stanton nonmigratory Christian Konrad said the regulations are important, but the thoroughfare transgression plaguing Beach Boulevard won’t spell distant anytime soon. 

“The drugs are ne'er going away,” Konrad said successful a Jan. 20 interview. “You person a large road that goes each the mode to the formation and to the mountains, truthful you are not going to combat the cause problem.”

He added that for many, motels are their lone enactment to enactment disconnected the streets, and the astir the metropolis tin bash is clasp the owners accountable to supply a livable standard.

Operators volition person to upkeep and support the conditions of the wrong and exterior of the nationalist lodging facilities, including removing graffiti wrong 48 hours, expanding video surveillance to each introduction points, parking areas, and communal areas.

THey volition besides person to contented parking permits to guests, employees and contractors. 

Motel owners volition person a twelvemonth to get zoning permits, update impermanent verification protocols, and adhere to the sanitary and information standards acceptable successful spot by the law. 

Although the metropolis doesn’t expect to adhd immoderate unit to enforce the overhauled regulations, officials program connected moving intimately with motel owners to amended and reply questions astir the law, according to Torres. 

City officials are besides expected to motorboat an inspection program, requiring motels to get compliance certifications to run legally. 

Torres said officials volition proceed to show and code the challenges of motels. 

“We volition beryllium looking to Anaheim and different cities that person dealt with akin issues to person accordant enforcement crossed Beach Boulevard.” 

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