HomeMy WebLinkAboutCD-CA Camping at Albert Park PPTResolution Prohibiting Camping on Certain Public Property:Albert Park
San Rafael City Council
March 6, 2023
•Strict prohibition of camping at Albert Park
•Adds Albert Park to current strict prohibitions on camping:
Boyd Park, parking garages, open space, public right of way
•Prohibition would apply seasonally each year –
March through October
San Rafael City Council
March 6, 2023
Proposed resolution
•Supportive Housing Development
•Service Support Area collaboration, By-Name List
•Funding case management from St. Vincent de Paul, regional partnership
•Free mobile showers and laundry services
•SRPD’s Community Mental Health Liaison
•Created Housing and Homelessness Division in Community Development Department
•Funding Downtown Streets Team
•Funding three-year Alternative Response Program pilot
•Studying an Interim Housing pilot, conducted a Request for Information (RFI) to identify
private sites
•Applied for additional $250K ERF grant for case management for Albert Park
San Rafael City Council
March 6, 2023
Current City Initiatives to End Homelessness
•18-25 campsites
•Increased SRPD calls for service
sanitation, biohazards, theft and vandalism, alcohol and drug offenses, campfires, etc.
•Increased complaints from community
concerns for safety, youth programs, difficulties renting apartments and conducting business
San Rafael City Council
March 6, 2023
Campsites at Albert Park
San Rafael City Council
March 6, 2023
Examples of Campsites now
San Rafael City Council
March 6, 2023
Typical Spring-Summer Activities
•San Rafael Community Center
•Parkside Preschool and Childrens’ Center
•Baseball and Softball Stadium –
Little League opening day event March 18
•Marin Bocce Federation
•Tennis Courts and Playground
San Rafael City Council
March 6, 2023
Albert Park community and recreation uses
•Interdepartmental collaboration:
Libraries and Recreation, Community Development, City Attorney, Public Works, Police Dept
•Outreach with agencies
•Mental Health Liaison
•Weekly shower services and sanitation cleanups
•Temporary storage
•Notice to campers to vacate no later than March 13, 7 a.m.
San Rafael City Council
March 6, 2023
Response Thus Far
-No person shall camp, in any park, building or portion thereof, including
the parking lot of any such area . . . .
-Nothing in this section shall be deemed to prohibit camping on all public
property, including parks, when there is no alternative shelter available
to the person camping
-Provided that the city manager may nevertheless absolutely prohibit
camping at any time in one (1) or more specific parks where such
prohibition is determined to be a threat to the public, health, safety, or
welfare.
San Rafael City Council
March 6, 2023
City's Camping Ordinance -SRMC 19.20.080(C)
-Campsites obstruct public use of property for intended purpose
Seasonal and school/programmatic event uses which will draw thousands
of visitors to the park -e.g., Little League opening day event on March 18
-Increasing conflicts with park users during high season
-Public, health, safety, and welfare of community
San Rafael City Council
March 6, 2023
Compelling circumstances for camping prohibition
•Camping would be absolutely prohibited in Albert Park
•Seasonally limited to March through October to align with high
seasonal uses by community
•Adds Albert Park to limited number of places that the City
explicitly prohibits camping:
Boyd Park, City parking garages and City open space
San Rafael City Council
March 6, 2023
Scope of Resolution