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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCD Ordinance Regulating Camping on Public Property PPTOrdinance Regulating Camping on Public Property San Rafael City Council Special Meeting July 10, 2023 •Supportive Housing Development: 3301 Kerner ($2.1M city funds); Jonathan's Place ($1.1M) •Case management from St. Vincent de Paul, Encampment Resolution grant funding ($522K) •Additional $250K Encampment Resolution Fund award, to be deployed in late 2023 - 2024 •SAFE (Specialized Assistance for Everyone), 3-year Alternative Response pilot ($775K annually) •High Utilizer case management program funding •Mobile showers and laundry services •San Rafael Police Department’s Community Mental Health Liaison •Housing and Homelessness Division in Community Development Department •Funding Downtown Streets Team ($200K); recent encampment outreach/cleaning expansion •Continuing to pursue an Interim Housing pilot San Rafael City Council July 10, 2023 Current City Initiatives to End Homelessness •30-33 campsites •Increased Police Department calls for service •Recent methamphetamine operation and arrests •Sanitation, biohazards, theft and vandalism, alcohol and drug offenses, campfires, etc. •SAFE (Specialized Assistance for Everyone) alternative response, daily proactive contact •Increased complaints from community •Concerns for safety, youth passage to schools •Difficulties conducting business—owners, employees in unsafe situations San Rafael City Council July 10, 2023 Campsites at Mahon Creek Path •Police response—proactive, daily •Mental Health Liaison – referrals and placement •SAFE Team (Specialized Assistance for Everyone) •Weekly trash pickups: items bagged and voluntarily surrendered •Downtown Streets Team (recent expansion) •St. Vincent de Paul Society case management San Rafael City Council July 10, 2023 Response Thus Far •Allow sufficient space on public property for persons to sleep who have no shelter available (Martin v. Boise) •Safety on city property: Concentrated and increased safety hazards, waste, litter & refuse; criminal activity; drug possession & use; occupation of large public spaces •Size of camping areas: trash, waste, & abandoned property San Rafael City Council July 10, 2023 Primary problems we are trying to solve •Camping prohibited, except where person has no alternative shelter available •Reorganize existing prohibitions into camping ordinance •City Open Spaces •City Parking Garages •Public facilities (e.g. buildings) •Albert and Boyd Parks •Public rights-of-way and sidewalks •No blocking access to public facilities, private property San Rafael City Council July 10, 2023 New Proposed Code Chapter 19.50 •New restrictions: no camping •Within 100 feet of playgrounds •Within 10 feet of public utility infrastructure •Added as underlined: •City Manager may prohibit camping, or adopt time, place, or manner conditions on camping, on one or more public properties at any time due to threat to public health, safety, or welfare San Rafael City Council July 10, 2023 New Proposed Code Chapter 19.50 •Where accepted, new time, place and manner conditions: •Camping area cannot exceed 10 ft. x 10 ft. (one person) or 10 ft. x 20 ft. (two or more persons). •All items must be kept/stored within maximum permitted camping area. •No camping area may be established within 200 ft. of any other camping area. San Rafael City Council July 10, 2023 New Proposed Code Chapter 19.50 •Adopt proposed ordinance with this addition: Section 19.50.050 Conflict with Other Regulations To the extent that there is any conflict with any other provision of this code, the standards and regulations of this chapter shall prevail. San Rafael City Council July 10, 2023 Recommended Edit – Add Conflict Provision •De-concentrating camping: reduce potential for criminal activity, trash, impact on business; ensure access to public space; •Buffer zones to infrastructure: allow utility workers access to keep utilities working;protect individuals camping •Buffer zones to playgrounds: safety for families San Rafael City Council July 10, 2023 Rationale for new regulation •MASH (Marin Alliance Solving Homelessness) - social services partners •Mental Health Liaison and SAFE •Notice to individuals camping of new policies •72-hour notice to reduce campsite to new limits or observe buffers •Offer to store items for 90 days at City expense San Rafael City Council July 10, 2023 Outreach and Education Strategy