DATE: October 8, 2024
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Paul Nerland, County Administrative Officer
SUBJECT: Resolution for Establishment of a County Encampment Resolution Policy
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
Adopt Resolution which establishes the “County of Fresno Policy for Resolution of Temporary Encampments on Public and Private Property”.
REPORT
There is no additional Net County Cost associated with the recommended actions. The recommended action would establish a policy for the resolution of temporary encampments on public and private property in unincorporated areas of Fresno County. The policy would codify the County’s process for responding to and resolving encampments in a manner that is effective and respectful of the needs and rights of County residents including those residing in the encampments. This item is countywide.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
As an alternative action your Board may direct staff to return with a different policy document.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no increase in Net County Cost associated with the recommended action. The current costs associated with the County’s ongoing efforts to abate encampments would not significantly increase with implementation of the recommended policy.
DISCUSSION:
On August 20, 2024, your Board conducted the second hearing to adopt an amendment to Ordinance Code, Title 10, to add Chapter 10.70, “Unlawful Camping and Obstructing Public Rights of Way”, to establish a clear process for abating unlawful camping on public and private property in order to protect the public health, safety, and welfare of all Fresno County residents. On September 19, 2024, the unlawful camping ordinance went into to effect.
The proposed policy outlines the steps to be taken by County staff in their response to addressing unlawful encampments in the unincorporated areas of Fresno County. The policy is consistent with the unlawful camping ordinance adopted by your Board and with the current process utilized by the County to address and resolve encampments on public and private property.
The encampment resolution process outlined in the proposed policy includes noticing to unhoused individuals of pending action to resolve the unlawful encampments, outreach services to the individuals residing within the unlawful encampments, storing any personal property of value left behind that is not unsanitary, a threat to public health, or unlawful to possess, and cleaning the refuse left behind after the unlawful encampment is vacated, among other procedures used to address encampments.
If an encampment is determined to pose an emergency public health and safety risk, emergency first responders will be deployed to address the emergency situation and ensure the health and safety of Fresno County residents, including those residing within the encampment. In situations of imminent risk to public health and safety, the full noticing and outreach process may not be followed for the specific area that has been determined to pose the emergency public health and safety risk.
The County’s preferred outcome in addressing unlawful encampments on public and private property is linkage to housing services and resources or behavioral health treatment for those individuals who reside within an unlawful encampment and who are ultimately most impacted by the County’s encampment resolution process. The proposed policy would help to encourage voluntary compliance with the County’s unlawful camping ordinance and ensure that the County’s response actions to encampments are conducted in a manner that is effective and respectful of the needs and rights of County residents including those residing in the encampment.
REFERENCE MATERIAL:
BAI #22, August 20, 2024
BAI #5, August 6, 2024
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
Resolution
CAO ANALYST:
Dylan McCully