La Habra council adopts FY25–26 goals; asks staff to review laws on encampments and infrastructure protections

The La Habra City Council voted unanimously May 19 to adopt the city’s goals and objectives for fiscal year 2025–26 and directed staff to add or update objectives that would clarify local enforcement tools and infrastructure protections related to homelessness and encampments.

A staff presenter told the council the city maintains eight broad goals with 81 specific objectives, and staff is not proposing new broad goals this year but is seeking council direction on amendments or additions. Examples cited by staff included ongoing targets such as public safety response times and completion of park projects; staff noted the recent opening of Women’s Club Park and rollout of a new park signage program.

Councilmembers used the goals discussion to press for specific steps on homelessness. "Can our police department review all the laws that we have...to provide our law enforcement people out in the streets a little more of a tool to be able to enforce certain laws?" Councilmember Gomez asked; staff agreed to add that request as a specific objective if council approved the motion to adopt goals.

Public‑works director Elias Saikali described infrastructure vulnerabilities that have led to safety concerns and fires where unhoused people have entered storm drains and used them as sheltered spaces. "The sewer system costs us $7,000 each to put a sensor on it," Saikali told the council, and he said storm drains and open channel areas lack the same level of physical security and monitoring. Saikali outlined interim tactics such as selectively welding manhole covers in high‑use areas and continued coordination with Union Pacific Railroad on rail‑corridor cleanups.

Councilmembers asked staff to report back with options and costs. One councilmember noted monitoring sensors can generate many false alarms from animals or other nonhuman triggers and cautioned against measures that would be easily defeated or would require repeated repairs.

The council approved the goals and objectives and the request to add a homelessness‑related review to staff workplans by voice vote, recorded as 4–0. Staff will incorporate council direction into the goals document and return as requested for follow‑up.