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Residents press Garden Grove leaders for action on riverbed encampments; council asks staff for updates
Summary
Multiple residents urged the council to address ongoing homeless encampments and public‑safety issues along the Gilbert/riverbed corridor, citing threats, vandalism and slow police response; councilmembers asked staff to coordinate with county and sheriff's office and to explore fencing and other measures.
Several Garden Grove residents used oral communications on Tuesday to urge the council to address persistent encampments and safety problems in the Gilbert flood control channel and adjacent riverbed areas, saying the situation is affecting nearby businesses and residents.
Why it matters: Residents described repeated incursions, vandalism and safety concerns that they say are making it difficult to run businesses and feel safe near the riverbed and underpass areas. Councilmembers asked staff to pursue follow‑up with county partners, the sheriff and public works to identify short‑ and longer‑term measures.
Public testimony
Devon Marsh told the council he and his family had ongoing disputes with the city’s Building & Safety staff over citations, but he also raised broader concerns about enforcement and how inspections have been handled; his remarks focused on a separate code‑enforcement dispute and courtroom proceedings.
Raquel Soto (recorded as speaking on behalf of property located at 11851 and 11811 Gilbert) described repeated incursions into the riverbed, parties that play loud music in the middle of the night, theft, vandalism of a retaining wall and a perception that police response is not effective because the area is partly under county/sheriff jurisdiction. “I feel like I’m scared to conduct business,” she told the council and offered video evidence of daily activity in the riverbed.
Kyle Mason, who identified himself as a neighborhood watch member, said he had already found a dead body in the riverbed and said he has repeatedly requested a steel door or other physical barrier to block access beneath an overpass. He said he had waited for police response “two hours” during earlier incidents and urged the council to take action.
Council response and next steps
Council members expressed sympathy and said they would pursue staff coordination with the sheriff’s office and county partners. A councilmember asked that staff provide an update on the Gilbert flood control channel at a subsequent meeting and explore options such as fencing, steel doors or other access‑control measures. The city manager said those topics are being discussed in the departments and that staff will meet with public works and relevant departments to see if the matter can be advanced sooner than the standard budget or project cycle.
No formal action was taken at the meeting; the council instructed staff to investigate possible fixes and to report back. Several councilmembers also encouraged residents to continue to provide evidence (video and photographs) to help enforcement and outreach teams.
