Santa Cruz supervisors approve steps to enforce abandoned-vehicle rules after debate over RVs and safe parking

The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors on Oct. 7 voted to approve a package of steps aimed at strengthening enforcement of County Code chapter 9.57, which governs abandoned, wrecked, dismantled or inoperative vehicles on county streets.

Supervisor Koenig, who presented the revised code language, said the update is intended to give the county clearer authority to address vehicles parked on county streets for more than 72 hours and to enable tow-and-dismantle actions after a 10-day storage/notice period. "The purpose of this ordinance update is, or code update is really to ensure that the county has the ability to enforce its, its code prohibiting parking on county streets for over 72 hours," Koenig said during the presentation.

The ordinance revision was the subject of extensive public comment. Several residents and advocacy speakers urged the board to avoid policies that would harm people living in vehicles and to prioritize outreach, safe-parking expansion and low-cost repair or storage alternatives. "I ask that you reach out to the faith based community … Why can't we make agreements with the faith based community to maybe have a rotating locations where people can go," a public speaker told the board during comment.

Lieutenant Nick Baldridge of the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office said the intent of the update is not to stage a large, punitive sweep but to create…