Santa Maria council hears update on homelessness; cross‑county riverbed jurisdiction limits enforcement

The Santa Maria City Council received an update Nov. 4 on homelessness and the city’s encampment response that highlighted the limits of enforcement where the riverbed crosses into San Luis Obispo County.

Assistant City Manager Chun Wu told the council the city’s January point‑in‑time count recorded 459 people experiencing homelessness in Santa Maria — 243 in shelters, 160 unsheltered and 56 living in vehicles. “This is another update on homelessness and encampment response,” Wu said, adding the count is a one‑night snapshot.

Rangers and police described recent field conditions in and near the Santa Maria Riverbed. Sergeant Ruben Ramirez said the riverbed “looks pretty good west of the 101 Bridge” but that encampments persist east of the 101 up to the Yoshida Line in areas that fall under San Luis Obispo County jurisdiction. “The unfortunate thing about the unhoused that are in this area is they do not want to take any of our help,” Ramirez said, describing some encampments as large and resistant to assistance. Ramirez and other rangers said they patrol riverbed areas multiple times each day, generally up to one hour per patrol, and attempt to offer services before any enforcement action.

Wu told the council Santa Barbara County has agreed to contribute 50% of the cost for rangers to monitor the riverbed under a draft memorandum of understanding, but San Luis Obispo County has not yet committed and the city cannot enforce its municipal code in SLO County. City staff said they rely on coordination with the county sheriff’s offices for enforcement in those sections of the riverbed and that the lack of a full three‑jurisdiction MOU limits the city’s ability to take action east of the Yoshida Line.

Councilmembers asked staff to pursue further engagement with San Luis Obispo County. Mayor Patino offered to take the request to the San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors and councilmembers asked staff to prepare a letter requesting cost‑sharing and enforcement cooperation. Councilmember Sotto, who sits on a regional elected‑leaders forum on homelessness, also warned that federal policy changes and time‑limited emergency housing vouchers could produce renewed housing instability if funding is not extended beyond December 2026.

Staff and public safety officials emphasized that outreach and service offers are standard practice before enforcement. “Prior to any sort of enforcement action, we are offering services,” a city staff member said, noting the city works with Good Samaritan and mental‑health providers and uses contracted cleanup crews for encampment removals inside city jurisdiction.

The council did not take a binding policy vote at the meeting but directed staff to continue coordination with counties and service providers and to follow up with San Luis Obispo County regarding enforcement and cost sharing.