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Buena Park staff outline multiagency plan to address encampments along District 4 flood-control channel
Summary
Homeless outreach staff described recurring encampments and recommended a multiagency response with OC Public Works, continued twice-daily outreach, fence repairs and ongoing police patrols; staff reported 47 PD responses in a year and seeks collaborative solutions with neighboring cities.
Buena Park’s homeless outreach coordinator told the council the District 4 flood-control channel — which runs along the southern edge of John P. Park and crosses Buena Park, Anaheim and Cypress — has become a recurring encampment site and requires a coordinated regional response.
Annalisa Marquez Pinedo said the city manages roughly 6.5 miles of flood-control channels and that the specific corridor in District 4 has four primary access points, two unsecured. Staff reported 47 Police Department responses in the past year for that area, including 18 calls related to transients and multiple reports of trespassing, vandalism and public-safety concerns. County crews had replaced chain-link fencing with 8-foot steel in some places but one Pacific Electric right-of-way access remains unsecured, staff said.
To reduce re-encampment and improve safety, staff proposed scheduling a multiagency coordination meeting with Anaheim, Cypress and Orange County Public Works; continuing twice-daily outreach by the homeless outreach team; improving and repairing county fencing; and exploring low-visibility security enhancements. Public Works said it had contacted the Orange County Flood Control District and OCTA about fencing repairs, and anticipated a 3–4 week lead time for county action pending OCTA approvals.
Councilmembers asked for quarterly updates on outcomes and recommended exploring fencing designs and county coordination; staff committed to follow-up and outreach.
