Task force forms ad hoc committee to advance draft encampment ordinance tied to state HAP funding

Tulare County counsel introduced a draft county encampment ordinance modeled on other California counties and the task force authorized an ad hoc committee to refine and advance the draft to the Board of Supervisors. County and task-force staff said the ordinance addresses three state-flagged areas for HAP funding eligibility — notice timing before clearing encampments, handling of personal property, and abatement of hazardous conditions — and that adopting an ordinance would help the county secure HAP funds.

David Dionez, the assigned county counsel for the task force, described the draft as preliminary and open to change. Staff warned members the state’s HAP eligibility and recent HUD funding changes create pressure to adopt local policies: Noah (staff) said the draft “does speak to those, and should enable us to obtain that HAP 6 funding,” while other members said the county must pair any clearing policy with clear service-linkage plans to avoid repeated displacement without rehousing.

Providers and a street-medicine practitioner urged specific protections. Dr. Guzman asked that the ordinance or implementation protocols explicitly protect medically necessary equipment and medications — citing insulin supplies and treatment medications such as Suboxone — because discarding such items can directly harm people and lead to emergency department visits. Members also questioned including monetary fines for unhoused people, and staff said fines are likely to be dropped from the ordinance after internal feedback.

To coordinate legal, provider and operational input, the task force approved an ad hoc committee comprised of Miguel, Cynthia, Leticia, Brandy, Natalie and Noah, with authorization for the ad hoc committee to move the ordinance forward when ready so the committee can reduce repeated full-task-force delays. The motion was made by Natalie, seconded by Dana, and passed on a voice vote recorded in the transcript. Staff said the ad hoc group will convene with Tulare County Sheriff’s Office and KTHA (Kings Tulare Homeless Alliance) representatives and return recommendations for Board submission.

Next steps: the ad hoc committee will draft final language to balance county liability, state funding eligibility, coordination with outreach teams, protections for personal property (including medically necessary items), and operational protocols for hazardous abatement. The task force emphasized service coordination — members requested case studies and cross-jurisdictional examples to inform implementation.