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Code enforcement says 112 camps abated and outlines expanded inspections and drone plan
Summary
Code enforcement staff told the council they abated 112 camps and closed nearly 790 violations since December, described an ordinance that allows inspections of massage parlors, and requested licensing and a drone for safer reconnaissance of wooded encampments.
Code enforcement (speaker 9) told the council that proactive enforcement and partnerships have produced measurable results this past year.
"We successfully abated a 112 camps," the code enforcement manager said, adding that his team opened hundreds of cases and closed close to 790 violations since late December. Staff described the approach as a combination of outreach, housing-navigation referrals and formal abatement when appropriate.
The manager also detailed a narcotics and sexual-exploitation risk tied to certain massage-parlor operations and said the city's ordinance authorizes code and planning staff to enter and inspect businesses under the local licensing rules. He requested additional modest equipment — two-way radios and a drone plus training — to improve field safety and visibility into wooded areas where camps recur: "We would like to be able to have a drone to be able to fly over the top and see where the camps are," he said.
Why it matters: encampment abatement and inspections intersect with public health, homelessness services and enforcement budgets. Staff said they are coordinating with county public health, the police department and regional nonprofits to respond to recurring camps and reduce repeat encampments.
Next steps: staff will return with a detailed drone-training and procurement plan, potential radio purchases, and continued coordination with housing navigation partners to reduce repeat encampments.
