Residents praise encampment cleanup, report alleged harassment and warn of dimming streetlights

Several Fremont residents used the oral communications period to address the council on homelessness, personal safety concerns and infrastructure.

Keith Parker thanked the council for the cleanup of the Isherwood Encampment and said city staff and service providers connected about 40 people there to services including meals, enrollment in Alameda County's Coordinated Entry System and pet care. Parker said roughly half of those people have since moved into the housing navigation center or other shelter, and added, “You did the right thing in clearing out that Encampment.”

A resident who identified himself in the record as Jeff Vi made detailed and serious allegations that he is the target of prolonged harassment, including property damage, stalking and what he described as electronic attacks and surveillance. He told the council he has reported police misconduct to Fremont Police Department internal affairs and asked the council to address his complaints. The oral communications period does not allow council response; no council response is recorded in the meeting minutes.

John Hines, a longtime Fremont resident, raised concerns about the city's LED streetlights, saying that LEDs installed about a decade ago are dimming as they age and recommending the city plan and budget to replace units “one or two years before we think it's too late.” He urged adding a budget item to sweep through the city and replace failing fixtures over time.

The chair reminded the public that comments during oral communications cannot prompt immediate council action but can be referred to staff for future reports.