Ad hoc committee updates draft encampment ordinance; penalties removed from current draft

Deputy County Counsel David Jiannis provided an update on the ad hoc encampment ordinance the county is developing for adoption by the Board of Supervisors.

Jiannis said the latest draft removes a previously proposed tiered penalty structure and instead relies on enforcement mechanisms already present in county nuisance and vehicle codes. The draft adds handling procedures for medical equipment and medications and seeks to align with model language from the governor’s office and HAP application requirements.

City representatives and stakeholders asked whether cities could adopt their own ordinances and whether enforcement would be coordinated. Alexis Castales, identified herself as housing grants manager for her city, asked for confirmation that the draft does not contain punitive provisions; Jiannis confirmed the draft removed the tiered penalties. County staff and RMA representatives said the ordinance is intended to apply to county property and to foster interjurisdictional collaboration; mutual enforcement agreements with cities and involvement of the sheriff’s office were discussed.

The ad hoc committee will meet again; staff encouraged voting members who want to participate to join the next meeting. Speakers emphasized that collaborative drafting has been a key goal to reflect the county’s resources and local preferences.

Ending: The ordinance remains a work in progress; the ad hoc committee will continue drafting and stakeholder engagement before forwarding a final version to the Board of Supervisors.