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Planning Commission recommends stricter camping rules after Supreme Court ruling, approves 4-1
Summary
The commission recommended that City Council adopt a revised camping ordinance (proposed RVMC Chapter 8.06 and related park and public-property rules) reflecting recent Supreme Court guidance; the measure passed on a 4-1 vote after discussion about private-property scope, notices and property-retention periods, and enforcement.
The Rio Vista Planning Commission on April 9 voted 4-1 to recommend that the City Council adopt a revised camping ordinance that would enact Chapter 8.06 of the Rio Vista Municipal Code and amend park- and public-property rules related to camping and storage of personal property.
Staff told the commission the changes update local law after the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Grants Pass v. Johnson, which the presentation said effectively overturned prior Ninth Circuit precedent in Martin v. Boise and permits enforcement of camping prohibitions even where shelter beds are not available. "Following the Grants Pass decision, local governments are now permitted to enforce camping ordinances, even if there are no alternative shelter beds available," the staff presentation said.
The draft ordinance includes prohibitions on camping on public or private property without authorization and provisions regarding notice and retention of property. Staff and the sheriff's homeless-outreach deputies planned to provide 48-hour notice prior to removal of an encampment, and the city would retain collected property for a period (staff cited the 60-day retention period in a recent state executive order as a model). Staff emphasized the stated intention is to connect people to services and not to criminalize homelessness. "The goal isn't to start arresting homeless people for violation of a municipal code. It's to try and provide them services if we can," a staff speaker said.
During discussion commissioners pressed on how the ordinance would apply to private property (for example, whether a property owner could permit an RV for a temporary family stay) and how the parks-hours prohibition would affect residents simply walking through a park after dark. Staff said the ordinance is meant to be enforceable citywide, but that the city has discretion to grant temporary exemptions and that enforcement units would attempt outreach first.
Commissioner Samuel Benson moved to accept the resolution recommending the ordinance (Resolution 2025-055); Commissioner Corey Farrell seconded. The roll-call vote was 4-1, with Vice Chair Lisa Hedgeman the lone dissenting vote. After the vote some commissioners noted the desire to align local rules with Solano County practice and thanked staff for updating the code language.
The recommendation will now go to the City Council for public hearing and possible adoption. If council approves, the city expects to coordinate with the contracted sheriff's office homeless-outreach deputies to implement notice and retention procedures.
