Dear Neighbors
,
You may recall that on June 20, the City Council passed changes to ordinances related to camping, sitting and lying, and panhandling. I supported the changes to all but the camping ordinance, which I believed needed more discussion and additional planning. At the same meeting, the Council also directed the City Manager to recommend additional options for assisting individuals experiencing homelessness who are living unsheltered and to propose reasonable time and place limitations on camping, sitting, and lying.
Following up on the actions we took in June, my colleagues and I have brought forward proposals to clarify which are safe spaces for those living unsheltered to be and recommending using non-criminal enforcement methods to the greatest extent possible. Additionally, the proposal directs the City Manager to develop an Encampment Response Strategy to address public health and safety throughout the city and to provide assistance to individuals in areas where camping would become prohibited.
Community members are welcome to provide comment on these items on
Wednesday, September 18,
beginning at 1:00 p.m. You can view the
Council Agenda here
and more recent revised proposals on the Council
message board
.
Working to end homelessness in this community and making sure each and every one of our neighbors has a safe and stable place to sleep remains top priority for my Council office.
If you have ideas or feedback, please don’t hesitate to
reach
out
.
Best,
Kathie Tovo
Council Member District 9
