DATE:
August 27, 2024
15
TO:
Board of Supervisors
SUBJECT:
Title
ESTABLISHING AN UNSAFE CAMPING ORDINANCE TO PREVENT WILDFIRE HAZARDS AND ENSURE PUBLIC SAFETY IN OUR COMMUNITIES (DISTRICTS: ALL)
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OVERVIEW
On October 23, 2024, the Board of Supervisors (Board) voted unanimously to direct the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) to take several actions outlined in a Board Letter titled Establishing an Unsafe Camping Ordinance in San Diego. These actions included direction to bring forward to the Board a draft Unsafe Camping Ordinance for its consideration. The purpose of this ordinance is to provide law enforcement with the authority necessary to prohibit and remove illegal encampments, clear improperly stored property on public land, and protect vacant areas, such as the San Diego River corridor and other fire-prone regions, from wildfire hazards and pollution in unincorporated communities.
Following the approval of this Board Letter, major legal and policy actions have been taken on the issue of homelessness, including the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in the City of Grants Pass v. Johnson and Governor Newsom's Executive Order encouraging local governments to clean up homeless encampments. With the additional clarity provided by these actions, County staff is now moving forward to develop the ordinance as directed by the Board.
The County's unincorporated area is a unique jurisdiction compared to the incorporated cities that have adopted recent unsafe camping bans, and our ordinance must reflect the unique realities of our geography. As San Diego continues to be at high risk for wildfires, there are significant public safety risks posed from illegal encampments in riverbeds and canyons in the unincorporated areas. To date, Cal Fire has responded to 43 wildfires this year, which have burned over 2,300 acres. Other jurisdictions, such as the City of Santee, have enacted ordinances to address the ongoing threat of wildfires along the San Di...
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