From: Bob Craig
To: Melissa Cure
Cc: Chuck Flacks; Stuart Kasdin
Subject: Public comment - Homeless issues mtg. 8.12.25
Date: Thursday, August 7, 2025 5:14:15 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.
Melissa,
Apologies my comment might be tardy - I just saw the email and instructions on public comment.
As we all know, unhoused people sleeping in vehicles on Pacific Oaks Road and Phelps Road has, for many years, created significant problems for those of us who live in these neighborhoods. We all have disgusting, sometimes graphic horror stories that I need not repeat as you’ve probably heard them all.
According to your own data, the problem is only escalating. The oversize vehicle parking ban helped to a degree, but it offered no real solution, as enforcement was spotty, adherence to the law is ignored, people with handicap placards feel they are exempt and the west portion of Phelps Rd, in the Coastal Zone, was overlooked. I hope this specific Coastal Zone glitch is being addressed and does not continue to exasperate the problem.
Those who live in their vehicles do have an option in the Safe Parking Program - they have a place to go. Your proposed changes to the ordinance might encourage more people to seek those options.
But, experience has proven that nothing will work unless existing laws that prohibit sleeping in vehicles are enforced. The law needs to enforced for anything to work. Myself and my neighbors are fed-up. We’re angry, we feel ignored and we feel our needs are not being addressed. We implore you to male this right, to give us back our neighborhoods and quality of life.
Bob Craig
7189 Emily Lane
Goleta
805-708-3108
From: Michael Brown
To: Melissa Cure
Subject: Comments for August 12 meeting
Date: Thursday, August 7, 2025 8:15:18 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.
The following provision should be removed from the proposed ordinance:
B. Absent exigent circumstances related to immediate threats to the public health, safety, or welfare, the provisions of this section will not be enforced against indigent homeless persons sitting, lying, or sleeping on City-owned public property, except in High Fire Areas, when no alternative shelter or publicly available campsite is available.
By failing to enforce the provisions of this ordinance as stated above you are only encouraging humans to live in a manner that is inhumane.
By allowing individuals the option of sleeping, lying, or sitting on City-owned (i.e. taxpayer owned) property you defeat the purpose of moving these individuals into proper shelter. Many will choose this option because they do not want to be living in shelters that don't allow particular aspects of their lifestyle. If they do not have this option they will move to appropriate shelter facilities or they will move to a different city. We do not want Goleta to become a homeless encampment. No human should be allowed to live on the public streets.
They should be sheltered.
Michael Brown
From: Elizabeth Stotts
To: Paula Perotte; Stuart Kasdin; Robert Nisbet; Jaime Valdez; Chuck Flacks; Melissa Cure; JoAnne Plummer Cc: loganwc Craig; [email protected]; Steve Kirkman Subject: Comments for August 12 HISC meeting
Date: Monday, August 11, 2025 5:34:06 PM
Attachments: letter to Goleta CC.pdf
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.
Dear HISC members and staff,
Thank you for sharing the proposed amendments to Title 12 of the Goleta Municipal Code that will be discussed at the Homelessness Issues Standing Committee tomorrow. I generally am in support of the proposed amendments, however I strongly urge that the conditions listed further in this letter are satisfied as part of adopting the amended Safe Parking city ordinance.
Given that the deadline to submit public comments is the same day that the agenda is issued, I hope my comments analyzing the specifics of the proposed ordinance amendments are provided to the Committee in time for their decision-making meeting. I’m also submitting my letter from August 4 as public comment to this committee for the official record.
Specific to city ordinances:
In addition to the requests submitted in my letter sent to Council on August 4, 2025:
Strict enforcement of Municipal Codes §10.04.040 and Chapter 12.01 which prohibit using vehicles, RVs or trailers for sleeping, camping or occupancy must be the immediate result of amending Title 12, with priority given to neighborhoods currently impacted by illegal vehicular camping, such as those along Phelps road. Officers may provide information on how to enroll in Safe Parking, but it should not be cause to delay enforcement.
Add language to 12.01.030(B) that clarifies that this section does not apply to persons camping, utilizing camping facilities or camp paraphernalia as defined in section
12.01.020.
Specifically to the proposed Safe Parking lots:
A City department or staff person must be designated in writing as the person responsible for addressing misuse of the Safe Parking lots, e.g. violations of health and safety codes, unpermitted users, criminal activity, etc. Doing so will help prevent confusion among city staff and delayed response to problems.
Enforcement of violations at Safe Parking lots must be prompt in order to prevent problems from escalating.
In addition to trash and bathroom facilities, lighting must be a requirement to the lots to aid in the prevention of illegal activity, ensure safety of program clients, and for parking permits to be easily seen.
There must be clear signage stating that the Safe Parking lots are to be used only by permitted users and warnings that illegally parked vehicles will be cited and towed must be in place. Otherwise unpermitted users that are not enrolled in the program will take over the lots and you won’t have the tools to enforce and it will quickly become a problem.
Prioritization of Safe Parking lots must be for established Goleta residents who can show history of living in Goleta, followed by persons with established prior residency in the South Coast, and lowest priority (or none) to persons coming from out of the area.
I believe these recommendations, if implemented, will allow for a balanced approach to providing vital services to persons living in their vehicles and will address current impacts to neighborhoods as demonstrated in the photos below. Thank you for your consideration.
Image 1 - residents on the other side of this fence cut down unruly branches which resulted in the van moving closer to their fence to be in the shade.
Image 2 - RV parked Friday and Saturday. Nearby is a trash can that was stuffed beyond capacity by another vehicle days prior.
Image 3 - Truck that camped overnight not long after the large bus we reported left Image 4 - stills from a video taken Friday night. I counted 8 vehicles just on the Coastal Zone sections of Phelps where no signage exists. I’ll point out the yellow bus that returned to the area after camping in another spot for over a week. I excluded some that I couldn’t tell for sure had people living in them, and I also excluded some of the smaller vehicles I regularly see in the area. So the number of camping vehicles is higher. - Liz Stotts
Emily Lane resident
Dear members of Goleta City Council and all,
I am reaching out to you as one of the many concerned residents impacted by the proliferation of illegal camping on Phelps Road between Cannon Green Dr. and Pacific Oaks Road.
Normally this area is used for parking by residents, visitors, volunteers going to the North Parcel Restoration preserve, landscapers and other work crews that provide services to residents here, or people going on a hike or going to the beach. This part of the street is also frequented by pedestrians, bicyclists, people exercising or taking their dogs out for walks. The utilization of this area as an illegal campground, particularly by persons in massive vehicles, is inconsistent with its intended use as a zoned residential area and coastal zone, and its unsafe.
My widows face this area directly and I witness the impacts first hand. Here is a sampling of what I experience almost daily, day and night:
● Directly across my kitchen window there is currently a person camped in a bus, and an accompanying truck, in the same location for over a week. We called the Sheriff’s department, and the person left for one night and returned to the same spot a day later and has remained since. It is also camped in a flood zone, per City maps. ● A green painted delivery van-type has camped numerous times with a number of extra vehicles, including a packed trailer, despite posted signage. I’ve seen this truck from my bedroom window and in various locations along Phelps.
● A woman cooking in the back of her truck, while blasting loud music and yelling. Seen and heard from my bedroom window.
● I’ve seen numerous RVs back in and out, or make three point turns on Phelps. ● I’ve seen people go through their daily hygiene routines out of their vehicles in the morning, from my kitchen and living room windows.
● Visit our neighborhood at night and you’ll see a disconcerting row of vans, modified delivery vans, RVs, trailers, etc. all with blocked out windows. Residents of the neighborhood have told me they feel unsafe walking to their homes in that area at night. ● I don’t feel safe and will not go on my sidewalk alone after dark. ● I escort my guests to see them safely get in their cars at night.
I and various neighbors have brought up these issues to the City for years now, and little has changed. My patience has worn thin and the situation is causing emotional distress to me and my neighbors. I am asking for the following measures to address this continuing problem.
1. Enforce existing ordinances and laws
● Allow the Sheriff's department to enforce Municipal Code § 10.04.040 which prohibits using a vehicle, recreational vehicle or trailer for sleeping, camping or occupancy. Our neighborhood is zoned as Planned Residential; it is not zoned as a campground, nor is it zoned as a mobile home park. The City has designated Safe Parking areas and while I recognize the need for more safe parking locations, our neighborhood should not be the alternative.
● Install “No Camping” signs in the area specified in this letter.
2. Prohibit misuse of handicap parking permits
● The California vehicle code for disabled parking permits and placards are intended for transportation and parking privileges. It is not carte blanche that allows for residential use or for camping in a vehicle.
● CVC §22511.5 allows parking in the following limited circumstances:
○ Curbs marked in blue in accordance with CVC §21458(a)(5) ○ Areas marked as residential permit only or height limits, per CVC §22507 ○ Parking in zones that restrict length of time parking as indicated by sign, e.g. 2-hour parking
○ Park in a metered parking space without being required to pay A person living or camping in their car is not parking as provided by law, hence the unlimited exception does not apply to that person and they are abusing their parking privileges. As a person with a disability I find the abuse of these parking privileges particularly egregious.
3. Revise ordinances
● Direct staff to review and consider amending Municipal Code §10.01.300 (F) so that the handicap exception only provides parking privileges in accordance with CVC §22511.5. ● Direct staff to review and consider amending §10.04.040 (B) to reduce the time limit from 72-hours to 24-hours
4. Protect coastal access
● Direct staff to obtain a coastal access permit to put up signage prohibiting illegal camping on the coastal zone of Phelps Road.
Recognizing that part of this area is within the coastal zone, the City must ensure its proper use. The California Coastal Act specifies that all land uses and development must be protective of coastal resources, including marine and land habitats, scenic and visual resources, agricultural lands, and archaeological resources.
Illegal camping in vehicles, especially ones that are poorly maintained as is often the case, runs counter to the Coastal Act. Just as an example, the bus referenced above is currently camped in an area where I often see egrets and herons hunting. It is also blocking access to visitor parking. Parking should be reserved for area residents and visitors of the coastal zone beaches and preserves.
I recognize the challenges of addressing homelessness and I applaud the City for its efforts to help persons experiencing homelessness. I am a strong supporter of our homeless service provider community, and am in favor of housing first and harm reduction programs. However, I also recognize the negative impacts that homelessness can have on communities and neighborhoods. Compassion should not come at the expense of safe neighborhoods, and that is the point in which we find ourselves here.
Thank you for your consideration of these requests. I am happy to meet with any of you individually to discuss solutions.