From: Michael Brown
To: City Clerk Group
Subject: Comment for item C.3 25-460 at tonights council meeting Date: Tuesday, November 4, 2025 1:09:53 PM
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Dear Council Members:
I am speaking tonight to express my extreme disappointment in the Council concerning the issue of persons parking and living in their vehicles on city streets, specifically Phelps Road. This issue has been ongoing for over 2 years with very little effective action taken by the Council despite repeated pleas from the residents in the affected neighborhood.
On January 23, 2024 at an Ordinance Review Standing Committee Meeting City Staff recommended the following:
“Regarding Phelps Road between Pacific Oaks and Canon Green Drive, staff recommends clarifying and implementing no parking any time on both sides of the street by posting red curb, and no parking anytime signage where possible and appropriate.” This was a perfect solution to the problem and would end the issue of trash, human waste, and noise. However Mr. Kasdin and Mr. Kyracio (council members of this committee) took it upon themselves to amend this to only a restriction on large vehicle parking therebye allowing persons who live in other types of vehicles to continue to park and live in their cars on Phelps. An incredibly unwise decision to say the least. And the full council decided to agree with them.
Of course the problem still exists and worsens. Now the proposed solution is to issue forgivable “administrative tickets” to individuals. It is unlikely that these tickets will motivate any individual who has refused services especially since, as stated by Deputy Worden at a previous council meeting, the ticket must be personally delivered to the individual. So all this person has to do is avoid or ignore the Deputy and nothing can be done. Also the Mayor stressed that this would be a “complaint driven” activity and Deputies would not be actively patrolling for this violation. It is beyond my comprehension why this must be so as we are all well aware of where the problems exists, for example, Phelps Road. The Mayor also stated she didn’t want the Deputies to be the “bad guy” by patrolling to enforce the provisions, which is an incredible statement for a city official to make concerning law enforcement. Sometimes being the “bad guy” to use her words is part of the job of law enforcement.
It is also incredible to me that you have included in your changes to the ordinance, and I quote,
“In addition, in compliance with Council direction
, the concept of towing someone’s
vehicle in response to a violation has been removed. Accordingly, someone who is dwelling or camping in their vehicle and parked on a public street would not be towed under any circumstances for a violation….”
Towing is the only effective motivating tool to get an individual to accept services and remove them from city streets. Your misplaced compassion of allowing individuals the option of refusing services and living on the streets is not humane. These unfortunate persons should be living in a safe space, with security and adequate restroom and trash facilities. They will move to these areas if they know that towing is an option. You need to rethink your position on this issue and keep it as an available tool.
At a previous council meeting Mr. Kyracio stated he did not want to “trigger” a homeless individual by removing them from public streets. Well I can tell you the residents are triggered. We are tired of the trash, human waste, noise and other associated problems caused by this issue. Many residents fear to walk their own neighborhood at night. Who knows who lives behind those blacked out car windows. As an example at a previous council meeting there was a self-admitted registered sex offender frustrated because he could not find a neighborhood to park his RV. That’s not who I want living outside my front door.
There has been a lot of emphasis on compassion for these individuals who have refused services and continue to live on the street. But there has been very little compassion expressed for the residents of Phelps Rd. and other areas, and very little effective action aimed at resolution.
As I previously stated this issue has been ongoing for 2 years or more and we are just now talking about some type of action. The actions you propose are not a real solution and are not something of which the council should be proud nor should it be acceptable to the residents. It is certainly not acceptable to this resident. I urge you to once again reconsider making Phelps Rd. a no parking any time zone as previously recommended by city staff.
Thank you.