CITY OF OAKLAND
TO: Jestin D. Johnson
·City Administrator
SUBJECT: SUPPLEMENTAL- Repeal 2020
Encampment Management Policy and
Adopt 2025 Encampment Abatement
Policy
City Administrator Approval
RECOMMENDATION
AGENDA MEMO
FROM: "Son of Oakland"
Ken Houston
Councilmember - District 7
DATE: April 2, 2026
Date: 4/1/2026
Recommendation To Adopt A Resolution Amending Resolution No. 88341 To Repeal The 2020 Encampment Management Policy And Replace With A 2025 Encampment Abatement Policy That(A) Defines "Encampment" To Exclude Vehicles And Authorizes Citation And Towing Of Inhabited Vehicles By City Departments Pursuant To The California Vehicle Code And Oakland Vehicle Code; (B) Continues To Require Reasonable Efforts To Make Shelter Offers And 7-Day Notice Prior To Non-Urgent Encampment Closures; And (C) Clarifies Emergency And Urgent Health And Safety Conditions That Authorize Immediate, 24-Hour, Or 72-Hour Notice For Encampment Closures, Including Encampments Blocking Sidewalks ..
REASON FOR SUPPLEMENTAL
This Supplemental Report serves a purpose in highlighting amendments made to the Encampment Abatement Policy (EAP). These amendments can be viewed in the attachment titled "Exhibit B (Redline against Dec. 2)." This document is presented to allow the Public to review the EAP as amended. Exhibit A will provide a clean copy of the EAP. EAP amendments include but not limited to:
• Updating the High and Low Sensitivity Map. The map denoting High and Low sensitivity areas has been updated to reflect High and Low - sensitivity areas as defined by the EAP (Exhibit B Redline against Dec. 2). High-sensitivity areas have been updated to be inclusive of areas where public property lies within a certain proximity of critical infrastructure including but not limited to Caltrans, Rail and BART and/or protected waterways. Low sensitivity areas have been updated to account for insufficient shelter space noting that the City Administrator and Councilmembers may, on occasion, update the designated low-sensitivity areas as needed to maintain the health and safety of all neighborhoods and to avoid undue concentration of unsheltered homelessness into limited areas of the City. This action may be done within the respective City Council Districts. •
• The Encampment Abatement Team (EMT) becomes the Encampment Management Abatement Team (EMAT).
• Inhabited Vehicles. Inhabited Vehicles in violation of the California Vehicle Code (CVC) and the Oakland Vehicle Code are subject to enforcement action. If a vehicle is inhabited, relevant City Departments are encouraged to work together to identify shelter.
If no shelter is found, the City ~hould allow the consideration of relocating to a low sensitivity area where feasible and reasonable unless the inhabited vehicle presents an imminent hazard or if there if probable cause that the vehicle has been used for criminal activity.
All members of the public are encouraged to review Exhibit A to Resolution and/or Exhibit B (Redline against Dec. 2) to be informed on the EAP as amended.
ACTION REQUESTED OF THE CITY COUNCIL
Recommendation To Adopt A Resolution Amending Resolution No. 88341 To Repeal The 2020 Encampment Management Policy And Replace With A 2025 Encampment Abatement Policy That (A) Defines "Encampment" To Exclude Vehicles And Authorizes Citation And Towing Of Inhabited Vehicles By City Departments Pursuant To The California Vehicle Code And Oakland Vehicle Code; (B) Continues To Require Reasonable Efforts To Make Shelter Offers And 7-Day Notice Prior To Non-Urgent Encampment Closures; And (C) Clarifies Emergency And Urgent Health And Safety Conditions That Authorize Immediate, 24-Hour, Or 72-Hour Notice For Encampment Closures, Including Encampments Blocking Sidewalks.
Respectfully submitted,
S n of Oakland, Ken Houston,
uncilmember - District 7
For questions regarding this report, please contact Trinity Hall at 510-238-3649