Safety, Wellness, and Youth Committee
TO: SAFETY, WELLNESS, AND YOUTH DATE: JULY 19, 2023
COMMITTEE
FROM: CITY MANAGER’S OFFICE WARDS: ALL
OFFICE OF HOMELESS SOLUTIONS
RIVERSIDE POLICE DEPARTMENT
SUBJECT: PROPOSED ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF RIVERSIDE, CALIFORNIA, ADDING SECTION 9.16.270 TO CHAPTER 9.16.010 “RIVERSIDE ANTI-LITTER ORDINANCE” TO DISPOSE OF DANGEROUS OR PERISHABLE PROPERTY ISSUE:
Consideration of a proposed ordinance regarding the disposal of dangerous or perishable property in the City of Riverside.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
That the Safety, Wellness, and Youth Committee:
Receive a report regarding a proposed ordinance to dispose dangerous or perishable property in the City of Riverside; and Recommend that the City Council adopt the proposed ordinance regarding the disposal of dangerous or perishable property in the City of Riverside.
BACKGROUND:
The Public Safety Engagement Team (PSET) facilitates the clean-up of encampments located on public property or in the Right of Way. In addition to encampment clean-up, the PSET program also engages members of the homeless population to offer housing, shelter, and social services programs in an effort to assist individuals experiencing homelessness.
The PSET team collects and stores items as part of Outreach Engagement and Encampment Clean-up efforts as follows:
Outreach Engagement - During the period of July 1, 2022 through May 30, 2023, the PSET team facilitated services for 756 individuals experiencing homelessness. Generally, when an individual accepts services, they are not permitted to bring their belongings with them. Items are bagged and stored at the Access Center.
Encampment Clean-up Activities - As part of the encampment clean-up process, the PSET team visits the encampment site 48-hours prior to the clean-up date and posts notifications requiring items be removed. Items of possible value that remain are documented, bagged, assigned an inventory tag, and stored at the Access Center for a 90-day period. During the period of July 1, 2022 through May 30, 2023, 4,617 encampment clean-up activities were completed resulting in the removal of over 656 tons of debris.
At the conclusion of the 90-day window, items stored at the Access Center are disposed of. Due to the volume of items, facility storage was increased in April 2023 to accommodate the service demand. Storage facilities consist of three 40-yard shipping containers housed in the Access Center parking lot. The current property retrieval rate for stored items is 40%.
DISCUSSION:
The condition of items collected vary but regularly include wet or urine saturated, soiled, sullied, items that could be used as bed materials (blankets/pillows), clothing or textiles infested with insects or other contagion, or belonging to someone suspected of having a contagious skin disease, open consumables, and recyclable waste. The condition of the property collected in Fiscal Year 2022/23 resulted in an infestation of rodents and insects posing a health hazard to PSET staff and Access Center clients.
The proposed ordinance would permit the disposal of dangerous or perishable property at the encampment site during clean-up efforts and would significantly reduce staff and Access Center client exposure to unhygienic/hazardous conditions including mold, lice/nits, vermin, contagious skin disease, other contagion, and bodily fluids. Additionally, it is anticipated that disposal of soiled textiles and other items prior to storage would reduce the Access Center storage need by 80%.
STRATEGIC PLAN ALIGNMENT:
This item contributes to Strategic Priority No. 2 Community Well-Being and Goal 2.4 – support programs and innovations that enhance community safety, encourage neighborhood engagement, and build public trust.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact associated with this report.
Prepared by: Megan Stoye, Principal Management Analyst Certified as to
availability of funds: Kristie Thomas, Finance Director/Assistant Chief Financial Officer Approved by: Mike Futrell, City Manager
Approved as to form: Phaedra A. Norton, City Attorney
Attachments: Ordinance
Presentation
Dangerous or Perishable Property Ordinance ● Page 3