TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND FROM: Councilmember Campos
CITY COUNCIL
SUBJECT: SEE BELOW DATE: June 6, 2025
Approved Date: 6/6/2025
SUBJECT: Code of Conduct for Encampments
RECOMMENDATION
1. Defer approval of Code of Conduct for Encampments.
2. Direct the City Manager to prepare a detailed operational plan that includes the following for all workstreams:
a. Clear legal definitions and thresholds for enforcement; b. Departmental roles and detailed enforcement protocols; c. Real-time shelter system integration, transportation logistics, and accommodations;
d. Staffing model and deployment plan;
e. Fiscal analysis of implementation and enforcement costs; f. Comprehensive data collection, including:
i. Demographics of those contacted or cited;
ii. Shelter offer/refusal tracking; and
iii. Enforcement activity by geography and department;
g. Plan for public transparency and regular reporting; and h. Metrics for evaluating success and a timeline for review.
DISCUSSION
I appreciate the continued collaboration between the Housing and Police Departments to address safety concerns at encampments and connect unhoused individuals to shelter or services.
Although I support the concept of enhanced engagement as a strategy, wherein the City invests resources and time building trust and sustained relationships with the unhoused community to encourage acceptance of shelter or services, the City Council and the public should have clarity on how these workstreams will be executed, resourced, and measured.
In particular, the inclusion of workstream 3, “Stand Up a Neighborhood Quality of Life Unit in the Police Department,” poses many unanswered questions about the unit’s purpose, capacity, standard operating procedures, and measured outcomes. I believe proposing two paths for encampment code violators (County jail or Mission Street Recovery Stations) may not be feasible in practice and stretches police resources to execute. Finally, given insufficient shelter COUNCIL AGENDA: 6/10/2025
FILE: 25-741
ITEM: 3.12
capacity for families and minors, we must develop procedures and protocols to ensure that the City does not disproportionately and negatively impact vulnerable people who have no viable alternatives.
A detailed implementation plan is necessary before the City initiates these workstreams.