Outlook
Fw: Homelessness Solutions Working Group - Survey Followup From End Homelessness <[email protected]> Date Mon 4/7/2025 2:50 PM
To Lindsay Lara <[email protected]>
Daniel Cooperman | City of San Rafael
Community Services Division Director
1400 5th Avenue, Room 203
San Rafael, CA 94901
415.256.5565
[email protected]
From: debbie lawson
Sent: Sunday, April 6, 2025 10:32 AM
To: End Homelessness <[email protected]> Cc: Daniel Cooperman <[email protected]> Subject: Re: Homelessness Solutions Working Group - Survey Followup I would greatly encourage the ordinance include all parks for no camping regulations. Justice should be distributed equally to all parks, not just some. Parks are not for camping or homeless to reside in.
For too long the state of affairs regarding trash and eyesores caused by homeless persons have overrun our common sense with cries of compassion and equity without a nod to the citizens who pay for the trash pickup and abide by the rules.
Thank you for advocating for camping prohibition in ALL PARKS.
Regards,
Debbie Lawson
On Fri, Mar 21, 2025 at 12:23 PM End Homelessness <[email protected]> wrote:
Hi everyone,
Thank you all for participating in the Homelessness Solutions Working Group meetings. We greatly appreciate your engagement throughout each session and over the past few months. 4/7/25, 2:50 PM Mail - Lindsay Lara - Outlook
https://outlook.office365.com/mail/inbox/id/AAMkAGE4NDc2ZDVlLWQxMTYtNDBiOC04NTI0LTRjYTQzNTJlMTJkMQBGAAAAAAAyY1qsYIBjQ6ajfUyz… 1/2 For those who were unable to attend on March 11, a link to the video recording of the presentation and Q&A portion is here: LINK TO VIDEO
During the meeting, we gathered anonymous responses on preferred changes to the City’s Camping Ordinance 2040. There were 16 responses gathered, with the results shown in the table below.
Prohibit camping in
all San Rafael parks
Prohibit camping only
in parks located
within the Fire
Hazard Severity
Zones
No changes to the
current camping
ordinance
Other
7 4 3 2
All past Working Group meeting recordings, agendas, and presentation slides are available on the group’s main webpage here: https://www.cityofsanrafael.org/homelessness-solutions-work-group/ Additionally, you can view the recent Housing & Homelessness Subcommittee Meeting at the link here: Video Recording.
City staff will provide an update on the City’s efforts to address homelessness, including an evaluation of the camping ordinance, at the City Council meeting on Monday, April 7, 2025.
If you have questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out. We will also be following up with responses to requests for data and additional information. Thank you again for your participation and commitment to this important issue.
All the best,
Community Services Division
1400 5th Avenue, San Rafael, CA 94901
415-256-5565
[email protected]
4/7/25, 2:50 PM Mail - Lindsay Lara - Outlook
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Fw: Please
From Daniel Cooperman <[email protected]> Date Mon 4/7/2025 2:56 PM
To Lindsay Lara <[email protected]>
1 attachment (70 KB)
Outlook-nenbtljp.png;
Daniel Cooperman | City of San Rafael
Community Services Division Director
1400 5th Avenue, Room 203
San Rafael, CA 94901
415.256.5565
[email protected]
From: David Mariottini
Sent: Monday, April 7, 2025 9:58 AM
To: Mayor Kate <[email protected]>
Cc: Rachel Kertz <[email protected]>; Daniel Cooperman <[email protected]>; Gina Silvestri ; City Clerk <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: Please
Thank you for your prompt reply Mayor Kate!
Awesome news! Thanks for ensuring my message is included! You’re all the best!
Truly
Dave
Sent from my iPhone
On Apr 7, 2025, at 9:50 AM, Mayor Kate <[email protected]> wrote:
4/7/25, 3:01 PM Mail - Lindsay Lara - Outlook
https://outlook.office365.com/mail/inbox/id/AAMkAGE4NDc2ZDVlLWQxMTYtNDBiOC04NTI0LTRjYTQzNTJlMTJkMQBGAAAAAAAyY1qsYIBjQ6ajfUyz… 1/2 Hi Mr. Mariottini - Thank you for including me on your email to Councilmember Kertz. I've added the City Clerk to this response to ensure that your input is part of the public record on this important topic.
I wanted to let you know that all City parks, including Gerstle Park, are included in the proposed ordinance the City Council is considering. You can find the full staff report and proposed ordinance in the April 7 Council meeting packet here:
https://www.cityofsanrafael.org/meetings/city-council-april-7-2025-special-regular/#/tabagenda-packet Appreciate your continued engagement and advocacy for your neighborhood.
Warmly,
Kate
Kate Colin (she/her/hers)
Mayor, City of San Rafael
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From:
Sent: Monday, April 7, 2025 9:40 AM
To: Rachel Kertz <[email protected]>
Cc: Mayor Kate <[email protected]>; Daniel Cooperman <[email protected]>; Gina Silvestri
Subject: Please
Hi Rachel!
Greetings from Disneyland. We met at the last meeting in the conference room a few months ago. I’m sorry I cannot make today’s meeting but I wanted to kindly ask the city to consider including Gerstle park on the list of San Rafael parks that prohibit overnight camping. We realize homelessness is a very difficult problem to solve and that everyone deserves to have a place to rest their head at night, but our parks are not that place. On behalf of the 36 Gerstle park neighborhood neighbors that signed my petition we thank you for all of your hard work! San Rafael is fortunate to have you on our council! Warm regards,
David Mariottini
San Rafael resident
Sent from my iPhone
4/7/25, 3:01 PM Mail - Lindsay Lara - Outlook
https://outlook.office365.com/mail/inbox/id/AAMkAGE4NDc2ZDVlLWQxMTYtNDBiOC04NTI0LTRjYTQzNTJlMTJkMQBGAAAAAAAyY1qsYIBjQ6ajfUyz… 2/2 -----Original Message-----
From: Michael Angotti
Sent: Monday, April 7, 2025 3:09 PM
To: Distrib- City Clerk <[email protected]> Subject: Ordinance19.50
I am a resident and home owner in the Gerstle Park neighborhood and frequent the park regularly. I appreciate the plight of the homeless but absolutely don’t think they should be allowed to camp in Gerstle Park on any other public park. I fully support making Ordinance 19.50 permanent.
Michael Angotti
Sent from my iPhone
From: Daniel Cooperman <[email protected]> Sent: Monday, April 7, 2025 2:52:42 PM
To: Lindsay Lara <[email protected]>
Subject: Fw: Downtown SR
Daniel Cooperman | City of San Rafael
Community Services Division Director
1400 5th Avenue, Room 203
San Rafael, CA 94901
415.256.5565
[email protected]
From: Mark Allen
Sent: Friday, April 4, 2025 12:17 AM
To: Mayor Kate <[email protected]>
Cc: Daniel Cooperman <[email protected]>; John Stefanski <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: Downtown SR
Dear Mayor Kate, Daniel and John,
In looking over the staff report for the upcoming April 7th City Council meeting and came across the following statement:
“In addition to the feedback received from the Homelessness Solutions Working Group, staff have had many discussions with residents and business owners regarding the City’s camping regulations over the last nine months.
The majority of those individuals indicated a preference for the City to prohibit camping
all together.
Staff are not recommending an outright ban on camping in San Rafael” Would you mind clarifying whether your recommendation will mean that:
1) camping will still be allowed on non-park, public land throughout the city, including those in fire zones, and
2) that camps like those on Andersen Drive, outside the City Hall, and outside the Library will still be allowed?
If this is the case, these camps are absolutely appalling places to put human beings and I cannot support the City’s position on this.
The report that the San Diego County District Attorney produced in March 2022 (attached) shows an average survival time in these camps for women of 4 years, 19 times the murder rate in them, 130 times the assault rate, 514 times the arson rate, etc.) It is inconceivable that this would be a recommended solution for a city located in the 8th richest county in the United States!
On Apr 2, 2025, at 10:57 PM, Mark Allen < wrote:
Mayor Kate,
I would like to make it absolutely clear that will do everything I possibly can to help you, this city, and its residents (of all kinds).
Kindest regards,
Mark.
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330 West Broadway
San Diego, CA 92101
(619) 531-4040
SanDiegoDA.com
OFFICE OF
THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY
COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO
SUMMER STEPHAN
DISTRICT ATTORNEY
DWAIN D. WOODLEY
ASSISTANT DISTRICT ATTORNEY
March 21, 2022 Contact: Steve Walker (619) 531-3890
For Immediate Release Tanya Sierra (619) 531-3315
En Español Barbara Medina (619) 531-3305
DA Shares First-of-Its Kind Crime Data, Proposes Three-Point Plan to Address Intersection of Crime and Homelessness
Data Shows Homeless Far More Likely to Be Victims and Perpetrators San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan today released new data about the intersection of crime and the county’s homeless population and proposes a three-point plan to address it. Two years of District Attorney data shows that individuals who are experiencing homelessness become involved with the justice system as victims and perpetrators at dramatically higher rates than the rest of the population.
Cases were analyzed where the criminal conduct met the DA’s ethical standard to file felony charges, meaning there was proof beyond a reasonable doubt. When compared to the non-homeless population, and there were much higher rates for individuals currently experiencing homelessness:
Robbery 175 times
Residential Burglary 183 times
Assault 130 times
Arson 514 times
Vandalism 222 times
Recidivism is a significant issue as well. Of the individuals experiencing homelessness who have been charged with a crime and recidivated in the two-year period studied, 83% had two to four cases filed against them, and 15% had between five and nine cases filed against them.
The data also showed individuals experiencing homelessness are victimized at higher rates than the non-homeless population. When compared to the non-homeless population, there are higher rates of victimization in these specific crime categories for individuals currently experiencing homelessness:
Murder 19 times
Attempted Murder 27 times
Robbery 15 times
Domestic Violence 15 times
Aggravated Assault 12 times
Elder Abuse 10 times
Sexual Assault 9 times
“Bringing humane and effective solutions to the complex and growing problem of individuals experiencing homelessness in San Diego County requires a shared strategic plan that creates a sea change,” said DA Stephan. “I acknowledge the many public officials, groups and individuals in our cities and county who have been working tirelessly on this issue to bring forward many encouraging efforts. In my role as the county’s top public safety official, my goal is to bring solutions driven by my team’s unique experience where homelessness, mental health issues and substance use disorders intersect with the criminal justice system. This data showing the drastically higher rates of an individual experiencing homelessness becoming a crime victim or offender demonstrate that homelessness is both a humanitarian and a public safety crisis that must be urgently addressed. It is unacceptable to continue to allow individuals to languish in the throes of mental illness, drug addiction and poverty.”
The DA released a three-point proposed plan today with the goal of preventing homeless individuals from becoming involved in the criminal justice system by reducing the number of unsheltered people on the street.
First, provide a proven technology solution that can identify shelter or housing space in real time based on the needs of the individual and get that person or family to a shelter, appropriate treatment or housing option. The DA’s plan is to partner with a tech company to create an app similar to the one created with the Safe Shelter Collaborative, which finds shelter beds in minutes for victims of crime attempting to escape violence. Additionally, this model will allow the county to keep real time and accurate data regarding shelter use and availability which can help inform policy decisions regarding future needs and investments.
Second, support the development of a 3 Tier Homeless Enhanced Legal Program (HELP). San Diego currently operates a nationally acclaimed Homeless Court that helps clear warrants, dismiss charges, and eliminate fines for individuals who are already engaging in services with homeless service providers. However, there are not currently other diversion programs or collaborative courts specifically designed to support individuals experiencing chronic homelessness and co-occuring disorders of substance abuse and mental health. The HELP program is a 3-tier approach to assist homeless individuals who intersect with law enforcement or the criminal justice system. • Tier 1 will be a field authorized diversion program that focuses on low level offenses.
Successful participation will result in no charges being filed. • Tier 2 will be a post-file diversion program that will be a specialized track of the DA Community Justice Initiative (DA CJI) that focuses on homeless specific services. DA CJI is a District Attorney led misdemeanor diversion program developed in 2018, similar to a program developed by the San Diego City Attorney’s Office.
• Tier 3 is a proposal of an expanded or additional Collaborative Court addressing the intersection of homelessness and crime for non-violent felonies and serial misdemeanants. The goal of this collaborative court is to serve high-risk and high-need individuals experiencing homelessness by addressing the root causes that contribute to the individual being homeless, including mental health and substance use disorders, to build stable, healthy, and housed individuals. The San Diego Superior Court has been a national and statewide leader in establishing specialized collaborative courts that address specific challenges such as Veterans Treatment Court, Drug Court, Behavioral Health Court and Reentry Court. The Court would ultimately determine the viability of a HELP Collaborative Court.
Third, as many other states of have done, support a change in the law to allow the involuntarily commitment of an individual for up to 72-hours based upon a finding of a psychiatric deterioration by a licensed mental health practitioner. Under current law in California, the only way anyone can be involuntarily held for psychiatric treatment is when the individual presents as a danger to themselves, a danger to others, or is gravely disabled. Existing law does not allow family members, caregivers, a public defender, a prosecutor, a court associated treatment team or law enforcement to get a person treatment, despite the individual’s well-documented chronic history of episodes of psychiatric deterioration. Early intervention can be life-changing for a person living with mental illness and helps prevent the person from becoming criminal justice involved. It helps to alleviate the number of times a person is placed on a 72-hour involuntary psychiatric hold and can help the individual receive services, treatment, and medication.
This new proposed three-point plan builds on work already being done by the District Attorney in the past few years to improve outcomes for people in our communities who are grappling with mental health issues and homelessness.
Beginning in 2018, DA Stephan convened two stakeholder symposiums to address the intersection of criminal justice, mental health, and homelessness. The results were documented in the Blueprint for Mental Health Reform: A Strategic New Approach Addressing the Intersection of Mental Health, Homelessness and Criminal Justice in San Diego County.
Since then, collectively with the Board of Supervisors, law enforcement, Behavioral Health Services, and our many partners with lived experience including the National Alliance for Mental Illness NAMI, the county has made great progress in making recommendations set forth in the Blueprint become a reality, including Community Based Crisis Stabilization Centers, Mobile Crisis Response Teams, De-escalation Training for more than 3,000 police officers, a 911 card for families calling about a loved one in distress, and expanded access to Behavioral Health Court and Mental Health Diversion.
# # #
About the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office
The San Diego County DA’s Office prosecutes all felony crimes in the county and misdemeanor crimes committed outside the City of San Diego. The office files about 40,000 criminal cases a year and balances prosecution with numerous crime prevention programs. District Attorney Summer Stephan leads the office of more than 1,000 dedicated employees who pursue fair and equal justice, and support victims daily across San Diego County.
Outlook
Citycouncil meetine 4:00 April 7 Temporary ordinance on camping in City of San Rafael From
Date Mon 4/7/2025 2:54 PM
To Distrib- City Clerk <[email protected]> Cc John Stefanski <[email protected]>; Mayor Kate <[email protected]> My concerns re camping in the City limits of ANY city is dangerous to tax paying citizens, home owners, shops and businesses large and small (all of whom pay good taxes, of which we have lost a lot of due to problems with the homeless campers. Instead you build high density low income housing where we once had big tax paying businesses. With NO plans to increase water storage to supply this high density housing. None of this makes any sense to me.
MAJOR concerns include:
1. DRUGS abound in these encampments leading to the other problems I list here:
2. FIRE, there is proof that the responsibile homeless campers start fires, you have seen that proof in Novato, and So. California just this past year. We have had them here but not yet to any hugh extent to cause major damage, but that will come and you will be responsible. You cannot wait for them to start fires and then simply put them out, its is not that simple, fires spread rapidly and many times are not caught in time stop serious damage, we need to PREVENT THEM. Allowing non responsible tent campers in a city is NOT fire prevention.
3. CRIME, where ever these encampments are there has been increase crime and violence.
4. SEX ABUSE, Registered sex offenders, do we want that in a populated area? Parks, public land all surround populated areas in a city. These people dont sit in their tents all day, they wander.
5. UNSANITARY living conditions, filth, stench caused by defecating and urinating around and near camp sight. You have seen the filth if you just take a Drive down Anderson Ave These homeless campers do not abide by rules, they are NOT responsible people. You can tell them not to toss their garbage and human waist in the street, they do not abide by your laws or rules. AND you make it easy for them to NOT be responsible with all your freebees and exemptions to laws and rules with the excuse that they are NOT responsible. Where has common sense gone.
6. DISEASES goes along with the previous #5 issue.
7. HOME OWNERS and company owners Insurance companies are dropping home insurance due to these hazard issues caused by Tent campers in and around the city.
8. PROPERTY VALUES have already dropped 25% in our area. This will continue to decline as the City of San Rafael turns into another Oakland, SanFrancisco, LA slum. You are making a pretty city by the bay a dangerous slum dump.
9. MENTALLY incompetent , should be housed with care and help, not handed out drugs.
10. Police and Fire are understaffed because our tax money goes to supply tents, cell phones, medical, safety, lawyers for these tent campers instead of going to increase our Fire department staff, our Police staff to protect the tax paying citizens.
There have been good alternatives to your ordinance of allowing City tent camping, you have heard them but seem to dismiss them. Land with buildings on them that are vacant now. You have admitted that many of these tent campers refuse to be housed, your alternative is to try to care for them on city streets, with the freebees which only enables them to cause danger and harm to our once peaceful community.
4/7/25, 3:00 PM Mail - Lindsay Lara - Outlook
https://outlook.office365.com/mail/inbox/id/AAMkAGE4NDc2ZDVlLWQxMTYtNDBiOC04NTI0LTRjYTQzNTJlMTJkMQBGAAAAAAAyY1qsYIBjQ6ajfUyz… 1/2 PLEASE hear my PLEA and Save San Rafael from further deterioration.
Pamela Heermann
4/7/25, 3:00 PM Mail - Lindsay Lara - Outlook
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Banning camping on public land
From Rosie Brekke
Date Mon 4/7/2025 2:39 PM
To Distrib- City Clerk <[email protected]>; Cristine Alilovich <[email protected]>; Mayor Kate <[email protected]>; Rachel Kertz <[email protected]>; Eli Hill <[email protected]>; Maribeth Bushey <[email protected]>; [email protected] <[email protected]> 1 attachment (3 MB)
.m4a;
Homelessness is a complex issue without easy solutions. The answer isn’t in the City of SR knowingly introducing new problems that multiply exponentially.
Camping on all public lands must be banned. I m enclosing my interview with experienced Farmers Insurance Broker of 42 years. . I also had a broker followup question about insurance companies being aware of cities putting homeless in certain places causing homeowners to be evaluated too risky to be insurable anymore. Geico is no longer insuring 94901 homeowners. It’s yourcommitment to act responsibly & to understand broad picture & long range consequences of your actions.
Thank u, Rosemarie Brekke
Sent from my iPhone
4/7/25, 2:51 PM Mail - Lindsay Lara - Outlook
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Sent: Monday, April 7, 2025 4:00 PM
To: Distrib- City Clerk <[email protected]>; Eli Hill <[email protected]> Subject: Support of No Camping at City Parks ordinance
Dear City Clerk,
Please approve the No Camping ordinance for all of the city’s public parks at the council meeting tonight. I’m writing as a concerned resident who has witnessed firsthand the growing number of encampments, particularly along Andersen Drive between Lindaro Street and Irwin Street. The number of tents increases each week, and the impacts on nearby neighborhoods have become increasingly serious.
I believe the city's current approach may be unintentionally encouraging individuals experiencing homelessness to relocate to San Rafael from surrounding areas.
Unfortunately, residents in our neighborhood—located in close proximity to these growing encampments—have reported numerous incidents involving theft. Construction materials left in driveways and items stored in carports have gone missing, with security footage showing individuals transporting these items back to nearby encampments.
We understand the complexity of the homelessness crisis and have compassion for those affected, but we also believe public parks should remain safe, clean, and accessible for all community members. Allowing long-term camping in these spaces compromises the safety and well-being of families, children, and seniors who rely on parks for recreation and peace of mind.
I urge the council to move forward with the No Camping ordinance.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Sunny Lee, Southern Heights Neighborhood Association