HomeMy WebLinkAbout24 - City Council Homeless Ad Hoc Committee Recommendations - Correspondencej;4 Pier -Pier
Received after Agenda Printed
June 13, 2023
Item No. 24
Central Newport Beach Community Association
PO Box 884 • Newport Beach, CA • 92661-0884
www.MyNewportBeach.Org
June 12, 2023
Dear Mayor Blom and Councilmembers Stapleton, Avery, Weigand, Grant, Kleiman, and O'Neill:
Central Newport Beach Community Association (CNBCA) represents hundreds of residents living and/or owning
property between the two piers. Our location on the Balboa Peninsula exposes our members to some of the city's
most intense homeless problems.
At our request, Natalie Basmaciyan arranged for several of CNBCA's members to accompany her on a tour of the
Costa Mesa -Newport Beach Shelter facility, which we greatly appreciated. On 16 May 2023, we accompanied
Natalie for a tour of the shelter. We met with the Mercy House staff and the management team from Costa Mesa.
It was a very informative tour, and we were extremely impressed at what is offered to the shelter's clients who are
fortunate enough to take advantage of the facility.
The building and services appear to be topnotch. The kitchen was state-of-the-art and appeared to have
everything needed to offer healthy meals. All parts of the structure, including sleeping areas, were very clean and
arranged for greater comfort and privacy than one would normally expect to see in a shelter situation. We felt this
facility would likely meet or exceed similar facilities for use of space and for having modern, clean, safe, and
comfortable accommodations. Both cities should be commended for creating an exceptional shelter facility.
What we found even more impressive was the compassion and obvious goal to help these folks that was shown
by Natalie and her counterpart from Costa Mesa. Both have good hearts and a zeal to understand each client's
needs in his/her journey to overcome homelessness. Natalie is a gem! We all agreed that she should be
recognized as an extremely valuable asset in our city's effort to deal with the homeless challenge.
As you know, the Martin v. Boise Ninth District decision requires cities to have empty shelter beds available to
allow enforcement of anti -camping laws. CNBCA strongly believes that the City of Newport Beach must meet this
requirement as quickly as possible. CNBCA appreciates that the city of Newport Beach has staff (such as Natalie
Basmaciyan), City Net, and Be Well, that are dedicated to helping ease this problem. We appreciate that the city
is working diligently to develop a blend of solutions and that the city recognizes that having an adequate number
of shelter beds is a critical first step in housing our homeless.
Fortunately, during our tour, we were informed that the Costa Mesa -Newport Beach shelter facility has the
potential to double its footprint, enabling the cities to, collectively, more than double the number of
homeless individuals currently being served at the current location (through expansion of the facility and
through improved space -planning of the existing space). Time is of the essence. CNBCA would like to request
that the Newport Beach City Council take advantage of this opportunity to enlarge the existing Costa
Mesa -Newport Beach Shelter. We ask that the City immediately move forward with discussions/negotiations
with the City of Costa Mesa to promote this outcome (in addition to the five additional beds already being
negotiated). With effective negotiations to secure sufficient "beds" and the timely buildout of the current
shelter, the Newport Beach City Council can meet the requirements spelled out in Martin v. Boise.
We appreciate your attention to this very important matter. We would like the City Council to consider adding one
of our Board Members to the new Homeless Ad Hoc Committee for implementation of the recommendations in
AttachmentA for the City Council's 13 June 2023 meeting.
Sincerely,
Maureen Cotton
President, CNBCA
Cc: Natalie Basmaciyan
ATTACHMENT A
NEWPORT BEACH CITY COUNCIL HOMELESS AD HOC COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS
OVERALL DIRECTIVES
1. Create a Council Policy for the City's approach to people experiencing homelessness:
a. Focus all efforts and funding on street exits
b. Offer services first
c. Regular and even enforcement of all City & State laws
d. Consistent tracking and reporting across all departments and partners
e. Reallocate funds previously considered for grants for homeless -related services toward City -
run initiatives
f. Perform baseline citywide count & repeat annually
2. Contracts
a. Revise contracts for consistency with the Council Policy
b. Acquire and/or access additional shelter beds
c. Hold vendors and partners accountable to Council policy
3. Code Clarification
a. Consider adoption of new ordinance
COMMUNITY
1. Engage consultant for community education regarding "Good Giving" campaign
OTHER
1. Amend Ad Hoc Committee resolution scope and term
24-3
Received after Agenda Printed
June 13, 2023
Item No. 24
Dear Newport Beach City Council Members,
Countless residents have raised concerns about the ever-growing homeless encampment problem in
Newport Beach at the OC Transportation Authority on Avocado, and in our community at large. I
personally get my prescriptions at Hill Pharmacy, adjacent to the OCTA, and have photos and videos
during the past three years documenting the expanding encampment on this Irvine Company leased
property. Thank you to those who have reached out to our City Council members to heighten attention
and propose solutions to this dire issue. After reaching out to City Councilwoman Lauren Kleinman this
week, she responded favorably regarding posing solutions to this situation, siting this is "her number one
priority". Thank you, Lauren, for bringing the Ad Hoc Committee recommendations to next week's City
Council meeting. As a mother of two small children, we know you value community safety. The Irvine
Company owns the land, leases it to OCTA, and Newport Beach leader's hands have allegedly been tied,
which has created fertile ground for the problem to grow. Adding fuel to the fire, Our Lady Queen of
Angels weekly hands out free food and gift cards to the homeless, which is drawing more of them to our
community, and threatening student safety on the CDM school campus, located adjacent to the church.
Rather than triangulate for political gain on this complicated land issue, and turning a blind eye to the
OCTA's complicit property dereliction of The Irvine Company's land, it's time our City Leaders posture
with strength and resolve to put an end to this momentous encampment plague to our city. Pressure is
building, and the time is NOW for our elected city leaders to boldly meet with local law enforcement,
heads of The Irvine Co. and OCTA and hash out a solution to terminate the homeless problem in
Newport Beach lest we become like SA, LA, San Francisco, and Sacramento. Please act now, before it's
too late!
Thank you,
Sharon MacDougall
Chief Domestic Officer
Received after Agenda Printed
June 13, 2023
Mulvey, Jennifer Item No. 24
Subject: FW: comments regarding people living on the street
From: stubbeck@yahoo.com <stubbeckCaiyahoo.com>
Sent: Tuesday, June 13, 2023 10:09:53 AM (UTC-08:00) Pacific Time (US & Canada)
To: City Clerk's Office <CityClerk@newportbeachca.gov>
Subject: comments regarding people living on the street
To Whom it May Concern -
I am a 25 year home owner in CDM Village. I am troubled by the people living in tents just off Fashion Island at the bus
station. I recently solicited a business in that area and was dumb founded by the encampment. I realize the city/police
etc. are limited in what they can do in terms of people living on the street but there has to be some better solutions.
There is a woman who has lived on the street for the past 5 years. She washes in the neighborhood, spends her days in
Old School Park and the bench in front of Golden Spoon, eats at Caf6 Panini and then shops at Bristol Farms. There is
another man who lives on the street who I saw today laying on the beach with his vape pen and a whole bunch of store
bought food. Who is financing these people and why are we as a society allowing this to happen? I pay a lot in taxes
and those dollars cover streets, roads and government services. That does not entitle me to sleep, live, occupy and
block a street, sidewalk or bus station.
How are other cities handling this successfully? I just read the city of San Diego is trying to pass a law that makes it
illegal to live on the street if shelter beds are available.
What about if some of the social workers from BeWell routinely visited the people living on the street, developed
relationships and then convinced them to go into housing/treatment? Clearly if people are living on the street, there is
an addiction component as well as a PTSD component. This is not about the cost of housing. The proper thing to do as a
society would be to get people on the street proper mental health support services which would most likely be an in-
patient program (Mental health, accountability, community, work/purpose).
I appreciate your hard work.
Thank you!
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KATRINA FOLEY
ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
FIFTH DISTRICT
COUNTY ADMINISTRATION NORTH
400 W. CIVIC CENTER DR., SIXTH FLOOR
SANTA ANA, CA 92701
(714) 834-3550
Katrina.Foley@ocgov.com
June 13, 2023
City of Newport Beach
100 Civic Center Drive
Newport Beach, CA 92660
RE: City Council Agenda Item 24 — Homeless Ad Hoc Committee
Recommendations
Dear Mayor Blom and City Council Members:
I write to submit comments on Item 24 of today's Newport Beach City Council
Agenda, which will review recommendations from the Homeless Ad Hoc Committee and
provide direction to staff. Amidst the state's homelessness crisis, I commend the City of
Newport Beach for reestablishing its Homeless Ad Hoc Committee, and I encourage you
to use this opportunity to meaningfully reduce homelessness in Newport Beach.
As Mayor of Costa Mesa, I invited then -Mayors of Newport Beach, Assemblymember
Diane Dixon and Councilmember Will O'Niell, to join us in creating the Costa Mesa -
Newport Beach Bridge Shelter. The investments by our cities in the shelter created the
pathway for our respective Police Departments to enforce anti -camping and anti -loitering
ordinances. Following the settlement agreement of Orange County Catholic Workers v.
Orange County, I led a review and update of Costa Mesa's Municipal Code because the
code was outdated, out of compliance, and unprepared to provide constitutional
safeguards and navigate the nuances of our homelessness crisis.
The City of Costa Mesa conducted a thorough review of effective ordinances from
other cities, and ultimately modernized our municipal code on anti -camping, anti -
loitering, and sleeping in vehicle prevention ordinances. I invite Newport Beach city staff
to review the ordinances passed in Costa Mesa, all of which are attached.
The status quo on homelessness is broken. The City can provide more
compassionate care to individuals experiencing homelessness, and simultaneously
address the health and safety concerns of residents and businesses at large. Please
consider updating the municipal code sections related to camping, loitering, and sleeping
in vehicles, adding additional beds for those who need it, and enforce city law. As the
representative for the City of Newport Beach on the Orange County Board of
Proudly serving the cities of Aliso Viejo, Costa Mesa, Dana Point, Irvine, Laguna Beach, Laguna Hills,
Laguna Niguel, Laguna Woods, Newport Beach, San Clemente, San Juan Capistrano and the
unincorporated areas of Coto de Caza, Emerald Bay, Ladera Ranch, Las Flores,
Rancho Mission Viejo, Stonecliffe, and Wagon Wheel
Mayor and City Council of Newport Beach
June 13, 2023
Page 2 of 2
Supervisors, I am ready to assist however 1 am able and will continue offering the
County's Office of Care & Coordination as a resource to all cities in the 5th district.
ily,
Foley
nge County Supervisor, Fifth District
Cc: Grace K Leung, City Manager of Newport Beach
CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
MEETING DATE: APRIL 2, 2019 ITEM NUMBER: PH-1
SUBJECT: INTRODUCTION AND ADOPTION OF URGENCY ORDINANCE NO. 19-XX AND
INTRODUCTION OF REGULAR ORDINANCE NO. 19-XX OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF
THE CITY OF COSTA MESA AMENDING SECTION 10-194 (SLEEPING IN MOTOR
VEHICLES PROHIBITED) OF CHAPTER X (STOPPING, STANDING AND PARKING
GENERALLY) OF TITLE 10 (MOTOR VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC), RELATING TO
PROHIBITIONS AGAINST SLEEPING IN VEHICLES
INTRODUCTION AND ADOPTION OF URGENCY ORDINANCE NO. 19-XX AND
INTRODUCTION OF REGULAR ORDINANCE NO. 19-XX OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF
THE CITY OF COSTA MESA AMENDING SECTIONS 11-302 (DEFINITIONS) AND 11-304
(CAMPING IN PUBLIC AREAS PROHIBITED) OF CHAPTER XIV (CAMPING AND
STORAGE OF PERSONAL PROPERTY IN PUBLIC AREAS) OF TITLE 11 (OFFENSES -
MISCELLANEOUS), RELATING TO PROHIBITIONS AGAINST CAMPING IN PUBLIC
AREAS
DATE: MARCH 21, 2019
FROM: ROBERT SHARPNACK, CHIEF OF POLICE
PRESENTATION BY: PAUL BECKMAN, LIEUTENANT
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: PAUL BECKMAN, (714) 754-5266
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that the City Council:
1. Find that adoption of each of these ordinances is not a "project" under the
California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Public Resources Code
Section 21065, and that each is exempt from the provisions of CEQA pursuant to
CEQA Guidelines (14 Cal. Code. Regs. § 15000, et seq.) Sections 15061(b)(3)
(because it can be seen with certainty that the adoption of this Ordinance will not
have an effect on the environment) and 15321 (enforcement actions by regulatory
agencies), such that no environmental review under CEQA is required.
2. Introduce and adopt as Urgency Ordinance No. 19-XX, Amending Section 10-194
(Sleeping in Motor Vehicles Prohibited) of Chapter X (Stopping, Standing and
Parking Generally) Of Title 10 (Motor Vehicles and Traffic), Relating to
Prohibitions Against Sleeping in Vehicles (Attachment 1).
3. Introduce for first reading, by title only, Ordinance No. 19-XX, Amending Section
10-194 (Sleeping in Motor Vehicles Prohibited) of Chapter X (Stopping, Standing
and Parking Generally) of Title 10 (Motor Vehicles and Traffic), Relating to
Prohibitions Against Sleeping in Vehicles (Attachment 2).
4. Introduce and adopt Urgency Ordinance No. 19-XX, Amending Sections 11-302
(Definitions) and 11-304 (Camping in public areas prohibited -Penalties) of
Chapter XIV (Camping and Storage of Personal Property in Public Areas) of Title
11 (Offenses -Miscellaneous), Relating to Prohibitions Against Camping in Public
Areas (Attachment 3).
5. Introduce for first reading, by title only, Ordinance No. 19-XX, Amending Section
11-302 (Definitions) and 11-304 (Camping in public areas prohibited -Penalties) of
Chapter XIV (Camping and Storage of Personal Property in Public Areas) of Title
11 (Offenses- Miscellaneous), Relating to Prohibitions Against Camping in Public
Areas (Attachment 4).
BACKGROUND:
Following the settlement of the Orange County Catholic Worker et al. v. Orange County,
et al. case by the City of Costa Mesa and the establishment of the City's temporary interim
bridge shelter at 1885 Anaheim Ave, the City will once again be able to enforce the
provisions of the Costa Mesa Municipal Code (CMMC) which prohibit camping, storage
of personal property and sleeping in vehicles in public areas. However, due to recent
United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit case law, and the directives of the
District Court in the Catholic Worker matter, the City had been effectively unable to
enforce these CMMC provisions for approximately 12 months. As a result, the City has
been unable to clear encampments or deter persons from using public property for
camping rather than recreation — including but not limited to Lions Park, Wilson Park,
Fairview Park, Talbert Park, Joann bike path and adjacent public property, the green belt
areas along Victoria Street, and numerous unnamed or diminutive public areas next to or
surrounded by private property. This has led to individuals accumulating mounds of
personal property that creates a visual blight, impedes the use and access to this public
space for others, and increases unsanitary conditions in and around the encampment.
Vehicles used as encampments have become a similar nuisance as they impede the
available parking, contain volumes of personal property, and often urine and other
unsanitary substances are found in the immediate area of the vehicle.
In order to deal with the health and safety crisis caused by these activities, the Network
for Homeless Solutions in connection with various City Departments, including Police,
Parks and Community Services and Public Services, consistent with the requirements of
the settlement agreement and court order, will begin to offer shelter to interested and
eligible homeless individuals at the City's temporary bridge shelter, with preference first
given to Costa Mesa residents. This process will involve staff outreach to individuals
experiencing homelessness to share eligibility requirements and projected timelines for
establishing operations at the temporary bridge shelter, documenting personal
information of interested parties, and setting up intake locations/procedures that require
transportation to the bridge shelter facility for individuals with an established amount of
personal items/storage to the bridge shelter. For those individuals who are not interested
in shelter, are service -resistant to diversion/shelter/obedience to laws, do not meet
established shelter eligibility requirements and/or are dismissed from the shelter program,
enforcement for violations will be utilized.
From an enforcement standpoint, there is an immediate need to clarify the definitions of
prohibited conduct relating to prohibitions against sleeping in vehicles and camping in
public areas. Revisions to these code sections are suggested in order to both provide
constitutional safeguards for all persons and to enable effective and timely enforcement
of these prohibitions.
1►
Sleeping in Motor Vehicles
Section 10-194 of the CMMC prohibits sleeping in motor vehicles and currently provides:
It is unlawful for any person to sleep in or on any motor vehicle parked any place in
the city at any time. This section is not intended to prohibit the use of campers or
motor coaches or motor vans for sleeping purposes where the same are parked in
an authorized trailer court or campsite within the city.
The prohibitions of Section 10-194 were incorporated into the CMMC over 50 years ago.
As written, a literal interpretation of Section 10-194 would clearly have unintended
consequences, i.e., penalizing an individual for taking a nap in a car while parked in his or
her driveway. In addition, the broad prohibitions of 10-194 are inconsistent with more recent
ordinances from other cities, which provide for specific times and/or areas where sleeping
is prohibited. Attachment 5 provides a list of examples of municipal prohibitions within the
County. Suggested revisions are set forth in the Analysis section, below.
Camping on Public Property
Chapter XIV of Title 11, adopted by Ordinance No. 13-2 in 2013, generally prohibits camping
and storage of personal property in public areas.
Section 11-302 defines various words and phrases used in the ordinance, including the verb
to "camp" and the nouns "camp facilities" and "camp paraphernalia":
(c) Camp means to pitch or occupy camp facilities; to use camp paraphernalia.
(d) Camp facilities include, but are not limited to, tents, huts or temporary shelters.
(e) Camp paraphernalia includes, but is not limited to, tarpaulins, cots, beds,
sleeping bags, hammocks or non -city designated cooking facilities and similar
equipment.
(Emphasis added.)
Section 11-304 prohibits camping in public areas, and provides:
(a) It is unlawful for any person to camp, occupy camp facilities or use camp
paraphernalia in the following areas, except as otherwise designated by the parks
and recreation commission, and as permitted by the administrative services director:
(1) Any street or alley;
(2) Any public parking lot or public area, improved or unimproved;
(3) Any park.
(b) Violations of this section shall be punishable pursuant to section 1-33 of this Code.
(Emphasis added.)
The Police Department has identified several practical issues that stem from the definitions
of "camp" and "camp paraphernalia". First, in the last several years, a wider variety of
materials are being used to camp in parks and other public areas than is presently set forth
in subsection (e). Second, a literal interpretation of the language in subsection (c) "to use
camp paraphernalia" could have unintended consequences, especially for parks, by
potentially penalizing a person for otherwise lawful activity that is plainly not "camping". For
3
example, simply lying on a sleeping bag in a park while reading during the day, etc.
Suggested revisions are set forth in the Analysis section, below.
ANALYSIS:
Sleeping in Motor Vehicles
The proposed ordinance amends section 10-194 as follows:
It is unlawful for any person to sleep in or on any motor vehicle parked any place
in the city, other than upon private residential property, between the
hours of 11 p.m. and 7 a.m., or to dwell and/or live in or on any motor vehicle
parked upon any city owned, operated, or maintained street, sidewalk, alley, public
right-of-way, or any other public property or any private property within the city at
any time. This section is not intended to prohibit the use of campers or motor
coaches or motor vans for sleeping and/or dwelling purposes where the same are
parked in an authorized trailer court or campsite within the city. As used in this
section, "dwell" means to use as a basic residence for shelter, sleeping and/or
cooking purposes in lieu of traditional code compliant building structures designed
for human habitation.
These changes would, subject to the existing exemptions, (1) prohibit sleeping in motor
vehicles parked anywhere in the City, except for private residential property, between the
hours of 11 p.m. and 7 a.m.; and (2) prohibit dwelling in any motor vehicle parked on any
public or private property at all times.
Camping on Public Property
The proposed urgency and regular ordinances amend subsections (c) and (e) of section 11-
302 as follows:
(c) Camp means to pitch or occupy camp facilities, to use any property set forth in
section 11-304 for living accommodation or habitation purposes such as sleeping
activities, or making preparations to sleep, including the laying down of bedding
for purposes of sleeping, or to use or store camp paraphernalia for purposes of
living accommodation or habitation purposes.
(e) Camp paraphernalia includes, but is not limited to, tarpaulins, umbrellas, cots,
beds, bedding, sleeping bags, hammocks, non -city designated cooking facilities,
kitchen utensils, camping stoves, portable barbeques and similar equipment, extra
clothing, and/or personal hygiene items.
The proposed urgency and regular ordinances also amend subsection (a) of section 11-304
as follows:
(a) It is unlawful for any person to camp, and/or occupy camp facilities or use Garnp
in the following areas, except as otherwise designated by the parks
and recreation commission, and as permitted by the administrative services director:
(1) Any street or alley;
(2) Any public parking lot or public area, improved or unimproved;
M
(3) Any park.
(b) Violations of this section shall be punishable pursuant to section 1-33 of this
Code.
The suggested revisions clarify that using (or storing) camp paraphernalia is prohibited if
done for purposes of living accommodation or habituation purposes. The revisions also
clarify and expand the definition of camp paraphernalia.
Storage of personal property in public areas (which would include camp paraphernalia both
as currently defined and as proposed), whether or not used for camping purposes, would
remain prohibited by Section 11-306 (storage of personal property in public areas
prohibited).
ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED:
The City could opt to maintain any or all of the current language in the existing sections of
the CMMC or could direct staff to make revisions to the proposed amendments.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Finance Department has reviewed and verified there is no fiscal impact.
LEGAL REVIEW:
The City Attorney's Office drafted the proposed ordinances and has reviewed and approved
this report as to form.
CONCLUSION:
Staff recommends the City Council, by separate motions:
1. Find that that adoption of each of these ordinances is not a "project" under the
California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Public Resources Code
Section 21065, and that each is exempt from the provisions of CEQA pursuant to
CEQA Guidelines (14 Cal. Code. Regs. § 15000, et seq.) Sections 15061(b)(3)
(because it can be seen with certainty that the adoption of this Ordinance will not
have an effect on the environment) and 15321 (enforcement actions by regulatory
agencies), such that no environmental review under CEQA is required.
2. Introduce and adopt as Urgency Ordinance No. 19-XX, Amending Section 10-194
(Sleeping in Motor Vehicles Prohibited) of Chapter X (Stopping, Standing And
Parking Generally) Of Title 10 (Motor Vehicles and Traffic), Relating to
Prohibitions Against Sleeping in Vehicles (Attachment 1).
3. Introduce for first reading, by title only, Ordinance No. 19-XX, Amending Section
10-194 (Sleeping in Motor Vehicles Prohibited) of Chapter X (Stopping, Standing
And Parking Generally) of Title 10 (Motor Vehicles and Traffic), Relating to
Prohibitions Against Sleeping in Vehicles (Attachment 2).
4. Introduce and adopt Urgency Ordinance No. 19-XX, Amending Sections 11-302
(Definitions) and 11-304 (Camping in public areas prohibited -Penalties) of
Chapter XIV (Camping and Storage of Personal Property in Public Areas) of Title
11 (Offenses -Miscellaneous), Relating to Prohibitions Against Camping in Public
Areas (Attachment 3).
5
5. Introduce for first reading, by title only, Ordinance No. 19-XX, Amending Section
11-302 (Definitions) and 11-304 (Camping in public areas prohibited -Penalties) of
Chapter XIV (Camping and Storage of Personal Property in Public Areas) of Title
11 (Offenses- Miscellaneous), Relating to Prohibitions Against Camping in Public
Areas (Attachment 4).
PAULBECKMAN
LIEUTENANT
TAMARA LETOURNEAU
ACTING CITY MANAGER
KIMBERLY HALL BARLOW KELLY TELFORD
CITY ATTORNEY Finance Director
ATTACHMENTS: 1. Urgency Ordinance No. 19-XX, Amending Section 10-
194
2. Ordinance No. 19-XX, Amending Section 10-194
3. Urgency Ordinance No. 19-XX, Amending Sections 11-
302 and 11-304
4. Ordinance No. 19-XX, Amending Sections 11-302 and
11-304
5. Examples of Municipal Code Prohibitions throughout
Orange County
June 12, 2023
Letter sent via email to: cityclerk(@newportbeachca.gov
Ms. Leilani I. Brown, City Clerk
City of Newport Beach
100 Civic Center Drive
Newport Beach, CA 92660
RE: Homeless Encampments in the City of Newport Beach
Dear Ms. Brown,
Members of the Lincoln Club of Orange County ("The Lincoln Club") who reside in the
City of Newport Beach are alarmed at the continued persistence of homeless
encampments at the Newport Beach Bus Depot. In 2019, the council authorized a
committee to address the homeless issue, and that committee has since been
disbanded. It has been approximately five years and the city has spent millions of
dollars, but there has not been a perceivable reduction in street vagrancy, petty crime,
or non -permitted encampments. Investing more money and buying more beds will be a
waste of taxpayers' dollars. We already have a model, it is called California. As we have
observed, throwing more money at the problem does not work. We are aware you may
not be able to completely solve the homeless population until the state laws change, but
we believe that it can be controlled and managed more efficiently than it is being done
now.
Here are a few ideas to consider:
1 Assess the OCTA lease with the Irvine Company - The city attorney to
advise the council on enforcement of terms of service.
2 Meet with OCTA and the Irvine Company - The city attorney to advise
council of leverage points and city codes that could be used to get OCTA and
the Irvine Company to participate in a long-term solution with the City of
Newport Beach.
3 Develop a multi -prong approach to dissolving encampments and
moving non-residents to more humane conditions —Invest in defensive
architecture.
We sincerely thank you for your service and hard work for our city, and want to
respectfully ask that the council and staff take our concerns seriously. We are eager to
keep Newport Beach a beautiful and safe place to live for many years to come.
Sincerely,
Teresa Hernandez, President, Lincoln Club of Orange County
Signed on behalf of:
Teresa Hernandez
Buck Johns
Adriana Fourcher
Barbara George
Shane Mitchell
Dr. Kerry Reynolds
Jill Ayers
Allyson Presta
Patrick Dirk
Mary Dirk
David Steffy
Tom Merrick
Dennis Drislane
Ken Colbaugh
Al Marasca
Hannah Segal
Cc: City Council(citycouncil(a�newportbeachca.gov)