Sacramento officials request camping ordinance buffer amendment

>> THE IMMEDIATE ACTION IS TO AMEND AN ORDINANCE THAT PROHIBITS CAMPING AND ENCAMPMENTS. DAYS AFTER TWO ORDINANCES PROHIBITING CAMPING WENT INTO EFFECT IN THE CITY OF SACRAMENTO. >> IN RESPONSE TO WHAT’S HAPPENING ACROSS OUR CITY, WE NEED TO KEEP KIDS SAFE AND MAKE THEM A PRIORITY >> VICE MAYOR ANGELIQUE ASHBY AND COUNCIL MEMBER JEFF HARRIS ARE CALLING FOR THE AMENDMENT OF SACRAMENTO’S CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE ORDINANCE TO INCLUDE A 500-FOOT BUFFER AROUND SCHOOLS AND DAY CARE CENTERS. >> WE HAVE GOT TO STEP IT UP AND SAY THAT SOME BEHAVIOR IS UNACCEPTABLE >> STEPHANIE CROWE, A LONGTIME DOWNTOWN SACRAMENTO RESIDENT SAYS THIS IS A GOOD START. >> I WOULD SAY THAT YOU SHOULD HAVE A LARGER SAFE ZONE. 500 FEET DOESN’T REALLY DO IT FOR ME. >> BUT HOPES THAT STRICTTER ORDINANCES HELP PROTECT RESIDENTS AND CHILDREN WHO WALK TO SCHOOL. >> WE NEED TO KEEP THE SCHOOLS AS SAFE AS WE POSSIBLY CAN. DEALING WITH HOMELESSNESS IS A MULTI-FACETED APPROACH. >> ASHBY ALSO EMPHASIZES THE NEED FOR MORE HOUSING AND MENTAL HEALTH, DRUG ADDICTION, AND TRAUMA SERVICES. >> WHEN ASKED ABOUT HOW SOON THE EXPECT TO BE ABLE TO AMEND THIS ORDINANCE COUNCIL MEMBERS SAID THEY ARE HOPING TO BRING THIS UP IN THE NEXT ANY COUNCIL MEETING ON

Sacramento officials eye school, day care safety in requesting amendment to camping ordinance

Updated at 10:26 PM PDT Sep 27, 2022

Days after two ordinances prohibiting camping went into effect in Sacramento County, Vice Mayor Angelique Ashby and Council Member Jeff Harris are requesting a 500-foot buffer around all schools, day cares and child care centers. This request to amend the critical infrastructure ordinance stems from several residents’ stressed concerns after a homeless man harassed middle schoolers last week.The ordinance went into effect Sept. 30, and it prohibits camping or encampments in the following areas:In, on, or within 25 feet of critical infrastructure or the entrance/exit of critical infrastructure.Up to 1,000 feet of a location providing year-round overnight shelter to people experiencing homelessness and the entrance/exit to such locations.Inside of, or within 30 feet of wildfire and flood risk areas during severe weather.Within 25 feet of a youth-serving facility, public or private primary, or secondary schools, and public libraries. Since what they’re asking for is an amendment to an existing ordinance, the change would be immediate, but they need the support of other council members.KCRA 3 asked who would enforce the amendment and if there is enough staffing to handle it.” Do we have enough people in place to protect schools? Probably in a staggered approach, yes. Can we implement everything inside of the critical infrastructure ordinance? No. Not all at once, we don’t have the staffing for that,” Ashby said at a media conference.But some Sacramento residents say that they need support to keep public sidewalks clear and want ordinances to be enforced.Stephanie Crow said she walked her children to school for years but has now bought another car to be able to drive her seventh – grade daughter to school. She attributes this to a lack of safety.”We don’t have the perfect plan. There are a lot of different things that are bigger than me. Personally, I think that we should go out and we should try to help,” added crow While Ashby and Harris hope that they can get support from county officials including the Sacramento County Office of Emergency Services, they say that they’d be willing to get Sacramento police involved if that doesn’t happen.The critical infrastructure ordinance has a misdemeanor offense for those who don’t comply with clearing out sidewalks, although city officials assured that this is to target outreach to different services.Ashby said this will be heard during the city’s next council meeting on Oct. 11. The Sacramento County Board also adopted a separate ordinance that addresses the Dry Creek and American River Parkway. Some of the ordinance’s key provisions are: Prohibition on camping or constructing, maintaining, or inhabiting any structure or camping facility in the American River Parkway or Dry Creek Parkway, except with written permission from the director.Prohibition on modifying the parklands or accumulating furniture, household goods, or other items in order to create a structure.Bans the use or maintenance of a container with flammable or combustible liquid or a generator , except when issued a permit by the Regional Parks director.

Days after two ordinances prohibiting camping went into effect in Sacramento County, Vice Mayor Angelique Ashby and council member Jeff Harris are requesting a 500-foot buffer around all schools, daycares and childcare centers.

This request to amend the critical infrastructure ordinance stems from several residents’ stressed concerns after a homeless man harassed middle schoolers last week.

The ordinance went into effect Sept. 30, and it prohibits camping or encampments in the following areas:

  • In, on, or within 25 feet of critical infrastructure or the entrance/exit of critical infrastructure.
  • Up to 1,000 feet of a location providing year-round overnight shelter to people experiencing homelessness and the entrance/exit to such locations.
  • Inside of, or within 30 feet of wildfire and flood risk areas during severe weather.
  • Within 25 feet of a youth-serving facility, public or private primary, or secondary schools, and public libraries.

Since what they’re asking for is an amendment to an existing ordinance, the change would be immediate, but they need the support of other council members.

KCRA 3 asked who would enforce the amendment and if there is enough staffing to handle it.

“Do we have enough people in place to protect schools? Probably in a staggered approach, yes. Can we implement everything inside of the critical infrastructure ordinance? No. Not all at once, we don’t have the staffing for that,” Ashby said at a media conference.

But some Sacramento residents say that they need support to keep public sidewalks clear and want ordinances to be enforced.

Stephanie Crow said she walked her children to school for years but has now bought another car to be able to drive her seventh-grade daughter to school. She attributes this to a lack of safety.

“We don’t have the perfect plan. There are a lot of different things that are bigger than me. Personally, I think that we should go out and we should try to help,” added Crow.

While Ashby and Harris hope that they can get support from county officials including the Sacramento County Office of Emergency Services, they say that they’d be willing to get Sacramento police involved if that doesn’t happen.

The critical infrastructure ordinance has a misdemeanor offense for those who don’t comply with clearing out sidewalks, although city officials assured that this is to target outreach to different services.

Ashby said this will be heard during the city’s next council meeting on Oct. 11.

The Sacramento County Board also adopted a separate ordinance that addresses the Dry Creek and American River Parkway.

Some of the ordinance’s key provisions are:

  • Prohibition of camping or constructing, maintaining, or inhabiting any structure or camping facility in the American River Parkway or Dry Creek Parkway, except with written permission from the director.
  • Prohibition on modifying the parklands or accumulating furniture, household goods, or other items in order to create a structure.
  • Bans the use or maintenance of a container with flammable or combustible liquid or a generator, except when issued a permit by the Regional Parks director.

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