Planning group backs proposed prohibitions against DPW facility use

The San Diego County Department of Public Works seeks to prohibit certain activities on DPW property and has been obtaining community planning group and community sponsor group input on three proposed ordinances. The Fallbrook Community Planning Group recommended approval of the three draft ordinances, Dec. 21.

Lauren Moreno, coordinator of DPW’s cleanup and sanitation program, gave a presentation to the Fallbrook Community Planning Group before the 14-0 vote to recommend adoption of the ordinances. The draft ordinances were developed to address the impact of the homeless using culverts and other drainage channels.

“I think this is a good step in the right direction,” Eileen Delaney said, who chairs the planning group’s Land Use Committee and also chairs the infrastructure subcommittee of the Fallbrook Revitalization Committee.

A May 19 San Diego County Board of Supervisors hearing on addressing the homeless situation focused on additional shelter opportunities but also directed county staff to develop ordinances to protect the public, county-owned facilities and environmental resources from the impacts of the homeless. The ordinances will focus on impacts to DPW and Department of Parks and Recreation facilities.

If a homeless encampment is obstructing public access, the county may initiate a cleanup of that encampment. Moreno told the Fallbrook Community Planning Group that in the event of a homeless encampment cleanup, the county will work with social services agencies on providing shelter for those displaced by the cleanup.

One proposed DPW ordinance applies to county-maintained drainage and flood control culverts and channels while one addresses county airports, wastewater facilities, inactive landfills and road stations. In the absence of a written permit with conditions imposed by the DPW director, the ordinances would prohibit living accommodations including but not limited to sleeping, sleeping activities and making preparations to sleep such as laying down bedding for purposes of sleeping. The ordinances would also prohibit the erection of temporary or permanent structures, storage or placing of personal belongings and storage or placing of solid or hazardous waste. Making a fire or using any machine, device, material or object which is likely to cause a fire would also be prohibited in DPW facilities as would any activity which could cause damage or impair the value of the facility or property, which could interfere with the function of the facility or property for its express purpose or which could present a threat to the public safety of persons or property as a result of the use of that property or facility.

A third ordinance would apply to an emergency, construction or maintenance situation and would prohibit any person from remaining in the portion of the property identified to be closed to the public by signage, barriers or other features.

“These areas would be regulated temporarily,” Moreno said.

Public comment on the three proposed ordinances closes Jan. 22. DPW plans to docket the ordinances for the March 3 board of supervisors meeting.

Joe Naiman can be reached by email at [email protected].