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Home My WebLink AboutItem 12d - No Camping SignageDATE: July 6, 2021 TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council FROM: Dominic Lazzaretto, City Manager By: Michael Bruckner, Deputy City Manager SUBJECT: RESOLUTION NO. 7376 ESTABLISHING NO CAMPING SIGNAGE IN CERTAIN AREAS AS DESCRIBED IN CHAPTER 9, ARTICLE VII SECTION 7915(c) OF THE ARCADIA MUNICIPAL CODE Recommendation: Adopt SUMMARY At its regular meeting on February 16, 2021, the City Council adopted Ordinance No. 2374 amending Chapter 9 of Article VII of the City of Arcadia Municipal Code relating to camping and storage of personal property on public property in response to recent court decisions. Ordinance No. 2374 includes criteria further defining lawful and unlawful camping, along with restrictions on time, manner, and place to better protect those that are experiencing homelessness as well as the community at large. In order to enforce the City’s No Camping provisions, the City Council must adopt a Resolution authorizing the placement of No Camping signage in the areas designated as prohibited. Therefore, it is recommended that the City Council adopt Resolution No. 7376 establishing No Camping signage in certain areas as described in Chapter 9, Article VII Section 7915(c) of the Arcadia Municipal Code. BACKGROUND Camping on public property can create an unsanitary and unhealthy environment for the persons engaged in the camping, as well as persons coming into contact with the campers. Both campers and the general public can be affected by the unsafe and potentially disorderly environment. This is further exacerbated due to public health and safety concerns under COVID-19. In addition, some camping may interfere with the rights of others to use the areas for their intended purposes and important federal regulations such as providing a clear path of travel on sidewalks under the Americans with Disabilities Act. Furthermore, camping can contribute to blight and cause damage to public property. Resolution No. 7376 Establishing No Camping Signage July 6, 2021 Page 2 of 3 At its regular meeting on February 16, 2021, the City Council, by a vote of 4-1-0 with Council Member Beck abstaining, adopted Ordinance No. 2374 amending Chapter 9 of Article VII of the City of Arcadia Municipal Code relating to camping and storage of personal property on public property in response to recent court decisions. Ordinance No. 2374 updated existing camping regulations in an effort to further define criteria surrounding lawful and unlawful camping, including restrictions on time, manner, and place to better protect those that are experiencing homelessness as well as the community at large. The Ordinance also strengthens and expands enforcement tools citywide for those that may violate the City’s regulations. Ordinance No. 2374 added Arcadia Municipal Code Section 7915(c), which states that the City, upon adoption of resolution and the posting of signage, can prohibit camping in certain areas as outlined in the Ordinance. These areas generally include but are not limited to the following: •City Benches •Under bridges and within 500 feet thereof •Freeway Onramps and Offramps •Park Playgrounds, Picnic Areas, Shelters, Synthetic Turf Areas, and Bleachers •Arcadia Transit Plaza •Arcadia City Hall •Arcadia Public Library •Gilb Museum of Arcadia Heritage and Museum Education Center •Arcadia Community Center •Landscaped Areas •Arcadia Par 3 Golf Course •Very High Fire Severity Zones •Areas zoned for business or commercial use Finally, Ordinance No. 2374 provides additional enforcement mechanisms. Violation of the City’s camping laws may be charged as a misdemeanor and/or are subject to administrative citation. Illegally constructed camp sites may be removed and stored by the City upon proper noticing that the camp must be removed within 24 hours. It is the City’s intent to use educational and encouragement efforts prior to utilizing these stronger enforcement mechanisms; however, the additional enforcement mechanisms will allow the City to address situations where people are intentionally defying the rules established in the Ordinance. DISCUSSION In an attempt to provide clear information on the prohibited areas, the City created a Camping Enforcement Area Map, which is included as Exhibit “A” of the Resolution and posted on the City’s Homeless Resources website at ArcadiaCA.gov/homeless. The Map Resolution No. 7376 Establishing No Camping Signage July 6, 2021 Page 3 of 3 will also be provided to City departments and staff that engage individuals experiencing homelessness to help educate all parties about the City’s No Camping regulations. No Camping signs will generally be placed at high visibility locations at the edges of the areas shaded in orange on the Camping Enforcement Area Map (Exhibit “A” of the Resolution) stating that camping is prohibited in that area. A copy of the proposed signage is included as Attachment “B”. The City has identified approximately 110 locations where the No Camping signage will be placed. Additional signage may be posted in the camping enforcement areas as warranted, but the attached map shows the minimum locations that will be chosen. The cost per sign is approximately $20, for a total initial cost of $2,200. City staff will place the signs during normal work time, requiring no additional costs for installation. All efforts will be made to use existing poles and other appurtenances for placement to keep costs low and to reduce sign blight to the extent possible. While the No Camping signs may be installed in phases, strict enforcement will only occur in locations where signs have been placed so that persons camping by necessity will have constructive notice prior to any enforcement efforts taking place. FISCAL IMPACT The cost for placing the No Camping signs is approximately $2,200. Sufficient funding is available in the Recreation & Community Services Department’s Fiscal Year 2021-22 operating budget for this purpose. ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS The proposed actions do not constitute a project under the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”), based on Section 15061(b)(3) of the CEQA Guidelines, as it can be seen with certainty that they will have no impact on the environment. Thus, these matters are exempt under CEQA. RECOMMENDATION It is recommended that the City Council determine that this project is exempt under the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”); and adopt Resolution No. 7376 establishing No Camping signage in certain areas as described in Chapter 9, Article VII Section 7915(c) of the Arcadia Municipal Code. Attachments: A. Resolution No. 7376 B. 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