Overview:
The Fresno City Council is expected to finalize the policy to penalize encampment builders on Thursday. The policy is expected to take effect on Sept.15.
The City Council will also discuss other matters, like the repeal of a cumbersome safety alarm policy, and the widening of an oft-used street.
The City of Fresno will likely finalize the introduction of an anti-encampment law on Thursday, joining a select few jurisdictions across the country in introducing similar policies to combat homeless issues.
The Fresno City Council will have their second meeting to pass their anti-encampment law on Thursday. Having already passed unanimously during a special meeting on July 29, the policy is on the consent agenda Thursday, where it will likely pass without much — or possibly any — discussion.
Should the anti-encampment law pass as expected, the City of Fresno will be one of the first local governments across the country to begin exercising their new legal rights to clear and penalize encampment residents following the U.S. Supreme Court’s Grants Pass ruling in June.
The city has received virtual comments from residents on the matter, all of which are against the ordinance.
“Being without housing is not a crime. You are choosing to make it that way,” said Rachel Johnson through an online comment.
Though no hearing is scheduled for the ordinance, the general public will still have an opportunity to speak out on the anti-encampment law on Thursday through in-person public comment. The meeting is on Thursday at 9 a.m. at the City Council Chambers in Fresno City Hall.
City to repeal a problematic public safety alarm policy
The City of Fresno will look to repeal a policy they say gets in the way of the police department’s responsibilities.
Chapter 10, Section 10-812 of the Fresno Municipal Code limits police from responding to service calls from an address who has sent too many false alarms. However, the police are instructed by their own policy to respond to every call as serious, and “in progress.”
The resolution on Thursday will look to repeal the city code, allowing for the police department to respond to service calls even on addresses with a history of false alarm use.
The Fresno Police Department responded to 5,275 false alarm service calls in 2023, according to the city staff’s report.
The policy is on the consent agenda.
West Ashlan Avenue expansion
The Fresno City Council is expected to set aside nearly $300,000 toward the widening of West Ashlan Avenue, between Polk and Bryan Avenues.
Currently, West Ashland Avenue — a street with four lanes — shrinks to a two-lane street between Polk and Bryan. The project is expected to fix the issue.
The project will be managed by Civil Engineering, Inc. – a Fresno-based engineering company.
The project is on the consent calendar.
