Printer-friendly version
By Janis Mork
“I’m very close to the homeless. They’re people. Not all are troublemakers….. I know several who need help. We need to get tools together for a community committee, so we can get people off the streets and into homes.” – Clifva Budke, Medical Billing Enterprise
“I’ve stated many times that Santee is not a social services business. We’re in potholes, we’re in law enforcement, and we’re in fire fighters. .. I have a problem with the homeless industry.” – Mayor Randy Voepel
March 15, 2013 (Santee)- At Wednesday’s Santee City Council meeting, City Manager Keith Till brought up a report on strategies to reduce problems related to the transient [homeless] population, sparking a robust discussion on how best to address homelessness in Santee—and whether the solutions should be purely punitive, or include services to help those in need.
Staff initially recommended returning with measures to: 1) expand the Mast Park weekday alcohol ban to all City Parks, 2) ban smoking in City Parks, 3) amend the soliciting ordinance to prohibit aggressive conduct, 4) implement public information efforts and additional community oriented policing strategies as outlined in the attached staff report, and 5) enact an ordinance prohibiting “singe sales” beverages on any new businesses with ABC licenses.
“Last month, there was a discussion of increasing issues of transients in the city,” said Till. “In response to that, we’ve taken a comprehensive look at it to identify what exactly are transients and to come up with a menu or tools to try to make an impact on the problems we’re having with transients panhandling, overtaking public park areas, riverbed camping, and to a lesser extent, scavenging.
He stated that panhandling has been on the increase. “Transients are becoming more aggressive,” he added. “We have some suggestions to do some community outreach and education to show there’s a better way to help these transients. The parks continue to be a problem with transients. We’ve come up with an ordinance to ban alcohol and smoking at Mast Park. Riverbed camping has been a problem for a long time. They’re camping illegally on the riverbed and continue to trash the area. [With scavenging] recyclables are being stolen.” The city bases revenue based on recyclables, he noted.
Till explained that “the sheriff’s department, the city attorney’s office, community services department, and my own office sat down and we each had input on strategies we think will be useful. The measures we’ve taken so far aren’t enough. My request is not to withhold any tools. Let’s come up with a full menu. You can call the sheriff’s dispatch number. We would post the number in a lot of places. The citizens can call themselves and get a deputy out sooner.”
He added that Community Services Department recommends using social media to see what kind of resources to use. “We’ve already gone out and closed electrical outlets. We discovered they were plugging in cellphone chargers and their own personal electronics. We partnered with the San Diego River Foundation. In addition to existing ordinances, we would work closer with the courts. There’s the idea of introducing an ordinance that would expand the existing ordinance to prohibit panhandling conduct. We think any or all of them could be useful.”
Councilman Rob McNelis wanted to know, “What exactly is aggressive panhandling?”
City attorney Shawn H. Hagerty replied, “We have an element of it in the current ordinance. We would be adding in some language to repeat solicitations. If it’s putting you in a position where you fear for your safety.”
McNelis asked, “Would the citizen make a formal complaint?”
Hagerty answered, “Probably yes. You would need formal documentation. You can call the sheriff and bring it to court.”
Till suggested, “It’s also possible we could go to the victim and ask what the person did.”
Vice mayor John W. Minto offered his input. “I think we should pursue every one of these ideas. Personally, I don’t like the idea of banning smoking because, personally, smoking in parks isn’t offensive to people there…Usually, alcohol is the most often reason for aggressiveness. “ He added that he added a meeting with Till Monday. “We learned an assemblyman from San Francisco introduced a bill that prohibits a law enforcement officer from moving the homeless from right-of-ways”. (see http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/localnews/ci_22654118/newly-introduced-bills-at-glance for more information about the bill known as the “Homeless Bill of Rights”).
First up to speak from the public was Dawn Gibbs.
“I’m here today as a concerned citizen and a concerned mom.” She explained her personal experience with a homeless person asking for money and how polite he was. “Everything was ‘ma’am, I’m sorry, and excuse me.’” She informed the Council of how her daughter views Santee as a city that does good. “All of this that’s been put down doesn’t work. This is a community issue. We have the Santee Ministerial Council. Do we not have these organizations that can help out with this issue? All I ask is that we take this one step further. The churches, faith based organizations, we have that organization. Why don’t we have the expertise and come together? Thank you.”
Vice Mayor John W. Minto clarified, “There’s a lot of people in place that offer assistance. We’re here tonight to address people that continuously don’t accept the help we offer…The sheriff’s department has a list of resources [like the emergency psychiatric help line]. So we have to find ways to address it.”
Gibbs told Minto, “I’m sorry. I understand that. I think it’s time to approach the big picture and come together as a community.”
Next up was to speak was Santee resident Jean Lemmons. “I have an issue with passing laws. You also penalize law abiding citizens.”
John Olsen from the Santee Chamber of Commerce addressed what the Chamber has been doing. “The homeless issue and transient population is something my business members are concerned with. I want to address the strategy [about implementing public information effort additional community oriented policing strategies]. The City has put together information for citizens. We also do newsletters and have resources there.”
Santee resident, Dennis Conners, offered his views. “I don’t agree with the smoking ban. Enforce laws we already have; that’s my recommendation.”
Clifva Budke from Medical Billing Enterprise was the last to speak. “I’m very close to the homeless. They’re people. Not all are troublemakers. I appreciate the tools you put together. I do understand there are many that don’t want help. I know several who need help. We need to get tools together for a community committee, so we can get people off the streets and into homes.”
Councilman Jack E. Dale asked a few questions to Till and Hagerty, including, “Could we do a deemed-approved ordinance?” referring to a means of restricting sales of single-serve alcohol by new businesses.
Hagerty explained, “It’s a pretty large program you would set up. It takes significant effort to implement it, like with financing.”
Dale replied, “It sounds expensive. Whoever’s idea it was to bring this to the forefront, I commend you.”
McNelis said, “The biggest issue is the last [strategy]. These liquor stores all over the place are making a killing off of them because people are enjoying them.”
Minto said the definition of alcoholic drinks that could be banned seemed too broad. “I can’t support an ordinance that does this.”
Mayor Randy Voepel expressed his views. “I spent two years on the County Social Services Advisory Board. I’ve stated many times that Santee is not a social services business. We’re in potholes, we’re in law enforcement, we’re in fire fighters. There are 50-60 social service agencies. I have a problem with the homeless industry. We did have a homeless veterans program called Mental Health Services, defunded by the government, and it closed down. “
The Mayor added that “Fifteen to 18 aggressive homeless people are going to affect the lives of thousands, thousands, of residents. If we ban [“single sales” beverages], we would lose thousands of dollars in sales tax. There are tremendous amounts of support from the homeless, but not from Santee. I would be willing to do a weekday ban at Mast Park and expand to Town [Center Community] Park. Ban smoking at City Parks? No. Number four- Yes, Number five- No. That’s where I’m at. Do we need a motion?”
Till was hesitant to go on with a motion. “I’m unsure of where everyone is at. There seems to be a consensus on number four.” He indicated there may be a majority receptive to banning aggressive panhandling.” It looks like single sales is off the table and smoking in parks is off the table. Maybe refine the weekday ban?”
Voepel suggested that those who wanted to include alcohol at a party get a permit. Then, he clarified everyone’s views on the measures. “Alternative to number one, move forward with three and four, and two and five are a no go.”
There was a 4-0 vote; Councilman John Ryan was absent from the meeting.
Minto told Budke, “We’ll talk after the meeting.”
After the meeting, East County Magazine contacted the Councilmembers and asked if they would support providing services to help the homeless, as some speakers suggested, such as a homeless shelter. Mayor Voepel repeated, “Santee is all about filling in potholes. Santee doesn’t do social services.” ECM has not heard back from the other Council members.
To get in touch with the sheriff, visit: http://www.ci.santee.ca.us/Index.aspx?page=25.
Recent comments