The City of Goleta has developed a new enforcement policy aimed at regulating homeless encampments and people living in their vehicles around the city.  

After a lengthy discussion at its Tuesday meeting, the Goleta City Council unanimously voted to begin an administrative citation program while enforcing existing city ordinances.

The new method would ticket people violating vehicle dwelling and encampment ordinances after refusing services or shelter, according to the city.

However, violations could be forgiven once an individual enrolls themselves into local supportive services such as safe parking and budgeting classes. But at a minimum, they have to register with the Homeless Management Information System if there is no availability with other services. 

This new enforcement measure comes after a rise in resident complaints about vehicle dwelling; the number of complaints increased 95% since last year, according to the city. The measure also comes after challenges enforcing encampment regulations, according to assistant city attorney Winnie Cai.

City leaders said community impacts of vehicle dwelling and encampments include fire risk, sanitation issues, potential environmental harm and public nuisances for the nearby residents. 

This citation system will be complaint-driven rather than having law enforcement patrol the streets. Sheriff’s deputies also have to hand people citations instead of leaving them on property as parking tickets are.  

During the discussion, Mayor Paula Perotte shared her fear of the Sheriff’s Office becoming the “bad guy.” She applauded Community Resource Deputy Connor Worden’s approach and relationship with the unhoused community.

“I am concerned about that trust element that he worked so hard on and it takes a long time,” she said.

Councilmember James Kyriaco also had his doubts. While he appreciates hearing resident complaints, he has trouble seeing if this proposal would be successful due to unhoused individuals often being service resistant.  

“I don’t think that I will ever get the certainty that I would like based on the information that we have, I am afraid we are just going to have to try this and learn,” he said.

The city has the option of setting the first violation fine at $100, then $200 for the second and $500 for the third if in the same calendar year as the first violation.  If a person does not pay the third fine, the city has the ability to determine whether to issue more citations or pursue other legal action, but actions are determined on a case by case basis. 

The City Council did not direct staff to implement the administrative citation enforcement on a specific timeline, said Kelly Hoover, community relations manager.

“I think staff spend a lot of time and resources towards building a relationship and trust with the individual so giving the citation kind of opens that door to helping them get to services,” Cai said. 

Council member Stuart Kasdin agreed with Cai and said this tool is a “great step.”

Creating this new policy follows Governor Gavin Newsom’s direction for local governments to address encampments while providing notice and services. A model ordinance was created at the state level and is meant to serve as a starting point for cities. 

The council also voted on including language into the local ordinance that states the city will make reasonable efforts to offer services before enforcement. 

The council also voted on adding specific language defining what dwelling in one’s vehicle means into the Goleta Municipal Code, a step that Cai says would help the Sheriff’s Office with enforcement. 

Currently, the municipal code allows a certain amount of time a person can sleep in their car for safety reasons. The revised definition would include language that helps officers assess whether someone is living in their car or not. This ordinance will be brought back to council with specific amendments to the municipal code at a later time.  

Lastly, the council voted on giving encampment residents a 48-hour notice that they must clear the area and that the city would store personal items of $50 value. The city’s current encampment clearing policy gives a 72-hour notice to leave, and the city would hold $100 worth of belongings.

City staff will bring a progress report on the administrative citation program back to City Council, per council’s request, at a later date.