In a raucous meeting that saw several disruptions, Fresno is saying no to camping in public places.

By a 7-0 vote, the Fresno City Council approved an ordinance to restrict public camping and spelled out penalties during a special meeting that began Monday morning and extended to the late afternoon at City Hall.

The goal is to provide services and shelter first when police encounter people camped in public places. Police also can address unsheltered people on private property with the property owner’s permission. If those services are refused by the camper, jail and/or fines could follow.

Several members of the public who shouted during the council debate were removed from the chamber. City Council President Annalisa Perea even called for a five-minute recess at one point.

Mayor Jerry Dyer said that opponents spoke “out of a lack of awareness” or motivated by personal agendas. He talked about his administration’s success in reducing homelessness, especially on highway embankments.

“What we have done as a council and as an administration has been very compassionate, very humane. We’ve provided shelter. We’ve provided services, we’ve provided housing,” Dyer said.

3,500 People Moved Into Permanent Housing: Dyer

Dyer said the city has housed 7,000 temporarily, with half of those finding permanent housing. The city spends $15 million a year on shelters. He currently estimates the city’s homeless population at 1,500.

The decision came after a recent Supreme Court decision, and the encouragement of the governor through an executive order.

Homeless Residents and Advocates Speak Out

Several homeless people and their advocates attended the meeting, speaking out against the city’s action for nearly four hours.

“This ordinance declares war on many of our citizens,” civil rights attorney Kevin Little told the council.

Several speakers echoed the theme that homelessness is not a crime. Councilmember Tyler Maxwell, one of the ordinance’s authors, pushed back on that interpretation.

“There’s no language in here, that says if your homeless, we’re going to take you to jail. And I think it is absurd to suggest that we would ever support something like this,” Maxwell said.

Ordinance opponents said it would increase incarceration. The city should focus on fighting eviction and rent increases instead.

“When you are choosing to criminalize homelessness, it is wrong,” said Alexandra Alvarado, an organizer with Faith in the Valley.

Homeless advocate Dez Martinez alleged that the council hadn’t followed through on its promises.

“Every unhoused individual out here right now is walking on death row. You have now signed every unhoused individual experiencing homelessness in Fresno city their death certificate,” Martinez said.

Nearly all of the 70 speakers were against the ordinance, except one.

“The small business is not who is being heard in all of this,” said Matthew Kemp of SGA Private Security. “I have to stand up for our clients.”

Councilmembers Fire Back

Councilmember Miguel Arias showed pictures from his Tower District and southeast Fresno area, showing drug use and people camped near schools and community centers.

“The pictures say everything that needs to be said,” Councilman Garry Bredefeld said. “People have had enough.”

Bredefeld said there will never be enough public money to solve homelessness. During his time speaking, members of the public interrupted. Bredefeld shot back.

“You need to stop blaming other people for your problems, accept responsibility for yourself. I know you will never do that,” Bredefeld said.

Perea ordered the disrupting members removed from the meeting.

Councilmember Mike Karbassi clarified that children would not be subject to fine or arrest.

Perea took the public to task for laughing when councilmembers told personal stories of homelessness, by themselves or a loved one.

“That was not OK,” Perea said. She said it is not a right nor humane for homeless people to live on the streets.

Builds on 2017 Ordinance

The ordinance adds to an anti-camping ordinance initially passed in 2017, spearheaded by then-councilmember and now Fresno County Supervisor Steve Brandau.

The city never enforced the ordinance because of lower federal court rulings, requiring the government to provide a bed at a shelter.

However, the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent Grants Pass decision eliminated that requirement.

And. Gov. Gavin Newsom last week ordered a crackdown on people camping in public spaces. The state has spent tens of billions of dollars on homelessness only to see the numbers of unhoused individuals remain the highest in the nation.

The Fresno ordinance also eliminates a passage in the ordinance requiring bed availability. The new ordinance also increases the penalty from six months in jail to one year, and simplifies language about the prohibition on “sitting, lying, sleeping or camping on a public place.”

The new ordinance also clarifies that a sensitive use includes a school, childcare facility, public park, public library, city facility, government facility within Fresno, warming and cooling centers, and city-permitted homeless shelters.

Any person under the ordinance “may be immediately removed,” but could chose to “be taken to a facility providing social services” instead. Possessions must be stored by the city for up to 60 days.

Brandau is proposing a similar action for the county that will be discussed Aug. 6.

City Attorney Will Prosecute Cases

City Attorney Andrew Janz and his office will be in charge of prosecuting cases, instead of the Fresno County District Attorney’s office. Janz said last week he does not plan to plea bargain such cases.

The Fresno ordinance will come back for a second vote on Aug. 15. If approved, it would take effect on Sept. 15.

Karbassi appeared via Zoom prior to the lunch break. He said he was in the hospital taking care of an ill domestic partner. He returned to the chamber after lunch.