Solvang City Council passes urban camping ban

SOLVANG, Calif.-California communities, big and small, are answering Governor Gavin Newsom's call to ban encampments.

Solvang City Council members didn't want to go with Newsom's model that focused mostly on encampments, but they did pass of model of their own focusing on car and tent camping on public property.

The Solvang City Council voted unanimously to ban camping on city property overnight; meaning a half hour after sunset until 6 a.m.

It also forbids sleeping in vehicles including campers and RVS at night on public property and camping near Mission Drive and in the village popular with tourists.

Although no public comments were made before the first reading and vote, supporters in other communities have said it will encourage people who are unhoused to go to shelters.

Critics however consider it is cruel.

Similar bans have already passed in Lompoc and Los Angeles.

Dozens of communities took action after the Supreme Court ruled 6-3 in the Grants Pass v. Johnson case last June.

The City of Grants Pass v. Johnson overruled lower courts and doing so determined that local ordinances with criminal penalties for camping on public land did not constitute cruel and unusual punishment for people experiencing homelessness.

The Supreme Court considered the decision in the Martin v. Boise Encampment Case that some justices said took tools needed to address homelessness off the table.

Lower court rulings had prohibited laws criminalizing camping in places with a lack of shelter beds.

The Solvang City Manager Randy Murphy said the city was considering ways to resolve issues before the courts took action.

"The 9th circuit originally said any kind of punishment or control over the homeless camps was unconstitutional," said Murphy, " The Supreme Court late last year ruled otherwise, so, now we getting our ordinances in line with the new ruling."

The city doesn't appear to have a big problem although locals said there has been camping under a nearby bridge.

Mayor pro tem Claudio Orona and other councilmembers see it as a health and safety issue.

 "We look you know, at the person's struggles," said Orona but at the same time we are looking  at safety, not only of the person experiencing homelessness but also our visitors our residence and community at large."

The will have a second reading of ordinance 25-0381 at the next meeting then it will take effect 30 days later.

Murphy expects that date to be July 9.