5-year homeless encampment cleaning contract OK'd by Thousand Oaks City Council

UPDATE : The Thousand Oaks council voted 4-0 Tuesday to approve a contract with a company that cleans up illegal homeless encampments. Councilman David Newman was absent. Two public speakers expressed concerns over matters such as the risk of homeless people losing their belongings.

ORIGINAL STORY:

The Thousand Oaks City Council is scheduled to vote Tuesday on a five-year contract with a company that cleans up illegal homeless encampments.

City staff is recommending that the council approve a contract of up to $1 million with North Hollywood-based Woods Maintenance Services Inc. As part of its vote, the council will decide whether to budget $200,000 for the service during the next fiscal year.

The number of people in urban encampments is growing, leading to additional debris and a need for weekly cleanups and washing of the area with water each month, Public Works Director Clifford Finley wrote in a staff report. He said more homeless people are moving into densely populated areas following successful efforts to clear camps in open spaces.

A city committee recommended Woods Maintenance Services over nine other companies that submitted bids. The contract calls for cleanup and disposal of materials found at active and abandoned homeless camps.

The contract is part of the consent calendar, meaning council members could approve it without discussion.

The council will meet at 6 p.m. at the Janet & Ray Scherr Forum Theatre, 2100 Thousand Oaks Blvd.

Dave Mason covers East County for the Ventura County Star. He can be reached at dave.mason@vcstar.com or 805-437-0232.

This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: 5-year homeless encampment cleaning contract OK'd by Thousand Oaks City Council