Fresno City Council takes next action on homelessness: Where we stand now

FRESNO. Calif. ( KSEE/KGPE ) – Fresno City Council has added another tool to its arsenal to tackle homelessness, a new ordinance to target a growing squatter problem.

The ordinance would aid in the removal of squatters at Airbnb and short-term rentals like hotels, as it enables property owners to call the police for the removal of squatters within 30 days of their arrival.

“We have not had anything on the books to deal with it. Now, we have something on the books where we can basically impose penalties to take them to jail, fine them,” said Fresno City Councilmember Garry Bredefeld, who represents District 6.

Bredefeld says those in violation of the new ordinance, which will go into effect Sept. 29, will face up to a year in jail and a $1,000 fine.

It’s the latest action the council has taken following Governor Gavin Newsom’s call for local government to crack down on homeless or risk state funding.

On Aug. 15, council members voted to approve an ordinance to make camping on public land within the city illegal. That action will go into effect Sep. 15 and prompts law enforcement to remove encampments on all public land. If violators refuse to leave they could face up to six months in jail and a $500 fine.

“People who don’t want help, we’re going to continue to go after them. We’re not going to allow them to continue to destroy our community, create problems for business owners, and people in their private residences. We’re just not going to allow it,” said Bredefeld.

The first step in additional aggressive action was also introduced at the latest council meeting by Bredefeld, Fresno City Council Vice President Mike Karbassi, and Councilmember Tyler Maxwell.

The trio presented a plan to make trespassing at businesses on private land open to the public, illegal within business hours. Maxwell, who represents District 4, says it’s one of the most common calls he gets.

“Folks who are panhandling outside, are sleeping outside, sometimes they’re sleeping inside the businesses, they’re defecating around the businesses, and they refuse to leave,” he said.

Fresno City Council will vote on the trespassing ordinance Sep. 12. If passed it would go into effect 31 days later and would also carry penalties of up to a year in jail and a $1,000 fine.

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