[{"_1":2,"_83":-5,"_84":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,71],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":44,"_46":47,"_48":49,"_50":51,"_52":53,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":59,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":65,"_66":-5,"_67":42,"_68":-5,"_69":55,"_70":55},"mediaId",6578892,"mediaKeyId","3130448-095ec096ed35bf36b74b2e7e8d5805fe","parentId",3130448,"title","Richmond staff outline encampment rules and limits as shelter capacity falls short","audioSeconds",0,"startMs",1789495,"endMs","viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3130448-095ec096ed35bf36b74b2e7e8d5805fe&start=1789&end=1789","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3130448-095ec096ed35bf36b74b2e7e8d5805fe/thumbnail_1789495.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6578892/Richmond-staff-outline-encampment-rules-and-limits-as-shelter-capacity-falls-short","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6578892-ae3a1e64897e9a88a43a66e3324a626f/orig.mp4?Expires=1770928060&Signature=dOmMvL6NO7S9RbIcPYVmFhPduY2ML~laIvHgadvbf2~Pz4~NnqFi~pkvTr8-VnL~A1H-EOVk4pNYyYN7y5DO7phU0HH5fQBH60Ali3crPydSEnW90ro6J90RDh2tLJSGCLn1FVD-maTsLGh~GcAayMOsi78juEA8msC5zJqtxR~LLFZYub1oQ8AkmAAbi5mmr2~JVHtTdV7CtAYA3wCpB2EePr2jUzxs-9BoSOP456PHAej-JZWywuPxhvDQywOZMo0htoD7VxMLb5r3e6n~IEm7qPVExRutFqbXzuPyUD-iF-5gz7AN4iVp2AEh-rIAMJP2sUCr5ubeUvecyK7klA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-04-26T07:53:09.847Z","article","Michelle Milam, crime prevention manager with the Richmond Police Department, led a presentation about encampments and how the City of Richmond applies its camping ordinance to public-right-of-way encampments.

Milam said the city relies on two main data sources to understand homelessness locally: the federal point-in-time count and the county-coordinated outreach database maintained by CORE (the coordinated outreach and engagement team). She said CORE made 1,490 unduplicated contacts with people who were unhoused in Richmond in 2024, and that CORE logged 4,804 total contacts during its outreach, with 129 of the contacts recorded as families.

How abatement works: Milam said the municipal camping ordinance requires that, before the city abates an encampment on public property, staff must offer shelter services to the people present. If an encampment is to be cleared, the city typically posts notice and gives occupants 72 hours to accept services or move before abatement; the same 72-hour timeline generally applies to vehicles, which are red-tagged and must be moved within that period or risk towing.

Legal and practical limits: Milam addressed questions about state and federal court rulings. She said Richmond follows its municipal code and that even where courts or state statements suggest broader enforcement authority, the city’s ordinance — including the requirement to offer services before abatement — guides local practice. She also noted a “necessity” defense can create legal risk for abatements if the city cannot show it offered reasonable shelter alternatives.

Capacity constraints and local programs: Milam said countywide shelter capacity is insufficient to meet need and listed a series of constrained bed and program resources reported by county partners, which leaves the city unable to move all encampment residents into shelter immediately. The city is pursuing several grants and projects to expand options: Milam said Richmond won a Homekey grant to convert the Motel 6 at Civic Center Plaza into 48 permanent supportive housing units, and the city is using state encampment-resolution grants to move people into shared or supportive housing — she said the city is transitioning roughly 100 people under a current grant and has additional grant rounds planned.

Pilots and alternatives: Milam described local efforts including permitting for a tiny-home village for people ages 18–24, and said proposals for widespread safe-parking programs have encountered neighborhood opposition. She urged neighbors to report encampments with as much location detail as possible and to note whether the site is public or private; private-property situations are handled through the property owner and code enforcement rather than the camping ordinance.

Special jurisdictions: For encampments on Caltrans right-of-way, Milam advised filing a Caltrans customer service report (CSR) so Caltrans can track and resolve the site; the city meets regularly with Caltrans. She also said railroad companies (BNSF, Union Pacific) have their own abatement procedures and the city seeks coordination with them.

Repeat encampments: Milam acknowledged repeat returns are frustrating for neighbors: if an encampment is cleared and occupants return, the city must generally restart the posting-and-notice process unless there is an imminent safety threat. She said securing property is often a practical step to prevent repeated occupation.

Why it matters: Milam said there is no single solution and that the city needs emergency shelter, more permanent supportive housing, behavioral-health services and other diverse strategies to reduce encampments sustainably. She invited neighborhood groups to follow the city’s unhoused-intervention plan and the homeless task force, which meets monthly.

The meeting then closed the encampments discussion and moved to other community business.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Richmond Crime Prevention Meeting: Two Topics: Encampments and Animal Control (April 23, 2025)","oneSentenceSummary","At a Richmond crime-prevention meeting, city staff explained the local camping ordinance, the CORE outreach count versus the point-in-time count, required 72-hour notices before abatement, and constraints caused by limited shelter beds and program capacity.","taxTitle","taxId","location","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":72,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":73,"_41":74,"_43":75,"_45":76,"_46":77,"_48":78,"_50":79,"_52":80,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":81,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":82,"_66":-5,"_67":42,"_68":-5,"_69":55,"_70":55},6578895,"Contra Costa Animal Services reviews response role, removal rules for Richmond residents",1921,25435,1946920,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3130448-095ec096ed35bf36b74b2e7e8d5805fe&start=25&end=1946","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3130448-095ec096ed35bf36b74b2e7e8d5805fe/thumbnail_25435.jpg","/articles/6578895/Contra-Costa-Animal-Services-reviews-response-role-removal-rules-for-Richmond-residents","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6578895-a8b08f7ea147a979e7d986953c024eb7/orig.mp4?Expires=1770928060&Signature=Yzm7YFVBYHzVBbHEBTti7vJehNgXL0LUXi6m-NFzsx2aAj-MhRFMMY5ANs-ho~RwSKCJ759a4Lljc1BpCTWfCUHaQr7wZhOCGXycU68DBlgeR96KJ~z8t8ybBVvwcBsxHQXR5gbkqFgXkAYtb66IJnzOJvyM-y0ALyJ1RwHK6hRKVXzEVjMLXA4zGYolh5wtn~3Q4-2~luINxMJ59BELb4ET7oyg7DVQTzWt2-kVuyXWoB8Mo6cxbK3fdV6l4f-Z6SwC2~~pG4wXA6HqleFWZzXskpN~4~XskO5pfc5u7sBRvpS4sjm1rLVHBUgn6dqp-vlpgtVv-1Wvo6Cgh7pS4g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Contra Costa County Animal Services directors and field staff described the agency’s role, response procedures and limits during the Richmond Police Department’s monthly crime-prevention meeting on a Zoom call moderated by Michelle Milam.

Ben Winkleak, director of animal services for Contra Costa County, told attendees the agency is “the safety net for animals in the community,” handles stray and injured companion animals, investigates cruelty and neglect, follows up on bites and enforces county animal rules. Winkleak provided local caseload details for the current fiscal year: “we’ve impounded 935 animals from the city of Richmond,” he said, and animals from Richmond are in county care an average of about 17 days. He said the county had picked up 335 deceased animals in Richmond and had answered roughly 2,350 calls for service in the city.

Why it matters: Richmond residents who report animal concerns need to know which agency responds, what the reporting options are and when an animal can be legally seized. The county officials emphasized both public-safety duties and efforts to keep animals with owners when possible.

Winkleak said field staff perform a mix of law-enforcement work and social-service referrals. “Eighty plus percent of the job is customer service, and very little bit is actually dealing with the animals,” he said. He described shelter services including adoption events and a partnership that offers free vaccines and veterinary care at Civic Plaza.

Reporting and noise complaints: County staff said the preferred way to start a non-urgent complaint is the Animal Services portal on the Contra Costa County Animal Services website. For persistent barking, the department creates a case from portal submissions, not anonymous descriptions, and typically sends notice that gives the owner about 15 days to address the problem. If the situation continues, the complainant may be asked to file an affidavit and the department can pursue administrative fines or a hearing.

Urgent abuse and injured animals: For situations that appear to be active abuse or an injured animal that needs immediate attention, the staff said callers should use the department phone number to reach dispatch so an officer can be sent “as quickly as possible.” Winkleak said the portal is intended for chronic, non-emergency reports; he said “if you see an animal being abused, call us.”

Removal authority and due process: Winkleak cited California Penal Code section 597.1 as the legal authority that allows officers to take custody when “an officer feels a prompt action is required to protect its health and safety or the health and safety of the public.” He emphasized removal is an extreme measure: owners get notice and due process, including the right to appeal and a hearing, and “many animals that are removed are ultimately returned,” he said, after investigations determine the circumstances.

Role with law enforcement and wildlife: County staff said animal services frequently coordinate with police when officers encounter aggressive animals or when an owner is removed from a scene and animals need care. They also said injured wildlife is handled by state wildlife agencies, not animal services, except when a wild animal has had direct contact with a person or domestic pet and rabies control is needed.

Helping people keep pets: County staff described outreach and service referrals to help owners retain animals when possible — including linking people to veterinary care, food and temporary supports. The staff said they often assist people who are unhoused and own animals, noting that many people treat pets as family and that outreach aims to provide resources rather than immediate removal.

Public questions and evidence tips: County staff encouraged residents to document chronic problems (dates, times, audio or video if safe to capture) because specific location and evidence improve the department’s ability to respond. They said they will post the portal link in the meeting chat for attendees.

Quotes in context are from Ben Winkleak and from Michelle Milam, moderator and crime prevention manager, Richmond Police Department. The article reports only on points the speakers made in the meeting and does not add facts beyond those statements.

The meeting moved next to a separate agenda item on encampments after the animal-services presentation.","At a Richmond crime-prevention meeting, Contra Costa County Animal Services described its role as a community safety net, gave local statistics and explained reporting, removal and noise-complaint procedures for Richmond residents.","actionData","errors"]

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Richmond staff outline encampment rules and limits as shelter capacity falls short

Contra Costa Animal Services reviews response role, removal rules for Richmond residents