LAGUNA HILLS : Council Unanimously OKs No-Camping Law
It is now illegal to camp in a public place here.
The City Council on Tuesday unanimously passed an ordinance prohibiting camping.
Councilman R. Craig Scott, author of the ordinance, expressed concern about whether the camping ban could be easily enforced.
He was reassured by City Atty. Lois E. Jeffrey, who said the city will be working with the Sheriff’s Department on how to make the ordinance work.
The new law makes it a misdemeanor to erect a tent, use a sleeping bag or store personal property on public property in Laguna Hills.
Scott requested that the proposed law be modeled after the Santa Ana anti-camping ordinance, which was designed to eliminate heavy use of that city’s civic center area for over-night camping by homeless people.
However, Laguna Hills has few of the major problems with crime and homelessness experienced by Santa Ana.
In a recent city survey, 96.4% of residents polled rated Laguna Hills a good or excellent place in which to live. More than 85% said they felt safe walking their neighborhood streetsat night.
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