San Clemente is expected to close transitional homeless campsite

The San Clemente City Council tonight will hold a special meeting to repeal ordinances to enable the closure of its Pico Transitional homeless camp Thursday.

Mayor Pro Tem Laura Ferguson says the transitional campsite has been costing the city over $30,000 a month when only five people are using it. She says when it first opened, 71 people were using it.

The Council believes it can eventually get the cost to operate a long-term alternative campsite down to $10,000 a month or less.

She says by closing the Pico campsite, the Council will enforce the public camping ban and at the same time, help the homeless. It will provide the homeless with transportation to housing provided by friends, family charitable or other providers and possibly provide shelter in the form of hotel vouchers and or paid access to a publically owned campground.

She says the Council will work on identifying a long-term alternative campsite for the homeless subject to appropriate general plan and zoning compliance, along with environmental review.

Tonight’s City Council meeting begins at six.