Brief

Councilmember Ysabel Jurado moved to suspend CARE+ (the street-engagement outreach program) during declared environmental emergencies. The motion passed Council unanimously 15-0 on August 26, 2026, as amended. The Bureau of Sanitation submitted implementation documents on September 15, which are now before the Energy and Environment and Homelessness and Health committees for oversight and coordination.

Full summary

CARE+ is the City's coordinated street-hygiene and outreach program for people experiencing homelessness. This motion, introduced by Councilmember Ysabel Jurado with Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez as second, directs the Bureau of Sanitation to suspend homeless encampment cleanups during declared environmental emergencies, codify that suspension in its standard operating procedures, and establish a posting protocol so that unhoused residents receive clear notice when scheduled cleanups will not occur. The Emergency Management Department was separately directed to ensure that the Bureau of Sanitation is integrated into the City's activation process whenever an environmental emergency is declared. The motion passed the Housing and Homelessness Committee on August 5, 2026, and the Energy and Environment Committee waived its own review before the full Council adopted the amended version 15-0 on August 26. The Council action became final on September 1. In its September 15 report back, the Bureau of Sanitation told the Council that a flexible coordination mechanism between Council offices and the Bureau has existed since the CARE program launched in 2019, allowing cleanups to be suspended, downgraded, postponed, or rescheduled on up to 14 days' notice or as late as the day of service. In direct response to the motion, the Bureau committed to updating its standard operating procedures to state that upon declaration of a local emergency, it will automatically adjust, postpone, or suspend CARE+ activities. The Bureau also outlined steps to implement a formal cancellation-posting protocol: developing standardized cancellation notice language, physically replacing existing cleanup notices in affected zones with cancellation notices, coordinating with partner agencies for broad dissemination, and working with the City Administrative Officer to expand the email distribution list used for service confirmations. The Bureau recommends the Council note and file its report as informational. The file remains open, with the report now referred to the Energy and Environment and Homelessness and Health committees for further review. The file expires in September 2028.

Activity (10)

• 2026-09-15 Bureau of Sanitation document(s) referred to Energy and Environment Committee; Homelessness and Health Committee.
• 2026-09-15 Document submitted by Bureau of Sanitation, dated September 15, 2026.
• 2026-09-01 Council action final.
• 2026-08-26 Council adopted item as amended by Amending Motion 18A (Jurado - Hernandez), subject to reconsideration, pursuant to Council Rule 51.
• 2026-08-21 City Clerk scheduled item for Council on August 26, 2026.
• 2026-08-19 Energy and Environment Committee waived consideration of item .
• 2026-08-07 Housing and Homelessness Committee transmitted Council File to Energy and Environment Committee.
• 2026-08-05 Housing and Homelessness Committee approved item(s) .
• 2026-07-31 Housing and Homelessness Committee scheduled item for committee meeting on August 5, 2026.
• 2026-06-24 Motion referred to Energy and Environment Committee; Housing and Homelessness Committee.

Documents (8)

• 2026-09-15 Report from Bureau of Sanitation · report
• 2026-09-01 Council Action · council_action
• 2026-08-26 Amending Motion 18A (Jurado - Herndandez) · other
• 2026-08-26 Communication(s) from Public · communication
• 2026-08-26 Speaker Card(s) · speaker_card
• 2026-08-07 Transmittal from Housing and Homelessness Committee · transmittal
• 2026-08-05 Report from Housing and Homelessness Committee · report
• 2026-06-24 Motion · motion

Council votes (1)

• 2026-08-26 Vote — 15-0-0 · Regular