Public Safety and Engagement Team (PSET)
The City Council voted unanimously in early 2019 to allocate $3.45 million in Measure Z money to create a Public Safety and Engagement Team (PSET) Program. This multi-department approach is designed to maintain order in public places while also providing homeless individuals with a pathway out of homelessness. Team members will specialize in providing resources and assistance while also addressing issues of unlawful panhandling, camping, abandoned personal belongings and vagrancy. The team officially begin its activities in May 2019.
For example, employees from the Office of Homeless Solutions, as well as from the Police, Community and Economic Development, and Parks, Recreation and Community Services departments have received training on engaging with homeless individuals, mental health and public health. The City also will contract with a private company to clean up homeless encampments.
| PSET Stats | May 2019 | Jun 2019 | Jul 2019 | Aug 2019 | Sep 2019 | Oct 2019 | Nov 2019 | Dec 2019 | Jan 2020 | Feb 2020 | Mar 2020 | Apr 2020 | May 2020 | June 2020 | July 2020 | Total | |
| Number of Contacts (Engagement) | 423 | 292 | 538 | 895 | 736 | 832 | 873 | 844 | 691 | 685 | 592 | 560 | 572 | 438 | 348 | 9,319 | |
| Number of Individuals Accepting Services | 0 | 4 | 7 | 10 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 22 | 25 | 40 | 26 | 8 | 26 | 18 | 15 | 204 | |
| Number of Code Enforcement Notices Issued | 300 | 184 | 333 | 687 | 407 | 592 | 608 | 654 | 524 | 619 | 424 | 164 | 221 | 164 | 139 | 6,020 | |
| Number of Citations Issued | 2 | 11 | 41 | 39 | 10 | 11 | 4 | 17 | 8 | 8 | 13 | 17 | 27 | 12 | 20 | 240 | |
| Number of Arrests | 3 | 10 | 12 | 23 | 26 | 40 | 14 | 32 | 48 | 38 | 19 | 2 | 24 | 21 | 22 | 334 | |
| Tons of Trash / Debris Removed From Public Areas / Public Rights of way | 14.2 | 13.6 | 30 | 209.42 | 21.89 | 60.56 | 48.15 | 46.83 | 38.58 | 95.13 | 23.61 | 23.12 | 36.11 | 29.2 | 33.64 | 571.04 |