Santa Clara water district delays decision on homeless encampment ban along waterways

The Santa Clara Valley Water District Board of Directors has held off on a decision regarding an ordinance that would prohibit homeless encampments along waterways in the water district’s jurisdiction.

After hours’ worth of public testimony from speakers on both sides of the controversial ordinance, the seven-member Board on Tuesday unanimously agreed to wait until after an Oct. 11 community workshop on the matter before reconsidering the proposal that would give Valley Water more legal tools to reduce homeless encampments, public nuisances and hazardous activities near the creeks.