At Mayor Kevin Johnson's request, homeless campers have cleared out of a vacant lot used in a "safe ground" dispute with the city, he said Monday.

Johnson visited the property near 13th and C streets, which is owned by attorney Mark Merin, over the weekend to discuss the ongoing controversy with campers, the mayor said in a late afternoon press conference.

On Sunday, as many as 40 people left the property where they'd been camping for a month after saying they believe their statement has been made. They agreed to negotiate with the city for at least one legal campground, Johnson said.

"I felt this would be a distraction if they continued to camp there illegally," he said outside City Hall.

Late Monday afternoon, all that remained of the campground were two smelly portapotties and a plastic washing station. An older couple living next door did not want to comment on homeless campers' abandonment of the campground.

City regulations prohibit camping on public or private property for more than 24 hours. Camping in city parks overnight, when the parks are closed, also is illegal.

Merin, a civil rights attorney, now faces lawsuits over the campground from the city and the couple. Merin was involved previously in a land dispute with the family.

Johnson, who describes homeless citizens as a "high priority" in his administration, has formed two task forces. One is coming up with proposals for one or more city- and county-sanctioned, or "safe ground," campgrounds. The other is determining how much space will be available for the campers in winter shelters.

The campground task force is considering two to five locations that could be used as a campground. One possible scenario would include three sites — one near nonprofit services for the impoverished, a second in another city location, and a third somewhere else in the Sacramento County, Johnson said.

Each campground would take no more than 50 to 100 people. The task force is considering whether a private security company should be hired, or whether campers should be counted on to police themselves. The plan would be for campers to stay for a limited time, such as 12 to 24 months, and then transition to housing, he said.

"Our goal is to end homelessness in Sacramento," Johnson said.

However, Johnson added, he has not garnered the support of all council members and cannot guarantee that a safe ground campground would be approved.

A plan to address homelessness and an alternative campground or campgrounds may be launched as early as the second week in October. Johnson said he will seek a decision on winter shelter no later than November.

Suzanne Hurt is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press.