On May 8, 2018, a proposed ordinance addressing camping was referred to the Public Health and Safety (PHS) Committee. Since that time, several PHS Committee meetings have been conducted (June 15, 2018; July 20, 2018; August 27, 2018; November 30, 2018; March 29, 2019; June 24, 2019; September 16, 2019 and November 18, 2019). The purpose of these meetings was to discuss restrictions on camping. Over the course of the last 18 months, multiple approaches were discussed. During its meeting on November 18, 2019, the PHS Committee recommended that an amended version of the originally-proposed ordinance be presented to the full Governing Body for its consideration and approval. The recommended ordinance consists of a partial ban on camping with established no-camping zones and locations. Specifically, camping would only be prohibited:
- in, on or under public infrastructure (bus shelters, bridges, overpasses and flood control works);
- within ten feet of any doorway, loading dock, stairway or fire escape; and/or
- within specified zones (downtown and NOTO).
|