Resident urges enforcement, outreach and a dedicated public-space response team to tackle encampments

Shelton — During the public-comment period on Sept. 16 a resident urged the Shelton City Council to take a tougher and more coordinated approach to illegal encampments, garbage accumulation and abandoned shopping carts in parks and sidewalks.

The commenter said the city should enforce its existing camping ban ordinance but only in tandem with outreach workers who can offer shelter, services and transportation; without outreach, the resident said, enforcement will only displace people. The speaker also proposed a dedicated “public response/space safety team” combining sanitation staff, outreach professionals and law enforcement to address encampments, dumping and park maintenance.

The resident urged better enforcement of the city’s shopping cart ordinance — requiring businesses to retrieve abandoned carts within 24 to 48 hours — and called for monthly public reporting showing the number of encampments resolved, public spaces cleaned and code violations addressed to provide accountability.

Council did not take formal action on the recommendations during the meeting; the comments were made during the public-comment period and were received for the council’s consideration.