Moses Lake council says sleep center will close when state grant ends; outlines 'homegrown' plan for drugs, camps and park safety

Mayor Dustin Swartz told a packed council chamber that a majority of the city council has decided to allow the community sleep center to close when its state grant ends in June.

The decision was framed as a shift in the city’s role in addressing homelessness. “We know there are plenty of good things happening in Moses Lake,” Swartz said, adding that residents “deserve a clean, safe city.” He said the city lacks resources to provide broad social services and that other governments and nonprofits are better equipped to deliver many of those services.

City Manager Rob Marlinzi told the council the city’s role now is to prepare for likely impacts from the closure rather than to “solve homelessness.” Marlinzi described staff work to produce a high‑level plan and timeline: community engagement this month, a town hall on June 3, and a council review and possible adoption of the plan tentatively scheduled for June 24.

The draft plan outlined by staff includes: (1) partnering with nonprofits to get people to shelter and wraparound services, (2) tighter rules on camping, sitting and sleeping in certain public and private places, (3) temporary park closures or reduced hours and more frequent park monitoring, (4) enhanced police emphasis and patrols on drug activity and trespass, (5) business outreach to handle nuisances on private property, (6) partnerships with faith‑based groups and nonprofits for recovery services, and (7) public information directing people to regional providers and helplines.

City Attorney Catherine Kennison said staff will draft ordinance changes, including amendments to Chapter 9.18 (camping) and a “sit, sleep, lie” provision targeted to specific zones or areas. Kennison also noted the legislature has required a permitting process for religious organizations that host temporary encampments (House Bill 1754) and reminded the council that House Bill 2020 provisions for emergency low‑income housing were already incorporated in Chapter 15.415 of the development code.

Staff described operational items already in place or planned: updated signage, a “see something, say something” reporting protocol, a 72‑hour notice and cleanup protocol for established public encampments on city property, an inoculation of outreach and a public awareness campaign, and consideration of providing PPE or cleanup supplies to volunteers doing private‑property cleanup. Public works and parks staff said parks are currently open 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.; staff suggested reducing hours as an initial step before any short‑term closure for cleanup.

Council members and members of the public pushed staff on details. Council Member Lombardi asked whether entities distributing tents or sleeping bags were “aiding and abetting” camping; staff said the city should approach such providers as community partners rather than attempt to regulate them directly. Staff said they would contact the health district to clarify whether items were being distributed from a specific building.

Library and nonprofit leaders urged the council to preserve services that connect people to treatment and recovery. Several community members, including people in recovery and local nonprofit leaders, cautioned that the sleep center had been a place people used to access showers, phones and job resources and that its closure could remove a critical pathway to services for some residents.

The council and staff emphasized the plan is iterative and will be refined after public meetings. Marlinzi said the plan's purpose is “to proactively be ready for what may result from the closure” and not to claim it will end homelessness.

Ending: City staff will return with ordinance drafts, operational protocols and a final plan after the scheduled public engagement; the first public town hall on the topic is scheduled for June 3.