Resident urges council to read HB 1380 and consider resource-verification amendment to camping ordinance

Leah Draven, who identified herself as a Yakima resident and mother of four, told the City Council she was “very concerned” that the council had directed staff to draft a letter opposing House Bill 1380 without reading the legislation.

Draven said she reviewed the bill and the city’s draft ordinance addressing public camping and personal-item storage on city property. She encouraged council members to consider an amendment that would require verification—by the city—that alternative shelter options were available before criminal enforcement is pursued for public camping violations.

"Verification means confirmation that alternative forms of shelter are available in the city," Draven said, adding that alternative shelter should include nonprofit, government-run or faith-based shelters provided that religious practice is not mandatory to receive services and that shelter is not cost-prohibitive.

Draven told the council the bill’s vague language, in her reading, could expose cities that have not already defined terms in local code to lawsuits. She asked whether the city has adequate resources to perform verification under its current ordinance and whether the city would have taxpayer funds to challenge HB 1380 in court if it chose to do so.

"If there are not adequate city resources to comply with existing code, do we have the taxpayer dollars necessary to challenge HB 1380?" Draven asked. She also raised concerns about legal recourse for individuals charged with public camping who encounter barriers to alternative shelter.

Draven's remarks were delivered during the public-comment period; no council action was taken on her request during the April 1 meeting.