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Astoria council reopens debate on enhanced enforcement zone and camping ordinance; members split on enforcement vs services
Summary
Astoria councilors reopened discussion of a previously failed enhanced enforcement proposal on July 28, weighing trespass and exclusion orders against concerns that enforcement without daytime services effectively criminalizes homelessness.
Astoria City Council members spent the July 28 work session debating a previously considered enhanced enforcement (limited-access) ordinance intended to deter repeat public-camping and related offenses in high-impact areas. The council discussed the ordinance's enforcement tools — exclusion orders and criminal trespass for violators — and whether those tools would improve public safety or merely criminalize homelessness without providing alternatives.
City Manager Scott Spence summarized staff concerns about compliance and community impacts and described the city's current enforcement limits. "If we continue not having some form of consequential enforcement, this issue will grow," Spence said, urging the council to consider the trade-offs among enforcement, services and costs.
Police Chief Kelly and others described…
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