Council weighs camping ordinance and downtown safety as businesses and service providers urge combined enforcement and outreach

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — City attorneys and councilors returned to a long-standing issue Sept. 2: how to respond to congregations of unhoused people, public intoxication, discarded needles and other behavior downtown and at Avenue A Park. The council heard hours of public comment from business owners, non-profit leaders, faith organizations and residents urging both enforcement and services.

Paul Brown, the city attorney, presented a draft camping ordinance for discussion and emphasized limits: the draft targets “unlawful camping” on public property but will not in itself resolve the complex social and health drivers leading to congregation at Avenue A Park. Brown cautioned the ordinance is a tool for some situations — for example, camping under a bridge on public property — but “by no stretch of the imagination is it going to address the problems at Avenue A Park,” he said.

Business owners urged faster action. Holly Thomas, a downtown business owner, described employees being afraid to walk to cars and cleanup of human waste and needles behind storefronts. “The businesses need help. We are dealing with this issue every day,” she said, urging visible enforcement, park maintenance and improved outreach.

Service providers emphasized the limits of criminal enforcement and urged a combined approach that pairs outreach with crisis response. Sharra Gonzales of New Beginnings said criminalizing homelessness had been tried elsewhere and simply pushed encampments to other locations without addressing underlying needs. Lacey Mills of the United Way said local nonprofits and a countywide “stepping up” council are coordinating responses and that numbers show growing needs across the region.

Police and enforcement approach: Police officials told the council officers already patrol Avenue A Park regularly, make welfare checks and cite recurring ordinance violations where appropriate. Chief Burley said many people who frequent the park “are not even homeless; they just choose Avenue A Park to hang out.” He said law enforcement partners have made arrests for crimes caught on camera and try to balance constitutional protections with community safety.

Council discussion and options: Councilors debated whether to adopt the camp ordinance, increase enforcement of existing nuisance and property ordinances, or fund a dedicated downtown or park ambassador program. Councilor Greg Fast urged a stronger presence in the park, saying he’d consider putting a full-time patrol or patrols in place if the city would fund it. Others suggested a multi-agency outreach hub, expanded crisis response teams and better coordination among nonprofits, law enforcement and housing providers.

Next steps: No ordinance was adopted. City staff will continue reviewing the draft camping ordinance, consult department heads and return to council with recommended changes, specific enforcement protocols, and potential non-police response options such as outreach teams or a daytime resource hub. Council members asked staff for clearer options on how enforcement of existing ordinances (for example, obstructing sidewalks and abandoned property rules) can be applied and monitored.

—Reported from the Hutchinson City Council meeting. Ending: Councilors emphasized a two-track response: enforce existing laws where appropriate and build out outreach and crisis response capacity with nonprofit partners to address mental health and substance use issues underlying much of the reported behavior.