Spokane council holds first readings on camping-code updates and Home Starts Here siting rules

The Spokane City Council held first readings of ordinances to update the city’s camping code and to advance the Home Starts Here public-siting ordinance and related good-neighbor agreements, Council Member Paul Dillon said.

The first readings come after the Washington State Supreme Court ruled that Proposition 1 was unconstitutional, prompting the city to revise how it regulates camping in public spaces and how it sites shelters and related facilities. Council Member Paul Dillon described the measures as updates to the camping code and part of the Home Starts Here initiative, which covers public siting, operations and neighborhood communications.

The measures were presented as first readings only; no final ordinance adoption was recorded in the recap provided. The transcript did not specify ordinance language, proposed effective dates or any fiscal impact associated with the changes. The record contains no vote tallies or mover/second details for these first readings.

Discussion/next steps: The council scheduled additional hearings and potential subsequent readings before any final action; the recap did not include a schedule for final votes. Council Member Paul Dillon invited residents to a District 2 town hall on June 9 at the MLK Center to discuss traffic safety, public safety, housing and homelessness, stating, "We invite you all to be there."