Shelton council delays vote on ordinance that would remove camping protections; public hearing set for June 3

On May 20, the Shelton City Council voted to table consideration of a draft ordinance that would remove parts of Shelton Municipal Code chapter 8.74 that currently limit criminal penalties for camping on public property, and set a public hearing on the measure for June 3.

The ordinance as drafted would remove section 8.7403 of the municipal code. City Manager Mark Ziegler told the council the proposed change responds to a 2024 U.S. Supreme Court decision and removes the subsection that defines when a misdemeanor citation for public camping may be issued, including the draft ordinance's existing requirements that city staff contact a person, notify them of available indoor shelter, assist with access to shelter and only charge a misdemeanor after those steps have been taken.

The proposed change prompted broadly split public comment. Lathan Hillen France, a resident, warned enforcement would be costly and punitive, saying, “This ordinance is a band aid on a severed artery and an act of class warfare,” and urging the council to pursue supportive alternatives for people experiencing homelessness. Shana Garbage, who identified herself as an advocate, cited RCW 35.21684 and RCW 43.185C.85 and urged coordinated shelter and temporary encampment options. Other speakers described public-safety concerns and nuisance impacts downtown and at Brewer Park; Nathan Snow said he saw “a lot of people doing drugs all day long” at the encampment and urged enforcement rather than allowing the site to remain in the downtown corridor. Several speakers who said they work with or are themselves unhoused described safety risks, sexual assaults and difficulty accessing consistent shelter or services.

Council discussion focused on logistics and costs. Council members asked how enforcement would affect police workload, where people would be housed if removed from riverfront or park encampments, and what the fiscal impact would be if the city relied on county or state jail space or issued citations. A public commenter and advocate, Lathan Hillen France, had earlier estimated — as public comment — that housing 326 unsheltered people in local jail facilities for 90 days could cost millions of dollars; those figures were provided as comment, not as city fiscal analysis. City Manager Ziegler told the council that the ordinance language being removed required confirmation that an indoor shelter had available bed space, did not impose unrelated conditions, was free and that transportation to the shelter was arranged or provided by the city.

Council members agreed to further briefing and discussion: they directed staff to collect written questions in advance, to present enforcement and cost impacts and to hold a study session the week after the meeting so members could review budget implications before final action. A motion to table the ordinance until after budget discussions carried; council also placed a public hearing on the ordinance on the June 3 agenda.

The council did not take final action on the ordinance on May 20; the public hearing and additional briefings will precede any vote.

Ending

Councilmembers and city staff said they would supply more detailed cost and enforcement data at the scheduled study session and public hearing. The June 3 agenda will include the public hearing on the draft amendment to Shelton Municipal Code chapter 8.74.