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Spokane County removes shelter-capacity exemption from public camping code; commissioners cite sheriff policy and call for housing solutions
Summary
The Board of County Commissioners voted 4-0 to delete the section of Spokane County Code that suspended enforcement of the public camping ordinance when shelter space was unavailable, aligning the code with recent federal court rulings; commissioners and community speakers emphasized enforcement should be balanced with outreach and more housing.
Spokane County commissioners voted 4-0 Feb. 18 to amend Spokane County Code chapter 6.15 by eliminating section 6.1508, the provision that had suspended enforcement of the county’s public camping rules when local shelter space was unavailable.
Chief civil deputy Matt Folsom told the board the change is intended to align the county code with recent federal case law. “The US Supreme Court overturned Martin v City of Boise in the Grama Pass v Johnson decision. There is no longer a shelter space requirement for the enforcement of anti camping ordinances,” Folsom said. The proposed amendment removes the sentence that read: enforcement of this chapter shall be suspended anytime that there is no space available in the…
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