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Kissimmee commission adopts ordinance to ban public camping, repeals panhandling code in 4-1 vote
Summary
The Kissimmee City Commission approved a second reading of an ordinance creating a prohibition on public camping or sleeping and repealing the city—s panhandling article; staff said the measure implements a state law that took effect Jan. 1 and establishes local penalties for enforcement.
The Kissimmee City Commission voted 4-1 to approve a second reading of a proposed ordinance creating a prohibition on public camping or sleeping and repealing the city—s panhandling code.
City staff said the ordinance, described at the meeting as "proposed ordinance number 24-seventeen" and identified in the record as Ordinance 3,112, 2, enacts a new Section 38-1 in Chapter 38 (Streets, Sidewalks and Other Public Places), amends related penalty and parking-hearing provisions, and repeals Chapter 10, Article X (Panhandling). Staff told the commission the change is intended to implement a state Senate bill that took effect Jan. 1 and to create local penalties that permit enforcement of the state law.
Staff recommended approval at the second and final reading. "This establishes the penalties that allows for enforcement of this particular state statute," a city staff presenter told the commission. The presenter also described existing local protocols for contacts with people experiencing homelessness, saying the police department has a community engagement team, the city partners with Park Place Behavioral Care (identified as Osceola County's designated mental health agency) and with local homeless-service organizations for referrals and case management. "We don't just plan to go out there to arrest people, but really to refer them, hopefully if they want assistance, to long-term solutions," the presenter said.
No members of the public spoke during the public hearing on the ordinance. Vice Mayor Angela Eadie moved approval; Commissioner Martinez seconded. Commissioner Albers registered the lone no vote; the mayor and the remaining commissioners voted in favor. The mayor announced the motion carried 4 to 1.
The ordinance text cited at the hearing includes the creation of Section 38-1 (public camping or sleeping), amendments to Chapter 1 general provisions for penalties, and updates to Chapter 42 parking and hearing procedures to provide for severable hearings and administrative enforcement. The ordinance record also states it provides for findings, purpose, intent and definitions, program implementation requirements, enforcement and administrative procedures, severability, codification, publication and an effective date.
City staff said enforcement will rely on the new local penalties but stressed that the city's response includes trained officers and partner agencies for diversion and case management. The commission did not add further changes during the final-reading vote.
City staff identified the state measure only as a "Senate bill" that went into effect Jan. 1; the transcript did not provide the bill number. The ordinance record shown at the hearing lists the local ordinance references but does not supply an effective date in the hearing text provided.
What happens next: the ordinance was adopted at second reading. Implementation details, including any administrative rules or enforcement schedules tied to the ordinance, were not specified at the hearing.
