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Bartlesville council adopts ordinance on prohibited conduct in public spaces and extends homeless task force
Summary
After months of deliberation, the Bartlesville City Council adopted an ordinance outlining prohibited acts in public spaces and approved a six-month rollout with education and oversight by the Unsheltered Homeless Task Force; council also approved a six‑month extension for the task force to continue implementation and oversight.
Bartlesville — The Bartlesville City Council on June 2 adopted an ordinance that defines and limits certain conduct in public spaces related to unsheltered camping and established a six‑month education and rollout period before strict enforcement. The council voted unanimously to approve the ordinance after presentations from the Unsheltered Homeless Task Force and months of public discussion.
The ordinance and the rollout plan were presented by Councilman Aaron Kirkpatrick, who chairs the task force. The ordinance was accompanied by a task‑force recommendation to emphasize voluntary compliance, expanded outreach and individual casework through a shared “highway to homelessness” pathway linking first responders, shelters and social‑service providers.
Council members and task force leaders stressed the balance between protecting public safety and offering services. Rachel Scholar, a task force presenter, told the council the group had focused on resources, outreach, identification assistance, transportation barriers, training for SSI/SSDI applications (SOAR) and data tracking to reduce duplication of effort among agencies. The task force recommended a six‑month period for public education and to finalize interoperable client‑tracking software and other intake procedures before the city starts full enforcement.
Kirkpatrick said the ordinance includes a maximum municipal misdemeanor fine set at $500 so alleged offenses remain in municipal court rather than creating felony exposure; he described the figure as a legal ceiling rather than a routine penalty. He and other council members emphasized that the ordinance builds in voluntary compliance steps, including opportunities for cleanup and offers of services before adjudication.
City and task force presenters said the ordinance also clarifies that enforcement is intended as a last resort and that the municipal court and crisis‑response partners will have discretion to favor treatment and shelter connections over fines when appropriate. Judge Gentges, who participates with the task force, and city staff said municipal court discretion and ongoing oversight by the task force were central to the plan.
After debate and questions from council members about implementation, training for law enforcement, and the task force’s continued role, council voted 5‑0 to adopt the ordinance and 5‑0 to approve a resolution extending the Unsheltered Homeless Task Force through January 31, 2026 with monthly meetings for the next six months and quarterly meetings thereafter to monitor rollout and metrics.
The task force will continue working on a shared client profile system, park signage linking people to resources (QR codes), transportation volunteer networks, SOAR training for disability applications, a public education campaign, and community court concepts discussed with the local judge. Task force leaders said the group would also oversee an incremental rollout of any enforcement elements and report back to council if problems arise.
Councilmembers and staff acknowledged the issue remains complex: the task force members said they do not expect a single solution for every individual, but rather a coordinated system intended to reduce public‑safety risks and connect people to housing and services.
Votes: The council recorded unanimous ayes from Vice Mayor Dorsey, Councilmen Sherrick, East and Kirkpatrick, and Mayor Curt (5‑0) on both the ordinance and the resolution extending the task force. The council directed staff and the task force to return with progress updates and to monitor implementation for unintended consequences.
The ordinance text and the task force’s implementation timeline were not given ordinance numbers in the meeting packet; staff said the city will publish the final ordinance and an implementation schedule on the city website.
For residents: the task force recommended a six‑month public education period with outreach to shelters, outreach workers, churches and other nonprofits; the council said it will hold the task force accountable for monthly reporting during that period.
