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Commerce City council directs staff to step up enforcement of camping ban after public complaints
Summary
Following public comments about encampments and complaints from business owners, council voted unanimously to direct staff to increase enforcement of the city's camping ban, including citations and arrests where appropriate.
Commerce City — After multiple public comments about growing encampments near 60th Avenue, Highway 2 and commercial properties, the City Council voted to direct staff to increase enforcement of the existing municipal camping ban, including the use of citations and arrests.
During public comment, residents described overflowing trash, unsanitary conditions and safety concerns. Randy Wolf said the encampments near 60th and Highway 2 had “become a biohazard” and urged council to act. Jackie Valdez described incidents of threatening behavior and said residents had repeatedly asked for action. Both speakers called for quicker and stronger responses than they said they were seeing.
Councilmember Mary Ford moved the direction to staff, asking the city to step up enforcement “to include up to arrests and citations.” The motion was seconded and carried on an 8-0 recorded vote with one council member excused.
City Manager Rogers explained the city’s existing process: Commerce City conducts outreach through police and the community well‑being team, offers services and attempts relocation or abatement, then schedules cleanups. Rogers said staff can elevate enforcement and use the existing municipal code’s tools — warnings, citations and arrests — more quickly if council desires. Several councilmembers said they wanted faster abatement, more frequent cleanups and stronger follow-up with social‑service offers.
Why it matters: Residents and business owners said encampments and associated trash are affecting safety, public health and local commerce. The council’s direction gives staff authority to accelerate enforcement and abatement operations under current code rather than drafting new ordinances.
Next steps: City staff will implement more aggressive enforcement and abatement consistent with council direction and existing municipal code; the council did not specify reporting requirements or a deadline for follow-up during the meeting.
