Committee amends camping ordinance language to allow short backyard camping and forwards amendment to council

The Prior Creek Advisory Committee amended the city's camping ordinance language to preserve the prohibition on overnight camping on city parks without permission while adding a provision to allow outdoor sleeping accommodations on private residential property for up to three consecutive overnight periods.

Committee members debated whether the ordinance could lawfully ban overnight camping throughout the entire city limits and concluded the city's authority is clearer for city-owned property than for private property. To reduce ambiguity, the committee struck a proposed absolute prohibition of camping within city limits and instead amended the ordinance to read that the use of outdoor sleeping accommodations on private property would be allowed for up to three consecutive overnight periods, with other sections of the ordinance renumbered accordingly.

A committee member stressed the intent was not to target homeless residents or particular organizations and emphasized sanitation and public-health concerns, saying enforcement tools already exist for sanitation or nuisance conditions. "Living in a tent is different than camping," a committee member said while urging careful wording to avoid unintended targeting of vulnerable people.

The committee moved and seconded the amended language and voted to forward it to the full city council for consideration. The record shows roll-call affirmations during the final vote to send the amended ordinance language to council.

No new penalties or enforcement protocols were adopted by the committee at the meeting; the committee asked that council and city staff review and finalize ordinance text.