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City to convene balanced stakeholder group and co‑design session on public-rights‑of‑way camping and outreach alternatives
Summary
City staff said a stakeholder group representing neighborhoods, businesses, service providers and people with lived experience will meet to co‑design humane alternatives to a proposed ordinance on camping in public rights‑of‑way; staff will delay further ordinance action for 60–90 days.
City Manager Mary Bunting and the Hampton Innovation Team outlined a co‑design approach to address public complaints about camping and objectionable behaviors in rights‑of‑way while avoiding measures that would criminalize homelessness.
Background: Council previously considered an ordinance intended to allow police to require people camping on city rights‑of‑way to leave when behavior became problematic. Staff said the draft language mirrored trespass penalties, which could include fines or jail time under public-trespass rules; council members and community speakers voiced concern the draft could be perceived as criminalizing homelessness.
What staff will do: The city manager said staff convened a balanced stakeholder group including representatives from neighborhoods that had complained (business districts such as Phoebus, downtown and Coliseum Central), service providers, and people with lived experience. Staff proposed a facilitated co‑design half‑day session to surface lived experience, brainstorm alternatives and jointly assess options for impact and feasibility. The city’s innovation team member Demi Kalu described the session activities: an anonymous “Walk in My Shoes” exercise, rotating small-group brainstorming stations, and a feasibility/impact matrix to prioritize options.
Timing: City staff asked council to delay ordinance action for 60 to 90 days to allow the stakeholder group to meet and produce recommendations. The city manager said staff will return with a report and revised proposals after the co‑design work; the city will use multiple communications channels to keep the public updated.
Quotes: “How might we address public concerns about safety and cleanliness while upholding the dignity and rights of people experiencing homelessness?” said Demi Kalu, describing the co‑design framing. Kalu, who told council he had personal experience with housing instability, said the co‑design session aims to produce “actionable, humane, and community‑supported alternatives.”
Ending: Council received the update with no ordinance vote; staff will convene the co‑design stakeholder sessions and report back to council when recommendations are ready.
