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Monroe council introduces resolution of intent to ban camping on public property
Summary
Council voted to adopt a resolution of intent to add an ordinance prohibiting camping and related activities on public property; the ordinance would cover city and other governmental properties and carry a class 3 misdemeanor penalty if adopted at a subsequent meeting.
The Monroe City Council voted to adopt a resolution of intent to introduce an ordinance that would prohibit camping, sleeping and related activities on public property within city limits.
Terry Schoeller, presenting the proposal, said the ordinance would prohibit camping and camping preparations on public property, including city, state, federal and other government-owned property inside the city, and would cover streets, right-of-ways, sidewalks and public parks. Schoeller cited the U.S. Supreme Court decision in City of Grants Pass v. Johnson as supporting municipalities' authority to regulate camping on public property.
The draft ordinance would also make it unlawful to sleep on public property in a way that blocks building entrances, and it includes prohibitions on building fires related to camping. The penalty provision in the draft imposes a class 3 misdemeanor for violations, which Schoeller said would allow police officers to enforce the prohibition as a criminal violation.
Because state law prohibits immediate adoption of an ordinance imposing criminal penalties on the same night it is introduced, council acted on a resolution of intent rather than final adoption. A council member moved to adopt the resolution of intent; the motion was seconded and approved by the council. If council proceeds at a future meeting to adopt the ordinance, it would then become enforceable as a criminal offense as described in the draft.
Council members asked clarifying questions about scope and applicability, including whether the ordinance would apply to people sleeping inside dumpster enclosures; Schoeller replied that the ordinance focuses on camping and sleeping activities and would not criminalize breaking into a dumpster (breaking and entering would remain a separate offense). Schoeller confirmed the case citation for council: City of Grants Pass, Oregon v. Johnson.
The item originated from recommendations of the Public Safety Committee and the Mayoral Homelessness and Addiction Committee, which recommended forwarding the draft ordinance to council for consideration. Council did not adopt the ordinance at the meeting; next steps would be formal introduction of the ordinance at this meeting (resolution of intent) and potential final adoption at a subsequent meeting after the statutorily required waiting period.
