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Committee pauses proposed stricter camping ordinance after public concerns
Summary
A proposed amendment to Cheyenne's municipal code to increase penalties and require removal for camping on public property was not advanced by the Public Services Committee after councilmembers and public speakers urged further work and coordination with social services.
The Cheyenne Public Services Committee on Nov. 17 declined to forward a proposed ordinance that would increase penalties for camping on public property and require removal for code violations, after councilmembers and members of the public raised concerns about enforcement, community impact and perceptions of punishment.
Deputy City Attorney David Hopkinson told the committee the ordinance sponsor asked the committee not to proceed at this time and staff stood ready to answer questions. Pete Laborn (City Council, Ward 1) said that while campsite problems in his ward are significant, "tweaking these ordinances" is not the solution and warned of a "firestorm of opposition" and a perception that measures would be punitive to people living outdoors. Laborn urged the committee not to recommend passage and to pursue broader, coordinated approaches involving police, judiciary and compliance staff.
Mark Moody (Cheyenne City Council, Ward 3), joining online, echoed the call for a multi‑pronged strategy that includes social-service partners and asked the committee not to motion or second the ordinance so it would not advance to the full council. A public commenter identified as "Kathy, District 1" displayed images of camps and fence damage in a creek corridor, described clean-up efforts by neighbors and compliance actions removing make-shift shelters, and said she supported tabling the ordinance while asking city staff to address creek impacts quickly.
Chair closed public discussion with no motion made; the committee recorded no recommendation to the City Council for Monday night, effectively leaving the ordinance unadvanced from committee.
Why it matters: The proposal would have increased penalties and mandated removal for camping violations; councilmembers and public speakers emphasized the complexity of homelessness and the need for coordinated responses rather than rapidly expanded punitive enforcement.
What happens next: The ordinance will not be recommended by this committee at this time; sponsors and staff may bring a revised approach or continue discussions with partners before any council action.
