Zion Council Votes to Add Public‑Camping Rules to Municipal Code Citing Recent Supreme Court Ruling

The Zion City Council on Oct. 1 voted unanimously to add Article 7 to Chapter 78 of the Zion Municipal Code, creating a local framework to address public camping on streets, sidewalks and other public places.

City Attorney introduced the ordinance and referenced a June 28, 2024 Supreme Court decision, described in the presentation as City of Grama Pass v. Johnson, saying the court “held that a local ordinance would address public camping … did not unconstitutionally infringe upon the Eighth Amendment rights of homeless individuals within the city.” The attorney framed the proposed code change as a remedial measure to address safety and sanitation concerns tied to public campsites.

Commissioners asked whether the city had recent incidents of tent or campsite camping within city limits. Staff and an answering official recalled a separate episode involving an RV that had been stopped for extended periods and created sanitation concerns; staff said they personally spoke with the occupants and that the vehicle was removed after staff intervention.

The ordinance directs staff to regulate camping locations and associated conduct consistent with the new code provisions. The motion to adopt the addition to Chapter 78 was made by Commissioner Fisher, seconded by Commissioner Holmes, and approved in a roll‑call vote announced as “Aye” by each voting member.

The council did not record an implementation timeline or specify enforcement protocols during the meeting; the city attorney presented the ordinance text and cited the court decision as the legal rationale for local regulation. The council chair asked staff follow up on any operational details as the ordinance is codified.

The council moved on to other agenda items following the vote; no amendments to the ordinance were offered on the floor and no formal petitions or public‑comment speakers addressed the ordinance before the vote.