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Board adopts SOP for removal and storage of personal property tied to public‑camping ordinance
Summary
The board approved a standard operating procedure implementing Elkhart's 2024 ordinance on public camping: 72‑hour notice, removal of personal identifiable information for safekeeping with Dynas Ministries, immediate disposal of hazardous/biohazard items, and 60‑day storage for recoverable property; an MOU with Guidance Ministries is pending.
The Elkhart City Board of Public Safety on Jan. 13 approved a standard operating procedure (SOP) to implement the city's 2024 ordinance that prohibits camping and the storage of personal property on public property.
Kevin Davis of the city legal office presented the SOP as a standardized process for distinguishing property found on public property from private property and coordinating removals through the city's 311 coordinator and partner agencies.
Key points in the SOP include requiring a 72‑hour notice to owners of property found on public land, the removal and separate safekeeping of personal identifiable information (PII) such as driver's licenses and government IDs, and immediate disposal of items the city classifies as hazardous or biohazard waste. Non‑hazardous items that are not PII will be stored by buildings and grounds at an off‑site location for up to 60 days so an owner can reclaim them. Dynas Ministries was identified as the organization that would hold removed PII; staff reported a memorandum of understanding with Guidance Ministries is under review and will be brought back to the board for approval.
Kevin Davis said the SOP was intended to give city staff a consistent process for outreach and removal while coordinating with local support organizations; the board moved to approve the SOP and the motion passed.
What comes next: staff will return the MOU with Guidance Ministries to the board once it is finalized. The SOP does not change the underlying ordinance but provides operational steps for enforcement and property disposition.
