Tucson council directs 60‑day review of options to address public drug use

Mayor Regina Romero and councilmembers unanimously approved a motion by Councilwoman Lane Lee on Nov. 18 directing the city attorney to return within 60 days with a recommended path forward to address public drug use and related prosecution gaps.

Lee told the council the item responds to repeated constituent concerns about visible drug use in public spaces and the difficulty in making arrests meaningful when many felony possession cases are not prosecuted. “As Chief Kausmar mentioned in September, currently about 65% of felony possession cases are not being prosecuted,” Lee said, framing the motion as a set of concrete next steps to strengthen prosecutorial viability and to connect arrest opportunities to treatment and diversion.

The four‑part direction asks staff to: (1) continue the city attorney’s work with the Pima County Attorney’s Office to explore solutions including a potential felony waiver approach; (2) direct Tucson Police Department to coordinate cross‑training and case‑preparation guidance the county deems necessary; (3) evaluate what would be required operationally for the city to implement a public drug‑use ordinance (staffing, enforcement workflow, case processing, cost estimates, and diversion pathways); and (4) have the Safe City Task Force review the draft ordinance language and provide feedback.

Lee and other councilmembers emphasized the motion is intended to preserve options rather than immediately adopt a new criminal code. Councilors pressed staff for workload and cost estimates, court capacity implications, and how any change would interact with county prosecution policies. The motion was seconded, called for unanimous voice vote and carried.

Next steps: the city attorney is to report back to mayor and council with recommendations and an implementation assessment within 60 days.