Jacksonville council adopts public camping ordinance after public testimony and debate
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Summary
After extensive public comment and debate about homeless services, the Jacksonville City Council adopted an ordinance regulating public camping on second reading; the vote carried with one recorded no. Speakers urged delay until alternative shelter and evaluation metrics were available.
Jacksonville’s City Council voted to adopt an ordinance regulating public camping on second reading after more than an hour of public comment and debate over homelessness services and enforcement.
The ordinance was approved by roll call after a second reading; recorded votes included Heath (Yes), Henry (Yes), Bolton Eddle/Oldenetto (Yes), Pollack (Yes), Reuben DeSellis (Yes), Scott (Yes) and Speed (No). The council had debated whether to table the measure for additional community input or to adopt it now and amend later.
Supporters of delay said the city lacks sufficient alternatives for people who would be displaced. Jada Lutzky, a Jacksonville resident and certified recovery support specialist, told the council she was “passionate” about the issue and asked members to delay the vote two weeks so key council members and experts could be present. “Having their voices and expertise absent on this final vote would be detrimental to the outcomes of our community,” Lutzky said.
Alan Bridal, a former police chaplain, argued passing a camping ban without a clear place for people to go would be “irresponsible” and urged the council to organize community partners to develop shelter or restoration options before adopting enforcement tools.
Justin Corles of the Salvation Army described work underway to build a data-driven roadmap and a street outreach team. “One of the first things that we are looking to do is to create a street outreach team to get data and metrics in regards to the unhoused population that exists here in Jacksonville,” Corles said, noting preliminary funding and plans to hire a coordinator and train volunteers.
Chief Thompson told the council that, if enacted, an education period would likely be needed before enforcement: “I’m looking 2 to 3 months of education period… It would be unfair of us to expect someone that has been able to do what they’ve been able to do for an extended period of time for us to go in and say, okay, now you’re in trouble.”
Council members acknowledged the tensions between protecting public safety and ensuring humane treatment of people experiencing homelessness. Several members said the ordinance can be amended later and that the city has discretion to waive fees and use vouchers for emergency overnight lodging while longer-term services are developed.
The council did not record a separate roll call resolving the earlier motion to table; after procedural discussion the body returned to the ordinance and voted to adopt it on second reading. The ordinance was recorded as carried following the roll-call results above. The council also discussed next steps for implementation, including outreach, benchmarks and periodic review.
The council meeting continued with other business after the vote; no implementation timeline beyond the prior discussion was adopted at the meeting.
