Mayor: Revised illegal camping ordinance remains in effect; law department to issue enforcement guidance

The mayor said the city’s revised illegal camping ordinance, updated in December, remains in effect and that enforcement must be balanced with connecting people to services.

"There is a balance between services, which is compassion, as well as enforcement," the mayor said, adding the ordinance makes camping in public rights-of-way illegal in Wichita. The mayor said the city is directing investments through a program called Second Light, noting "more than $13,000,000 to Second Light," and that "more guidance will be coming forth from the law department regarding specifics on how to enforce that ordinance."

The exchange began when an unidentified questioner asked how the city should balance enforcement and support after a recent council discussion, saying that the council’s talk about strengthening the ordinance "shows a focus on enforcement rather than solutions like housing or mental health resources." The mayor responded by highlighting the city's mix of nonprofit services and the Second Light investment intended to connect unhoused individuals to supports.

The mayor reiterated that public rights-of-way such as sidewalks and areas under bridges are treated as public safety concerns and that the council must balance compassion and enforcement. No new enforcement policy or operational details were announced; the mayor said the law department will provide more specific guidance on enforcement procedures.

Next steps: the mayor said the law department will issue guidance on how the ordinance will be enforced. The briefing did not include a new vote, motion, or a timeline for changes to enforcement practices.