Needles adopts no‑camping ordinance after contentious public debate

The City Council adopted Ordinance 675‑AC (Chapter 11A) prohibiting camping on public property and establishing administrative enforcement procedures, storage rules for personal property, and referrals to service providers. City staff framed the ordinance as a public‑health and property‑management tool intended to address recurring hazardous encampments and fire risk while providing pathways to services.

Code enforcement officer Bernard ("Bernie") Hats presented photographs of recurring encampments and described recent fires, sanitation hazards and damage to public property behind local parks and rights‑of‑way. "This is a major health and safety issue," he said, presenting visuals of burned areas, soiled sites and makeshift hookups that staff said posed both fire and disease risks. Staff emphasized the ordinance provides administrative (non‑criminal) enforcement options, procedures to store and hold personal property, and referrals to nonprofits and county services.

Public commenters and faith‑based leaders provided mixed views. Pastor Jim Jones and other faith groups urged continued outreach and argued existing authorities were sufficient; others and several council members stressed public safety, repeated sanitation problems and the costs of cleanup. Code enforcement and nonprofit partners described recent successful placements and outreach efforts but said an ordinance would add needed authority in repeat‑offender circumstances. The ordinance passed on second reading by roll call (6 yes, 1 no — Council member Long voted no). Staff said the city will continue outreach, coordinate with adult protective services and veteran services, and maintain a disposal/holding process for abandoned property as described in the ordinance.