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Florence adopts ordinance banning urban camping; council urges connections to services
Summary
The council adopted an ordinance adding an "urban camping" chapter to the municipal code; police chief and council members emphasized enforcement tools and the need to connect people experiencing homelessness to resources.
The Town of Florence adopted Ordinance 782-26 to prohibit urban camping in public places after a presentation by Chief Matthew Thomas and a brief council discussion.
Chief Thomas presented the ordinance as drafted with assistance from the town attorney to give enforcement "teeth" to address camping in public areas. Several council members expressed support for the ordinance on public-safety grounds; others acknowledged the humanitarian dimensions and urged that enforcement be paired with efforts to link people to shelters, VA services and other resources. One council member said the town should research options for vouchers or transportation to shelter options when appropriate.
A motion to adopt the ordinance as written passed on voice vote; no roll-call tally was recorded in the transcript. Council members praised staff for drafting the language and noted similar ordinances being adopted around the region.
The ordinance adds a new chapter to municipal code title 9 defining prohibited acts and penalties for violations; the transcript references the ordinance number and the council gave staff authority to implement enforcement under the code.
