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North Kansas City committee weighs ordinance on camping in public spaces, stresses outreach and services
Summary
On July 9, 2026 the North Kansas City Enrichment Advisory Committee discussed Ordinance 97-85, which would address camping on public property. Members said the council directed staff to return a draft ordinance tied to service plans and noted federal grant scoring advantages for having an ordinance; the committee emphasized pairing enforcement with outreach.
On July 9, 2026, the North Kansas City Enrichment Advisory Committee discussed a proposed ordinance described in committee remarks as Ordinance 97-85 to regulate camping on public property, and whether such an ordinance should be paired with a service and outreach plan before enforcement steps are taken. Chair (speaker 2) opened the item by noting the council’s direction to staff to return an ordinance and a plan for council consideration.
The committee said the council discussion had been extensive and that staff were directed to bring back an ordinance with a sunset and associated plan. A committee member (speaker 5) told the group that having an ordinance can help a jurisdiction score higher for federal funding applications, and that council had heard from a Kansas City outreach coordinator (referred to in the meeting as Josh) about coordinating services with camp removals. "The encampments aren't safe. They're not sanitary. They're not safe," the committee member said, describing points raised at the council meeting.
Brandy, a committee member who said she works in violence-prevention work, urged caution about relying primarily on enforcement. She said the police chief had told the group that about 60% of related calls were trespassing-related and that enforcement alone can push people into the criminal-justice system. "If I have nowhere to go and I'm caught here again ... I'm coming into contact with law enforcement, and I'm not given any resources that I can use," Brandy said, arguing that citations or arrests without effective service connections risk perpetuating homelessness.
Members cited data discussed at council: the committee was told there were "20 or so" incidents in public spaces that formed part of the council record. They also discussed locations and property ownership (some encampments were on Harris property or Modot right-of-way) and warned that jurisdictional complexity can complicate enforcement and service delivery. A committee member reported that two people at Harris property had federal warrants, a fact described as separate from the sleeping-related concerns.
The committee spent considerable time on alternatives and on operational questions: how referrals would be made, whether officers would pair with social workers or community partners, and whether the city had matching funds to support a shelter. A committee member described the outreach approach used by the Kansas City provider: teams form relationships with people at encampments to build trust before offering services, and that process "can take a week or longer." Members asked staff to gather examples of models from other cities (San Jose, San Antonio, Austin, Houston and Gainesville were mentioned) and to return with clearer information on costs, service partners and legal boundaries for public versus private property.
The committee did not adopt an ordinance at the meeting. Members agreed to research model programs and funding examples over the summer and to revisit the item at the next meeting (members referenced returning in August). The chair said staff would continue work on the draft ordinance and supporting materials for council consideration.
