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Shawnee adopts ordinance restricting specified public conduct; emergency clause enacted
Summary
The City Commission adopted an ordinance amending Chapter 20 to prohibit certain public conduct and removed language targeting recreational vehicles; the measure passed 7-0 and an emergency clause was adopted to make the ordinance effective immediately.
The Shawnee City Commission adopted an ordinance amending Article 6 of Chapter 20 of the city code to add prohibitions aimed at certain public conduct affecting health and safety. The commission also voted to declare an emergency so the measure takes effect immediately.
City Attorney Joe Waddner summarized changes made after public input, including the removal of references to recreational vehicles and travel-related items and elimination of a requirement that police verify shelter availability before assessing citations. "We've incorporated those changes into this version," Waddner said, noting the edits were intended to avoid discouraging activity around the expo center and to shift some enforcement responsibility to private-property owners.
Chief Wilson joined staff to answer enforcement questions. Waddner and Chief Wilson indicated that certain enforcement decisions will rely on property owners where applicable and on existing case law. The city attorney referenced a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision discussed in staff materials as informing the removal of shelter-availability language.
The motion to adopt the ordinance carried 7–0 after the city attorney read the ordinance title aloud. Commissioners then voted 7–0 to adopt an emergency clause citing Oklahoma statutory authority, allowing the ordinance to become effective immediately.
Next steps: City staff will codify the ordinance into the municipal code and coordinate with property owners and law enforcement on implementation practices.
