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Committee advances ordinance addressing urban camping and nuisance behaviors with policy caveats
Summary
The committee voted to advance a proposed ordinance addressing public safety, drifting, unauthorized camping and certain nuisance behaviors, asking that the law department reference the board's joint policy statement and that the police produce a draft SOP describing outreach and enforcement practices.
The committee discussed a proposed amendment to the DeKalb County code targeting drifting, unauthorized camping and certain nuisance behaviors (agenda 2026-0550). Chair Nicole Messiah said legal review and prior concerns had been addressed; Chief Hedrick confirmed he’d reviewed the ordinance with legal and that the police department would be prepared to enforce it.
Commissioners raised concerns about criminalizing homelessness and emphasized diversion, outreach and treatment alternatives. Commissioner Terry asked for clarity about standard operating procedures for outreach and how arrests would be approached; Chief Hedrick said arrest is a last resort and that departmental policy would be revised to align with the ordinance. Commissioner Patrick asked that a prior joint policy statement on homelessness be referenced in the draft and proposed advancing the ordinance to the full Board alongside that reference. The committee voted to advance the ordinance to the Board of Commissioners with the requested language and asked the law department and police to coordinate a draft SOP for implementation and outreach.
