Wichita City Council members are considering changes to city ordinances addressing illegal camping in the city. The changes are prompted by a U.S. Supreme Court decision earlier this year that allows cities to take steps to deal with homeless encampments.
Chief Deputy City Attorney Sharon Dickgrafe presented the proposed changes to the Council during a workshop meeting Tuesday. She said the camping ordinance was created in 2013 and the Wichita Police Department created the HOT (homeless outreach) Team at that time. Dickgrafe said staff members have been working to develop a more cohesive process for dealing with illegal camping and other homeless issues, and the ordinance has been revised to allow for quicker cleanup at certain publicly visible locations, such as doorways, sidewalks, areas near bridges, walking paths, bus shelters, playgrounds and the Multi-Agency Center for the Homeless that is being created. Those locations can be cleaned without a waiting period or a posted notice. For less visible locations, individuals will be given 48 hours to leave or clean up the property, or a notice will be posted if no one is present. There will be a process for people to recover identification documents and property items that are seized or impounded during a cleanup.
The ordinance also bans camping on private property unless the individual is the owner or lease-holder of the property. People can temporarily camp on private property with permission of the owner, and there is a 72-hour limit. Camping in RVs and trailers would not be allowed on private property, with exceptions for commercial properties, storage, and licensed RV parks. Penalties for illegal camping would be reduced to a fine of $200 and/or 30 days in custody, and people who are indigent could be assigned community service for any fines and costs.
Council members had questions relating to the return of property and how to get people into homeless services. Council member Mike Hoheisel said he has doubts that fines and jail time will move people into the Multi-Agency Center, and the question is how to effectively change a person’s life. He suggested the creation of a “homeless court” that could help address these issues.
The Council is expected to consider the ordinance changes at their regular meeting on December 17th for formal approval.
