The request is for the City Council to conduct a second and final reading on Ordinance No. 2020-2195 regarding camping within the city limits.

Homelessness and transiency are both very complex problems that are currently being faced by the city and its surrounding areas.  However, managing the needs of homeless individuals and the effects associated with homelessness and transiency can be even more complex.  In spite of recent efforts to provide social forms of assistance to homeless individuals the city continues to grapple with the secondary impacts, both real and perceived, of homelessness and transiency. The purpose of this ordinance is to address the impacts of homelessness on the city, and its residents and businesses by prohibiting camping on public and private properties with limited exception. The reason that I believe it is appropriate to do so is related to the fact that camping at either an inappropriate time or location is an impediment to positive economic activity.  The proposed ordinance prescribes that camping is only allowed in accordance with the following conditions:

• The parking of a recreational vehicle on private property for storage purposes

• Camping in a permitted campground

• Camping in the rear yard of a single-family residential parcel for periods less than 48 hours in any 90 day period with the permission of the owner of the property