Title
An Ordinance Amending Section 110 (Camping on Public Property Prohibited) and Repealing Section 111 (Camping and Waste Deposit Within Public Stream/Public Stream Riparian Zone Prohibited) of Part 1 (General Offenses) of Article 6 (Offenses Affecting Property) and Repealing Section 404 (Camping Restrictions) of Part 4 (Offenses Relating to Persons) of Article 9 (Park Offenses) of Chapter 9 (Public Offenses) of the Code of the City of Colorado Springs 2001, As Amended, Pertaining to Camping Regulation, and Providing Penalties for the Violation Thereof.
Presenter:
Dave Donelson, Councilmember District 1
Lieutenant Ryan Tepley, Homeless Outreach Team, Colorado Springs Police Department
Sergeant Olav Chaney, Homeless Outreach Team, Colorado Springs Police Department
Emily Vandenberg, Prosecuting Attorney, City Attorney's Office
Body
Summary:
The proposed ordinance change consolidates camping violations into one section of the City Code, improves definitions, adds vehicle camping, creates an affirmative defense, and sets uniform penalties.
Background:
Unlawful camping in City parks, on other public property, and along waterways-and the public health, safety, and welfare concerns that accompany such behavior-are recognized issues in our community, and we have multiple city ordinances to prohibit such acts. CSPD's HOT/DART team make daily contact with campers to provide outreach resources and to enforce laws by posting and cleaning up camps and issuing warnings and citations. The team's practices evolve in response to community needs, and the Prosecution division responds accordingly.
The Code changes before Council promote efficiency in on-scene procedures and are framed with respect to CSPD's policies and procedures regarding camping cases. The changes also provide more robust definitions to improve citizen understanding and afford an affirmative defense to all camping violations. Because the violations that will be contained in the new "C...
Click here for full text