1/23/2008 9:31:00 AM Council votes to ban camping in city parks; Litter, safety concerns drive 6-1 vote on first reading
By Barney Burke
On what may have been the coldest day this winter, the Port Townsend City Council has voted to ban camping in city parks in response to concerns about litter and public safety.
The Jan. 22 vote was 6-1, with Brent Butler dissenting. A second reading is needed for the law to take effect.
City Manager David Timmons told the council of growing public safety concerns tied to people who camp at Kah Tai Lagoon Nature Park in particular. He spoke of drug problems and incidents of violence among some homeless people who camp there, as well as the cost of cleaning up litter.
When the city considered a similar ban several years ago, Timmons said, there was no homeless shelter. But with the emergency shelter in the basement of the American Legion Hall, the trade-offs may be different, he suggested.
Timmons noted that some homeless people avoid shelters, and shelters will not take all homeless people because some have substance abuse issues or other behavioral problems. He said that more shelter capacity is likely needed.
"There needs to be some compassion," resident Brenda McMillen told the council. She said she's never been bothered in Kah Tai, and said that cleaning up after homeless people is cheaper than putting them in jail.
Other residents, especially park volunteers, urged the council to take action. Ron and Rosemary Sykes spend many hours helping at Kah Tai, and talked about concerns people have about public safety and the overall condition of the park, which is leased from the Port of Port Townsend.
Another volunteer, Rich Thomas, brought a cardboard sign in found in the park reading "Need bus fare to Olympia." He said some homeless people are causing problems.
Council members expressed concerns about the plight of homeless people and acknowledged the difficulty of helping them effectively. But they also tried to balance compassion with the concerns expressed about public safety.
"Sometimes, our compassion doesn't really help the problem," said Catharine Robinson. Deputy Mayor George Randels agreed, saying of parks, "Where do our children go?"
Butler suggested that the ordinance be limited to Kah Tai, but no one seconded that motion.
Butler also suggested that the council revisit the issue in a year to see if the ordinance was beneficial. David King asked that data be collected on safety and litter concerns as well as on park user demographics. Butler's motion to review it passed 6-1 with Laurie Medlicott dissenting.
As drafted, the change in city code would institute a ban on all camping in city parks. However, the staff report says, the law would authorize the public works director to issue permits for temporary camping, for example, for "a trailer parked at the Pope Marine Park in connection with the Rhody Parade."
Homeless viewpoint
No homeless people attended the council meeting. That morning, the temperature was just under 26 degrees.
"It's their park, they can do whatever they wish," said a homeless man who was in Kah Tai on Monday afternoon but said he was not camping there. "It's not really an issue at this point," he said, because police have chased most of the homeless away from there.
Fifteen homeless men spent Monday night at the seasonal shelter in the basement of the American Legion Hall at Monroe and Water streets. If it weren't for the shelter, they'd be camping, several said, and likely making campfires to stay warm.
Most said banning camping in parks is a bad idea. "You need campsites," one man said. "There are a lot of homeless people."
Several of the men said they pick up trash in parks because they don't want to be causing problems for anyone else. Ticketing people for camping in parks is a form of NIMBYism, said one man, who questioned the wisdom of expecting homeless people to pay a fine.
Kah Tai is a central, convenient location, some said. "It's the only place they've got," said one man.
"Keep that park a park," said one man. "Leave us something."
"You should be able to light a campfire or have a place [like the shelter] to come to," said another man.
Shelter appreciated
All of the men interviewed by The Leader spoke highly of the shelter, particularly complimenting the volunteers and the food they serve.
"These people are really nice," said one man. "They do a lot for us. They were here on Christmas and they were here on New Year's."
One man said that unlike some religiously oriented shelters, this one does not try to "institutionalize" homeless people. "You feel more like an individual," he said. "They respect you."
One man said he was grateful that, unlike some homeless people, he has a driver's license and was therefore able to get a job locally. "I was lucky," he said, because those who have gotten into any sort of trouble in the past generally don't have a chance.
deForest Walker, director of housing services for OlyCAP, said the shelter has served from 12 to as many as 20 men. About 30 percent of them are veterans, and roughly 40 percent have disabilities, she said.
Patricia Cuddeback of OlyCAP and volunteer Randy Lamfers were onsite Monday night to operate the shelter. Various local churches take turns preparing food and bringing it to the homeless. Councilman Butler is also a regular volunteer, and he stopped by the shelter before Tuesday's council meeting.
There's no funding for case management, Cuddeback said, which makes it harder for people to break out of homelessness. "It's a great temporary solution," Cuddeback said of the shelter.
(Contact Barney Burke at bburke@ptleader.com.)
Reader Comments
Posted: Friday, January 25, 2008
Article comment by:
Allen Frank
Prior Deputy Mayor Freida Fenn proposed dealing with Port Townsend's homeless "Problem" by rounding up the homeless and taking them to the campground right next to Chimicum High School. Seemed kind of arrogant and cold. This smacks of that. But it does go along with the Carmelization of Port Townsend agenda.
For "the rest of the story" and full coverage of all Port Townsend and Jefferson County news, events and people, subscribe to our award-winning weekly newspaper.
