Upon a determination by city staff that property owned or controlled by the city is being used for camping without authorization, the camp equipment, camp facilities, and all other personal property located at such area may be removed by city staff, subject to the following provisions.
(A) If the unauthorized encampment poses a substantial risk of harm to any person, or to the public, the city staff may immediately remove any camp equipment, camp facilities, and all other personal property.
(B) If an unauthorized encampment does not pose a substantial risk of harm to any person, or to the public, city staff may remove any camp equipment, camp facilities, and all other personal property after complying with the following procedures.
(1) The city shall post notice at the site of the encampment in a manner reasonably calculated to effectively communicate notice to the property owners, at least a 48 hours in advance of any removal of any camp equipment, camp facilities, and all other personal property, which notice shall include the following:
(a) The address or location of the unauthorized encampment;
(b) A statement that camping or storage of personal property in the area is prohibited by ordinance;
(c) The date and time the personal property will be removed;
(d) A statement that any camp equipment, camp facilities, other personal property remaining at the encampment after the notice period is subject to removal by the city;
(e) The location to which the property will be removed; and
(f) The telephone number and name of the person or facility to be contacted regarding the recovery of the property; and
(g) A statement that the any camp equipment, camp facilities, and all other personal property remaining on the site at the scheduled removal date and time will be presumed abandoned and subject to disposal, as provided below.
(2) Upon expiration of the 48-hour-notice period, any camp equipment, camp facilities, and all other personal property may be removed by city personnel or agents of the city, subject to the provisions of this subchapter.
(C) Any camp equipment, camp facilities, and all other personal property removed by employees or agents of the city must be stored by city staff for a period, not less than 60 days prior to being disposed. Notice of the location where any camp equipment, camp facilities, and all other personal property removed from the encampment may be claimed shall be posted at the location from which the personal property was removed in a manner reasonably calculated to effectively communicate notice to the property owners. Any litter, trash, garbage, or solid waste, or items that constitute a substantial health hazard, found at the encampment shall be immediately disposed of in a proper manner, and need not be stored by city staff.
(D) If the name and contact information for the owner of a particular item of any camp equipment, camp facilities, and all other personal property can reasonably be identified, the city shall attempt to contact the identified owner and provide notice that the item has been removed and how the item may be claimed.
(Ord. 7128, passed 4-29-24)