(A) It is found and declared that:
(1) From time to time, persons establish campsites on sidewalks, public rights-of-way, in parks or other public properties, under bridges and so forth;
(2) Such persons, by camping in the public rights-of-way, create unsafe conditions and, by camping on public properties without camping facilities and without regulation, create unsanitary living conditions which pose a threat to the peace, health and safety of themselves and the community;
(3) Camping, lying or sleeping on a playground or sports field during the day fundamentally undermines the public’s ability to use that public property for its intended purpose;
(4) This section’s regulations are meant strictly to regulate the use of publicly owned property, and are not intended to regulate activities on private property; and
(5) The enactment of this provision is necessary to protect the peace, health and safety of the city and its inhabitants.
(B) No person shall camp in or upon any sidewalk, street, alley, lane or other public right-of-way, unless otherwise allowed by declaration of the Mayor in emergency circumstances.
(C) Lying or sleeping in a city owned park during hours of closure is not prohibited as long as the individual is experiencing homelessness, is not on a playground or sports field and is not violating any other provision of this section. No person shall camp in publicly owned locations if those locations are without sufficient sanitation facilities.
(D) Upon finding it to be in the public interest and consistent with Council goals and policies, the Council may, by motion, exempt a special event from the prohibitions of this section. The motion shall specify the period of time and location covered by the exemption.
(Ord. 1290, passed - -2023) Penalty, see § 92.99