League City passes first reading of 'healthy spaces' ordinance to remove homeless camps

Violations are classified as misdemeanors, and notably, each day a violation continues is considered a separate offense, according to city documents.

Police officers must follow specific protocol before issuing a citation. If there is no imminent threat, an officer must:

• Provide the individual an opportunity to vacate the property
• Advise them of alternative places where they may lawfully camp
• Provide information about available services or shelter resources

Council member Tom Crews voted against the ordinance.

Crews said the ordinance unfairly targeted the city’s homeless population, some of whom he said believes have mental illness.

“While this is titled ‘healthy spaces,’ it definitely seems the ordinance is targeted at the homeless population,” Crews said at the meeting.

Those in favor

Council member Courtney Chadwell said civil government has a responsibility to maintain order.

“Compassion is not the same as permissiveness, and biblically speaking there is no support for lawlessness,” Chadwell said at the meeting.

Why it matters

The city brought up the ordinance for consideration after receiving complaints from residents about people staying around private property, including abandoned buildings, without permission, including “full-blown camps” with couches and beds, Mayor Nick Long said.

“We’ve been working on it for the better part of eight months, and the problem has gotten worse,” Long said at the meeting.

Long said complaints about the camps of homeless people was the No. 1 thing he gets calls about from residents.

Looking ahead

City Council will hear the final reading of the ordinance and vote again at a future meeting, Long said.