League City City Council voted 7-1 at its May 12 meeting to pass an ordinance establishing “healthy spaces,” which regulates camping on public and private property.
The details
The ordinance prohibits camping on private property without written authorization from the property owner or public places, unless they are expressly designated for that purpose, such as recreational vehicle parks or campgrounds, according to city documents.
Individuals who camp must keep the written permission with them in order to produce it for a police officer if asked, according to the ordinance.
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
Those opposed
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.
