Title
Ordinance to Amend and Reenact the City Code of the City of Hampton, Virginia by Amending Chapter 24, Offenses - Miscellaneous, Article I, In General, Section 24-50, to prohibit camping and storage on public property.
Purpose
PURPOSE/BACKGROUND:
This item was previously deferred by City Council in order to convene a stakeholder group to review and make recommendations on the proposed ordinance. Council was provided the report and recommendations of the stakeholder group at its February 11 work session.
The proposed ordinance incorporates the recommendations of the work group by clarifying the intent of the ordinance as compassionate compliance, rather than an enforcement-first approach, and by creating a multi-tier enforcement model. Only after receiving verbal notice and a reasonable opportunity to comply, as well as information about resources, will someone be given a summons. The ordinance would then make it unlawful and a class four misdemeanor, punishable by up to a $250.00 fine, for any person to camp, lay or sleep, or store items on, upon, or about any public property at any time. A second conviction of the ordinance would be a class two misdemeanor which is punishable by up to six months in jail and up to a $1,000.00 fine. Importantly, a class two misdemeanor will provide potential access to Hampton's Behavioral Health Docket.
Recommendation:
Rec
Adopt the ordinance.
Body
WHEREFORE, most people will accept housing when it is safe, dignified, and appropriate, a small number repeatedly refuse help because they are deeply traumatized. For this group, the answer is not simply tolerance nor simple enforcement, it requires balanced strategy; and,
WHEREFORE, the City will strive to pair persistent outreach with a variety of housing options and insist that public spaces remain safe and usable; and,
WHEREFORE, when someone’s behavior is dangerous or disruptive, the City will address that behavior directly through outreach or co-respo...
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