In a 5-2 vote, the Olympia City Council approved an amendment expanding the city's camping prohibition to include rights-of-ways and parklets.
At the city council’s meeting on Tuesday, Olympia Police Chief Rich Allen observed that the current camping ordinance as stated in OMC Chapter 12.74 has gaps, particularly regarding the city rights-of-ways – the grassy areas between sidewalks and streets. The amendment aims to close this gap and prohibit camping in those areas.
Allen emphasized that this change does not alter the police’s approach. He said they will continue prioritizing compassion and collaboration with the Homeless Services team.
“If there's a public safety risk, we'll deal with it immediately. Other than that, we'll collaborate with [Homeless Response director] Darian Lightfoot's team. We will engage the people there and point them to services,” Allen told the city council.
According to Lightfoot, the amendment is driven by issues in specific areas, such as the strip along Rosie's Place and the area around the Veterinary Clinic, where organizations and neighborhoods have raised concerns. She emphasized that the amendment's intention is not to ban people from being in the grassy areas during the day, but rather to prevent the establishment of overnight camping and encampments in those spaces.
Lightfoot stated that her team has been tasked with managing the current encampments and preventing new encampments from growing. Lightfoot acknowledged that the current approach of moving people around can feel arbitrary and cause harm through displacement. The aim, however, is to find a way to address people’s needs and connect them to services, but then not allow an encampment to grow in that location.
Councilmember Lisa Parshley expressed support for the ordinance amendment, advocating for a balanced approach that retains the community's trust and support.
She said the city has "made a contract with our community" through One Community Plan, which is to make sure the city will work faithfully and continually for the compassionate needs of those without shelter, providing them with services, shelter, and access to housing.
The councilmember pointed out that the community has backed the city by "passing Home Fund and taxing themselves to help to do this."
"We are obligated to a degree to help with the balance on this. As long as that's the approach to what we're doing, I will support it, because I want our community's help in the future. I don't want our community to rise in arms against us. I want us to become even more of the example of what you do with homelessness, and that's going to be for a long time in the future, and we're going to need their help," she said.
In voting yes to the ordinance amendment, Mayor Pro Tem Yen Huynh acknowledged the "impossible task" given to the Homeless Services team and recognized the importance of supporting the team in doing its difficult job.
"It is unfair to give staff an impossible task and not give them the tools that they are asking for to do that task. Ultimately, they are following the direction that we have given them," Councilmember Dani Madrone stated in agreeing with Huynh.
Councilmember Jim Cooper was one of the two dissenting votes. Despite acknowledging that he has "voted yes on expansions" of camping restrictions in the past, he said this amendment "would be against my values tonight." He believes Olympia is "doing a good job" and "meeting people where they are, with the tools we have in our toolbox."
Councilmember Robert Vanderpool acknowledged that the measure was difficult. He pointed out that the city is "maximizing" its local efforts, but until the state and federal governments provide more support, the city will continue to face limitations.
6 comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here
TomBoucher
Good job, worrying away at a problem bigger than Olympia. My expectation of you all is not that you will succeed, but that you will try persistently.
Monday, September 23 Report this
cappers
There are some public areas at the hub of Karen Fraiser trail where it intersects with the Chehalis Western trail where there are people camping that need help.
It has become a hangout with drug use & drinking . They leave trash everywhere.
We try to clean it up when we can.
Especially disturbing as well are the campfires( illegal) that they have and cigarette butts all along the trail. A fire could start and destroy the whole neighborhood .
Scary people screaming gibberish in violent tones at different hours of the night and day, disturbing the peace of the residential neighborhood.
Some people have commented they're afraid of the people that hang there and are scared to walk or bike by them.
Motorcycles have been seen and heard at night on the trail. This is also unlawful.
Tuesday, September 24 Report this
JulesJames
Eliminating unauthorized private camping on public property would seems a no-brainer. But when will decision-makers realize these encampments are cruel infestations of lawless predators luring vulnerable individuals into crime and violence? Move them along as soon as discovered.
Tuesday, September 24 Report this
Honestyandrealityguy
Should there be a requirement to perform (a) specific task(s) for eligibility. Help them learn/relearn that nothing in life is free.
Tuesday, September 24 Report this
bobmead11
A nice effort, but until the root issues causing this problem are addressed, the problem is just going to get worse. In my mind, the root causes are population growth, and the ever-increasing impoverishment of all but the richest Americans.
Tuesday, September 24 Report this
gypsydjango
These folks know "nothing in life is free", believe me. Again, until there is a commitment to and providing of housing, which would help get people back on their feet to become working, contributing community members, this problem will only grow. Houston TX came up with a solution, we can too.
https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/how-houston-moved-25000-people-from-the-streets-into-homes-of-their-own/
Tuesday, September 24 Report this