More changes are coming for the unhoused within Aberdeen city limits as the city council voted to approve the first read on changes to its municipal codes on camping on public property.
Since the recent U.S. Supreme Court’s recent Grants Pass decision, Aberdeen can enforce its public camping laws. With that, the city is a step closer to striking language from its public camping code.
The changes include Bill 24-03, which includes the removal of sections of Aberdeen Municipal Code (AMC) 12.46.030 definitions, amendment to AMC 12.46.040 — broadening the intended locations, and repealing AMC 12.46.045 — removing restrictions on law enforcement.
Councilor Deb Hodgkin, the council’s public safety rep, moved to approve the first reading of the bill. The vote to approve was unanimous.
The stricken language from AMC 12.46.030, according to city documents, includes:
“Available over night shelter” means a public or private shelter with an available overnight space, open to an individual or family unit experiencing homelessness at no charge; entry denied due to unruly behavior does not render a shelter unavailable by an individual or family unit; a shelter is not considered “available” under this chapter if an individual or family unit is not able to access the shelter due to:
Gender, familial or marital status, religious beliefs, disability, or a shelter’s length of stay restrictions; or
Attempt to secure shelter by lining up in advance of the shelter opening, and being denied entry due to lack of space
The stricken language from AMC 12.46.040, includes:
“Any publicly owned property to which the public is not ordinarily allowed access, including but not limited to: public buildings, water storage tank sites, well sites, stormwater ponds and facilities, and other secured properties;
Portions of any street right-of-way that are not expressly reserved for vehicular or pedestrian travel
The stricken language above from AMC 12.46.040, according to city documents, leaves the following language:
“Public streets, sidewalks, or other improved or unimproved public rights-of-way,” the documents state.
The city council voted to repeal AMC 12.46.045 in order to “remove restrictions on law enforcement.”
The city council also approved the first reading of Bill 24-04, which is an ordinance that repeals AMC 10 that has section 10.20.100. Section 10.20.100 covers camping in vehicles. Hodgkin moved to approve, Kacey Ann Morrison, Aberdeen’s council president, seconded.
There should be more developments on the city’s camping and sit-and-lie ordinances at the next Aberdeen City Council meeting — June 24, at 6:30 p.m., at the tulalW Building 3000 on the Grays Harbor College campus.
Contact Reporter Matthew N. Wells at matthew.wells@thedailyworld.com.
