Mayor Wheeler proposes new regulations for camping ban amid legal challenges
Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler has proposed new public camping regulations that clarify the definition of camping, reduce criminal sanctions, and replace warnings with diversion tactics, in an attempt to clarify the city's camping ban and prevent legal setbacks.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – The City of Portland is on the verge of getting rid of its ban on homeless daytime camping, thanks to a new council proposal by Mayor Ted Wheeler on Thursday.
The mayor proposed new public camping regulations that he said will clarify the definition of camping as well as the reasons for prohibiting camping when a person does not have or declines “reasonable alternative shelter.”
Wheeler’s proposal also clarifies how camping cannot take place on public property and reduces criminal sanctions while replacing warnings with diversion tactics.
The current policy is that campers are forbidden in public parks or near schools and cannot camp on city streets or other public places during the daytime.
The ordinance to ban daytime camping was initially slated to go into effect in July 2023 but stalled after the Oregon Law Center sued the city in September on behalf of thousands of homeless residents – prompting a Multnomah County judge to issue an injunction in November that paused any enforcement until the end of the lawsuit.
As for the new proposal, City Attorney Robert Taylor said he expects it will hold up.
"The City Attorney’s Office believes these new proposed regulations would survive a legal challenge while providing the City the tools to change the status quo in Portland," Taylor said.
The new proposed ordinance would also make it illegal to start a fire or use a gas heater around a campsite or build a structure, and camping would still be banned if you are blocking a business, private property or the public sidewalk. At most, violators could face us to a week in jail or fine no more than $100.
Homeless advocates have said they are not surprised the ordinance has undergone legal setbacks while Multnomah County has roughly 2,000 shelter beds and an estimated 8,000 homeless residents.
The new proposed ordinance will be discussed at Portland City Council on April 18.
Stay with KOIN 6 News as this story develops.