Resident urges council to amend ordinance to ban public camping on streets and parks

At the start of public comment at Monday
s Waxahachie City Council meeting, resident Salithia Garner urged the council to amend city Ordinance No. 3004 (overnight camping and temporary shelters) to add a provision prohibiting public camping and sleeping on city streets, sidewalks or parks.

Garner, who gave her address as 109 Shoresight Trail, told the council she has observed an individual camping on Highway 77 in front of the Murphy gas station near Cole Junior High and that neighbors described the individual as harmless but consistently camping day and night. She said Ordinance No. 3004 (adopted 2018) has two sections addressing overnight camping and temporary shelters and proposed adding a third section defining and prohibiting public camping and sleeping on city streets, sidewalks and parks.

Garner said she researched model language and offered wording similar to recently enacted Florida statutory language that defines public camping and sleeping, including criteria such as the presence of bedding, storage of belongings, tents or residing in outdoor spaces during the day or overnight. She offered to leave her suggested verbiage with the city secretary for council consideration. Under the Texas Open Meetings Act, council did not deliberate during public comment and no action was taken on the suggestion at the meeting.

Why it matters: The suggestion addresses local concerns about people camping in public spaces; any ordinance change would require staff review and possible ordinance drafting and a future council action.

Next steps: Residents and staff can provide the suggested language to the city attorney and council for review; no formal council action was taken at the meeting.