Council backs camping ban - Members also vote to - Austin AmericanStatesman (TX) - July 28, 1995 - page A1
July 28, 1995   Austin American-Statesman (TX)   CHUCK LINDELL   Page A1

It wasn't popular, even among supporters on the City Council, but Austin moved one step closer to
cracking down on its homeless population T hursday when council members tentatively approved a
ban on public camping.
With lukewarm endorsements from two council members, the ordinance passed 4-2 and must be
approved two more times before becoming law. T he council is expected to take up the ban again
in September.
Much more popular, and immediately following the vote to ban camping, was a resolution by
Council Member Jackie Goodman to create a task force that would identify city land for use as a
homeless campground.
T he committee -- to include representatives from businesses, neighborhoods, law enforcement,
the city, churches and homeless advocates -- has until Aug. 31 to make recommendations to the
council.
Council members approved the committee's creation 6-0. Council Member Eric Mitchell left the
meeting early and did not participate in either vote.
Approval of the camping ban was met with hisses and shouts from some of the 125 homeless
people and their advocates in the audience.
Nofziger said he voted for the ban to erase a common perception that Austin is an attractive place
for homeless people. He said he wanted to put word on the homeless grapevine that the city
would no longer easily accommodate their numbers.
``I don't want Austin to be the homeless capital of the world,'' Nofziger said.
Also voting for the ordinance was Council Member Ronney Reynolds and Mayor Bruce T odd, the
measure's sponsor.
``I don't think the City of Austin ought to give up its parkland, its right of ways,'' T odd said. ``We
have to recognize that we can't balance this issue on the backs of Austin's taxpayers.''
Goodman and Council Member Brigid Shea, who called the ban unnecessarily redundant, voted
against the plan.
``If we want to be a deterrent to those who are breaking the law, we already have those laws on
the books. Why do we need another law?'' Shea said.

 Council member Eric Mitchell left the meeting early and did not participate in the vote.
T he ordinance would ban camping in outdoor areas to which the public has access, including parks,
parking lots and alleys.
Violators may be ticketed for a Class C misdeameanor -- punishable by a fine up to $500 -- for
sleeping, storing personal belongings, building fires or preparing to sleep in public areas. Campers
who have a landowner's permission would be exempt.
Goodman's resolution created a task force to identify city-owned land for a homeless
campground. the grounds could include housing and provide a central location for services, she
said.
T he task force -- to include representatives from businesses, neighborhoods, law enforcement,
the city, churches and homeless advocates -- has until Aug. 31 to make recommendations to the
council.
T he resolution also directs the city staff to assess the constitutionality of a camping ban. A federal
court has declared a similar ordinance in Dallas unconstitutional for penalizing status, not action.
Dallas appealed, and a ruling is pending.
At a public hearing before the vote, more than 20 speakers decried the proposed ordinance.
``If you want folks off the street, where do you want them to go? Have you invested adequately
to address the problem?'' said Mitch Weynand, chairman of the Austin Area Homeless Coalition.
Claudia Parker told council members that the ordinance was too vague and could have unintended
side effects.
``If this is left to police interpretation, what if someone is pulled over because they don't feel fit to
drive?'' she said. ``(Can they be ticketed) for sleeping?''
Lori Renteria, who spent two months in a campsite after fleeing Detroit's economic collapse in
1978, serenaded the council with an impromptu version of the Motown hit Stop! In the Name of
Love.
Renteria said she fears Austin was trying to sweep its homelessproblem into East Austin.
``T he downtown business community succeeded in (banning drinking downtown) and swept all
drinkers into my neighborhood in East Austin, where they don't enforce the drinking ordinance. (I'm
afraid) the police will say, `Move along, find a nice comfy spot east of the interstate and nobody
will bother you. And that's not fair.''
Copyrig ht 1995 Austin American-Statesman