The Pella City Council is considering an ordinance that would ban camping and storing personal property in public places at their meeting Tuesday.
During previous discussions, the council has identified concerns about unsanctioned camping and accumulation of personal belongings in city parks and publicly-owned properties. A memo from city administration to council reads, “These activities may obstruct pedestrian access, interfere with public use of facilities, and create health and safety risks that affect both individuals involved and the broader community.”
City staff has been directed to draft an amendment to Chapter 41 to prohibit camping and storage of property in the following designated areas:
– Any park
– Any publicly owned property to which the public is not ordinarily allowed access, including but not limited to, buildings, water storage tank sites, well sites, storm water ponds and facilities, and other secured properties
– That portion of any street or sidewalk that is expressly reserved for vehicular or pedestrian travel
– Portions of any street right-of-way that is not expressly reserved for vehicular or pedestrian travel
– Any other publicly owned parking lot or publicly owned property, both improved and unimproved
Violations of the new ordinance, if approved, would result in misdemeanor trespassing charges. The new rules were shared with Pella Schools Superintendent Greg Ebeling, who expressed support for the measure.