Aldermen to revisit camping restrictions for homeless

MARSHFIELD – Transients, homeless and others who park and/or sleep in their vehicles along city streets for extended periods of time may be getting a permanent place to do so.

During their Oct. 13 meeting, members of the Marshfield Common Council took no formal action on a proposed ordinance which would prohibit the practice of people habitating in a single location on City property, sometimes referred to as “camping.”

The issue has come up in Marshfield in recent months, after a person was found to be camping in her vehicle along streets in various neighborhoods for extended periods of time.

“To sort of set the record straight on the comments that we haven’t done anything in that particular situation, I know that we have issued numerous citations for different violations obviously than this ordinance that’s being proposed, so that has been occurring,” Travis Esser, assistant police chief, told council members.

Esser also noted that, under the proposed ordinance, camping would be a fineable offense and violators would not be arrested.

“Where feasible and consistent with public safety, officers are encouraged to provide information about available local resources or services in conjunction with enforcement action in this section,” the proposed ordinance also states.

“For this particular case, I know that she has utilized and been kicked out of a couple of those services for the same behaviors she is exhibiting in the neighborhood,” said Rebecca Spiros, council member from District 8. “So, there are services available, but they don’t seem to be working in this particular case.

“I would like to know how do we look at the people who are being affected by this who live in the neighborhoods and what do we tell them at this point, because they’ve made many, many phone calls and they’ve asked for help and they don’t feel like they’re getting it,” Spiros inquired.

“And then secondly, interesting idea brought up in the public comments about finding a safe space for them,” Spiros continued. “Have we looked at that? Is there a consideration of something that the City owns that would be considered a safe place where they could camp overnight with restrictions, as far as timing? You know, you have to be packed up and you have to be gone by 7 a.m., or whatever that might be.”

“The officers that have been involved in this specific situation have reached out to a social services program,” said Scott Koran, Dist. 5 alderman and council president. “They’ve gone and done everything that they thought they could do to help, but the ordinance that we’re discussing is probably lacking. The laws on the books are lacking. I like the idea of looking for a safe space for people to be at.”

“I have seen that situation that you’re talking about backfire in other communities,” cautioned Harold Wolfgram, city attorney. “What you do is you create a sanctuary in your city which then draws more of this, which creates then the potential problem for dealing with that at a different level. That decision needs to be a conscientious decision that you look at the implications of all of it. I think we’ve got a handle on the fact that this is not a legal question, it’s a social question.”

“I can certainly reach out to my statewide network of other administrators and see if there are other cities that have looked at that type of idea, and bring that back into the mix with the city attorney and others,” offered Steve Barg, city administrator.

“Sounds like a great idea for items for future agendas,” said Brian Varsho, Dist. 4 alderman.

“When I was told about this, I got a text message and a phone call every day for three months,” Varsho added. “This particular person did get a ticket for trespassing multiple times. What else can they do? They can’t remove her. Now we’re getting to the point where it is getting to be November 1 and then we have rules for parking on the street overnight. It’s going to be cold outside. Is this going to happen in November, December, January, February? You hope not. You hope that someone can help them. You don’t want them sitting on the street freezing.”

According to the proposed ordinance, “it shall be unlawful for any person to camp, lodge, live in for a time, or take habitation on any portion of City property within the City of Marshfield. This includes living in or taking up habitation in a motor vehicle, including a camper or motor home. Evidence of camping or lodging may include – but is not limited  to – use of bedrolls, mattresses, blankets, cooking utensils, clothing, personal belongings arranged for habitation, or the sustained occupancy of a vehicle for sleeping or living purposes.”

The proposed ordinance would remain in effect for one year and “shall automatically expire and be repealed at the conclusion of that period unless the Common Council takes action prior to that date to extend, amend, or make the provisions of Section 10-45 permanent.”