Lawton City Council may be ready to enact anti-camping ordinance to control the homeless population

Lawton’s City Council may be ready to put an anti-camping ordinance in place to control the city’s homeless population.

The ordinance would go into effect immediately, if approved today by the council.

Council members are expected to receive reports today from the city’s Parks and Recreation Department and the Salvation Army outlining designated space for outdoor camping, in advance of a decision on a new ordinance that would make it illegal to camp in public places like parks and sidewalks unless holding a specific exemption from the city. City Manager John Ratliff has said he did not support enactment of that ordinance until city officials identified a place(s) city police could recommend or bring homeless people to when they were removed from public places.

Members of the council’s Homeless Action Committee already have discussed the issue, which is expected to offer relief to those who have experienced problems from some homeless people who are accosting or threatening residents or business customers. Ratliff and others have said that because the proposed ordinance offers first-time offenders a waiver if they accept an offer of help, the city is obligated to identify somewhere such homeless people could go if indoor shelters are full.

The city’s Parks and Recreation staff analyzed a plan to designate Olson Park on Southwest E Avenue as that place, noting homeless people already use the park because of its proximity to services designed to meet their needs (the park is on the eastern edge of the Salvation Army complex). But, discussions at the Homeless Action Committee identified problems, including the fact that homeless people who are registered sex offenders could not use the park.

The Salvation Army also plans to renovate its complex to provide two separate areas (one to house 30, one to house 50) as homeless shelters. Capt. Bryan Brinlee said those spaces would be developed as low-barrier shelters, meaning any homeless person (even those with substance abuse problems) would be welcome. The Salvation Army also has a baseball field that could be used for outdoor camping until the indoor facilities are ready.

Council members could make a decision on what option they prefer, under today’s agenda item.

Members then could decide on the anti-camping ordinance, which would make it unlawful to camp on public properties “without the express consent of the city.” First-time violators would not be given a citation if they accept information or assistance offered by the arresting officer, on shelters, food pantries, or other resources.

In other business, the council will look at legislation to require city utility crews and private contractors to provide more notice to affected residents and entities when preparing for preplanned streets projects. The issue is important to many residents because of the increased number of street repairs launched in recent months.

A proposal outlined in Public Works Director Michael Watrous’ agenda commentary specifies that preplanned work that will close a street or block a direction of travel on any public street must serve a notice of closure five business days before the closure, to addresses within 150 feet of either end of the work zone. In addition, the information provided must include a customer service phone number for the entity doing the work. And, at a minimum, there must be physical notification to those addresses, securely posted at the front door.

Council members also will look at re-launching the process for the Skills Training, Education, Development and Investment (STEDI) Project Plan, as they look at creating additional Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Districts and amending provisions about apportionment of the revenues that result from the increased property taxes on such redeveloped areas. The council’s decision will mean reconvening the review committee to address those issues and make recommendations.

TIFs are created to cover the cost of public infrastructure needed to support development of new business and industry. Three TIFs already exist: two in downtown Lawton and a third on the Republic Paperboard site in the west industrial park. City officials are looking at more, including the Westwin Elements pilot facility and proposed cobalt/nickel refinery at Southwest 112th Street and Bishop Road; and one over the Fisher59 development project in south Lawton’s airport industrial park.

Proposed amendments also include how the funding would be spent: significant public improvements needed to attract new companies and support expansion of existing businesses; workforce training and internship programs at Great Plains Technology Center and other local institutions to develop skilled local talent for growing non-retail business needs; and home buyer assistance for the workforce generated by new non-retail businesses.