HomeMy WebLinkAboutMemo - Mail Packet - 4/5/2016 - Memorandum From Kent Leier, Land Conservation And Stewardship Board Re: Ordinance Amending Chapter 17, Article 10 By Adding Sections 17-180 And 17-183 To The City Code And Amending Section 17-181 RelaNatural Areas Department
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MEMORANDUM
TO: Fort Collins City Council
FROM: Land Conservation and Stewardship Board
Kent Leier, Chair
DATE: February 19, 2016
RE: Ordinance amending Chapter 17, Article 10 by adding Sections 17-180 and 17-
183 to the City Code and amending Section 17-181 related to Camping on City
Property
The LCSB had prepared the following input to Council for the March 15th Council
Meeting and vote on the Camping Ordinance. We believe that the new amendment
language offers a clearer definition of camping or habitation and we understand
more defensible. It is important to note that at the February 18th
Boards and
Commissions Super Meeting in which most, if not all, City boards were represented,
the proposed Ordinance received strong support. When reviewing the complexity of
the issues of homeless and transient populations, we ask that the Council considers
this feedback.
LCSB RECOMMENDATION
The Land Conservation and Stewardship Board recommend that City Council approve an
ordinance:
1. Amending Chapter 17 by adding section 17 – 180 of City Code to clarify definitions
pertinent to camping and activities that constitute camping.
2. Amending Section 17 – 181 to provide examples of habitation pertinent to the issue
of camping.
3. Amending Chapter 17 by adding section 17-183 providing for an affirmative defense
for Camping on Public Property.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
We understand the complex problem of providing shelter for Fort Collins’ transient and
homeless populations, but it is critical for the City to protect our Natural Areas. Allowing illegal
camping or habitation is not a solution to homelessness. Living or camping in our natural areas
causes damage to sensitively restored vegetation and loss of wildlife habitat. Habitation also
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disrupts the wildlife movement and foraging. We must protect our natural environment and the
many animals that call it home. Allowing illegal camping or habitation in our Natural Areas
causes concern for the safety of other users of our natural areas, to other transient/homeless
people, as well as to Natural Area Rangers. Instances of violence and sexual assault have been
reported in areas where illegal camping and habitation have occurred. We should be striving to
protect our environment as well as the people in our community and this Ordinance helps
achieve that goal. The Ordinance includes a provision to not enforce habitation restrictions in
the rare instance that all shelters are full. We should be strongly encouraging the transient and
homeless populations to use the shelters and to not camp in our Natural Areas.
Dealing with homelessness is a complex challenge with no easy solution, but sacrificing the
City’s most valuable assets is not part of the solution. A great deal of money is spent purchasing,
restoring, and maintaining Natural Areas. This Ordinance goes beyond protecting people and the
environment—it preserves the value of the land itself. The Land Conservation and Stewardship
Board strongly recommends City Council approve the amendments to Chapter 17 of the City
Code.
CC: Darin Atteberry, City Manager