Chandler introduces 2 ordinances to clamp down on urban camping, loitering

Chandler City Council has introduced two ordinances to clamp down on urban camping and loitering at transit stops.

The urban camping ordinance would make it unlawful to camp on public property, at schools and other locations. The city will also bar specific activities at transit stops, including prohibiting people from remaining at bus facilities for more than one hour and when bus service is not in operation.

Riann Balch is community resources senior manager with the city.

“So, you know, it's quite costly for people to be living in a space that, you know, really wasn't meant for human habitation. So, you know, this is a good measure in terms of saving money and getting the stops to be able to be used for their intended purpose," she said.

The city says law enforcement can offer violators the opportunity to take advantage of social services rather than issue a criminal citation.

“So for this ordinance and for the urban camping ordinance, enforcement will happen through our police department. But there's a number of things that we're doing so that it is not a punitive enforcement," she said.

The City Council is expected to vote on whether to adopt the new rules when it meets April 10.

EDITOR'S NOTE: This headline and story have been modified to correct that the city has only introduced the ordinances.