Seattle council member defines ‘unsuitable’ places to camp

A Seattle council member has defined what she thinks of as unsuitable places for people to live in public spaces.

Council members Sally Bagshaw and Mike O’Brien each published substitute drafts of Council Bill 118794. Bagshaw defines what she believes would be areas people could never pitch a tent.

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Bagshaw, who voiced her concern over the ordinance originally proposed by the ACLU and other advocate groups, writes that an “unsuitable location” is:

Any public space where the space’s functions are unreasonably impeded because of one or more persons camping in that location.

That, Bagshaw proposes, are public sidewalks, planting strips, and other public rights-of-way. It also includes city parks, including but not limited to, sports fields, playgrounds, restored natural areas and those undergoing restoration, access or maintenance roads, and paths.

O’Brien’s definition of “unsuitable locations” hasn’t changed from a previous draft of the proposed bill. He is the bill’s original sponsor.

“Unsuitable location” means a public space that has a specific public use that is substantially impeded as a result of an outdoor living space in that location. Improved areas of city parks, including restored natural areas or natural areas actively undergoing restoration, and public sidewalks in front of houses and dwelling units are per se unsuitable. Sidewalks in commercial areas are prohibited to sitting and lying during certain hours…

Bagshaw’s substitute bill does not mention vehicles being used as residences. O’Brien’s does.

The legislation should address the multiple ordinances and laws that govern parking throughout the city with the goal of providing stability and protections for those people using vehicles for shelter commensurate to those established in this ordinance. To achieve that goal, the legislation will provide to people living in their vehicles protected areas for parking and modifications of parking standards…

However, Bagshaw’s draft proposes that within 30 days of the effective date of the ordinance, if passed, the city will set up:

additional sanctioned, or managed encampments or spaces where people can safely camp. Such identified spaces and sites shall be numerous and large enough to accommodate the reasonably estimated unsheltered population in need of such outdoor living space.

The substitute drafts were posted on the city council’s website prior to a committee meeting scheduled for Friday morning.

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