At the Gainesville City Commission meeting Thursday, commissioners grudgingly accepted an ordinance that would prohibit people from camping and sleeping on public premises.
This ordinance comes as a result of HB 1365, a bill signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis that prohibits counties and municipalities from allowing camping or sleeping on public property without proper certification.
Until Thursday, Gainesville had never had specific ordinances in place that prohibited camping and sleeping on public grounds. According to Phil Mann, special advisor to the city manager, the commission had to accept this ordinance, or create a different one by Jan. 1 to avoid any legal consequences for not following this bill.
Commissioner Reina Saco said the city was reluctant to approve the ordinance, but it was required of them by the state.
“It is not of any personal dislike or feelings up here, it [the ordinance] is a requirement put upon us by Tallahassee,” Saco said.
Specifically, the ordinance aims to move people who are camping and sleeping on public premises and direct them to places and resources where they can legally remain. When someone camping does not move after initially being told to, they can face a fine up to $25, and possibly arrest.
There will be a section to report encampments on myGNV, Gainesville’s neighborhood portal app. This would keep track of how many times an encampment has been told to move.
Commissioners Bryan Eastman and Casey Willits and Mayor Harvey Ward expressed their criticism of the ordinance
“I feel uncomfortable criminalizing homelessness more than we criminalize smoking,” Eastman said.
The ordinance passed unanimously with Commissioner Desmon Duncan-Walker absent.
Contact Sofia Meyers at smeyers@alligator.org. Follow her on X @SofiaMeyer84496.
