Canyon's City Commission is considering approving an ordinance modeled after a controversial Amarillo ordinance banning camping on public property.
According to an agenda posted for a meeting of the Canyon City Commission next week, Commissioners are considering approving an ordinance banning camping on public property. Under the ordinance, persons camping or sleeping on public property between 6pm and 6am would be fined $500 per day. Continued violation of the ordinance could result in removal of tents, bedding, and "other personal belongings," according to the agenda.
A memo from Canyon Code Enforcement director Danny Cornelius to Canyon city manager Randy Criswell states that the proposed ordinance is modeled off of the ordinance currently on the books in Amarillo banning camping on public property.
The controversial Amarillo ordinance became the center of attention earlier this year when the City of Amarillo attempted to use the ordinance to close down campsites on private property in Amarillo. This issue resulted in a lawsuit being filed by the City of Amarillo against the owner of private property, attempting to have the Christ Church Camp of New Beginnings shuttered. The controversial timeline resulted in protests across the City by opponents of the camping ordinance. Opponents of the ordinance were also seen posting tents in front yards of Amarillo homes to show opposition to the City's enforcement of the ordinance.
In addition to the passage of the ordinance, City Commissioners will also be voting to repeal any ordinance or pieces of existing ordinances conflicting with the camping ban, information from the agenda says.
The Canyon City Commission will meet on Monday, August 6th in Commission Chambers of Canyon City Hall (301 16th Street, Canyon). The meeting will begin at 5:30pm.
Canyon City Commissioners
Photo by City of Canyon