City Attorney Outlines Differences Between Existing and Proposed Ordinances

# City Attorney Outlines Differences Between Existing and Proposed Ordinances

City Attorney Meredith Eberhardt presented a detailed comparison of existing city ordinances and a proposed ordinance addressing homelessness during a special meeting with city officials.

The presentation included a chart highlighting how the proposed ordinance would differ from current regulations. Eberhardt explained that the new ordinance would prohibit several activities not currently addressed in city code, including sleeping in city parking decks day or night, sleeping in city surface parking lots, sleeping in vehicles on city property overnight, and sleeping or lying in entrances to city buildings overnight.

"The proposed ordinance would be another tool in the toolbox because it would be one ordinance that would be applied to a lot of different situations instead of multiple ordinances," Eberhardt said.

Interim Police Chief explained that enforcement typically begins with officers asking individuals to move rather than immediately taking punitive action. "We don't want to take enforcement action on these folks. We want them to get up. We want them to leave and move somewhere else," he said.

The chief noted that most unhoused individuals comply with requests to relocate. He estimated about a dozen "frequent flyers" who have been on the streets for several years, often struggling with mental health issues and medication compliance.

Eberhardt proposed additional training for officers on quality of life ordinances regardless of whether the new ordinance passes. "I think it would be helpful whether or not the new ordinance passes to train our officers, especially the ones working downtown, about what their alternatives are," she said.

The meeting also included a presentation from Rachel Schuler, director of housing and human services, who provided data on the local homeless population. According to Schuler, approximately 12 people out of every 10,000 in the continuum of care area experience homelessness, with higher concentrations in the City of Wilmington.

Alan Sorkin, executive director of the Cape Fear Council of Governments, compared homelessness to "a game of musical chairs" where there aren't enough housing options. "If there is nowhere to put them, then perhaps we have to be comfortable with the fact that there is going to be homeless on the street," Sorkin said.

Council members expressed differing views on whether the proposed ordinance is necessary, with some suggesting existing regulations are sufficient if properly enforced, while others supported the consolidated approach of the new ordinance.