PUNTA GORDA — Punta Gorda City Council members weren’t keen on fining homeless people for sleeping in the park, but they were told they had no choice.
At a recent meeting, city attorney David Levin told the board the state is mandating no municipalities may allow sleeping in parks. He updated an old ordinance he drafted years ago that doesn’t permit sleeping in the park.
Council member Bill Dryburgh, 82, asked if it was really necessary to keep in the proposed ordinance. He asked if a person sits on a bench and falls asleep, can they really be cited for sleeping in the park?
The proposed ordinance defines sleeping in the park as “lodging or residing overnight — with or without a tent or other temporary shelter.”
City Council member Donna Peterman asked if fining a homeless person through the code enforcement was logical.
“I just don’t see why,” Peterman said, adding if the person is already having financial struggles, why add a fine?
Levin said the law states municipalities must not allow sleeping in parks or on sidewalks.