(The Center Square) – Spokane hosted its first community roundtable over the city council’s deferred ordinances regarding homelessness without mentioning the shelved measures.
Council President Betsy Wilkerson and Councilmember Zack Zappone ran dozens of community stakeholders through the Tuesday meeting. It started with a rundown of the rules for the series and an overhaul of the city’s current municipal code that addresses homelessness.
After reviewing the laws on the books, Zappone had all the participants fill out a questionnaire. The form asked what was working and what they’d like to change about the laws that allow police to cite the homeless. Then, the same was asked about the laws protecting the homeless.
“As much as you guys want to talk about [Proposition] 1, this isn’t about Prop 1,” said Nicolette Ocheltree, the council’s Housing and Homelessness Initiatives manager. “Prop 1 can’t be changed, not for three years … please keep that in mind with your suggestions.”
While Proposition 1 , Spokane’s voter initiative that prohibits camping within 1,000 feet of school, park or daycare, can’t be taken off the books for three years, new policy can strengthen it. However, Ocheltree, Zappone, and Wilkerson never mentioned that fact aloud to the group.