Bartlesville City Council approves ordinances meant to combat homelessness

Homeless people in Bartlesville could now face fines for washing their clothes in public creeks or for blocking a sidewalk. The City Council approved the rules Monday night as a task force works to find solutions to the city's homelessness issue.

City Councilors who support the measure say it's part of a broad approach to finding solutions to homelessness. Opponents say this will not help solve the problem.

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What was passed at Monday's meeting?

It was a lively debate at Bartlesville City Council's Monday meeting.

Members of the city's homelessness task force presented an update on options for addressing homelessness to the council. One of those possible solutions would allow the city to fine people up to $500 if they are caught blocking public walkways or using public waterways multiple times.

"We have goals of helping our homeless neighbors move from unhoused to housed, and also to help protecting our community at large from an unchecked homelessness epidemic," said Councilor Aaron Kirkpatrick. He leads the task force and says the new rules about compassion.

What do people against the measure say?

Tony Roberts is a case manager with the Lighthouse Outreach Center and has experienced homelessness himself. He's concerned this won't solve the problem.

"These people that are out on the streets need assistance. They don't need fines and fees that they're never going to be able to pay. They don't have money right now," he said.

He says he'd like the city to focus more on the root causes of homelessness.

"It's a larger issue than just them being out on the streets. They need assistance when they come here, we're getting them birth certificates and identification and food stamps and health insurance, and that's just going to do nothing but set them back further," he said.

What Happens If Someone Can’t Pay the Fine?

The Council did address the question of what happens if someone receives a fine.

Council members say they specifically chose $500 so it remains at the level of a misdemeanor, not a felony. It would be up to a judge to determine the amount of the fine, with a maximum of $500.

City leaders hope the fine will serve more as a deterrent, and that they won’t have to issue fines often. They also said they plan to continue evaluating the impact of the fines and may bring forward new plans in the future if necessary.

What's next?

Councilor Kirkpatrick says this is just the beginning.

"What we've done is created a framework and a system to help people get on a highway out of homelessness and into stable housing. That's what we are focused on every single day. These ordinances are maybe ten percent of what we've been working on," he said.

The measure will go into effect in January. Councilor Kirkpatrick says the task force plans on spending the next six months raising awareness of this new measure, so no one is caught off guard when it takes effect.

The City Council also voted to extend the term of the homelessness task force through January.