By a 4-3 vote, the Wichita City Council approved revisions to current city ordinances, designed to address the city's homeless situation.
The current ordinance states it is illegal to camp on sidewalks, streets and underneath bridges. The revisions are designed to tackle those encampments by allowing the city to clean them up quicker, within 48 hours after notification, while also assuring due process rights. They also allow the city to issue citations only if there are no shelter beds available in the community.
Maximum fines in the revised ordinance are reduced from $500 to $200. The city says that amount it is at the discretion of the judge and often individuals receive community service.
The revisions will also codify training requirements for city staff in dealing with the situation.