The Town of Normal is looking to strengthen its code of conduct in and around Uptown Station, which has seen an increase in homeless people gathering on the property in recent months.
The town council will consider the ordinance on Monday night. Town staff tell the council in a memo that the town has had a code of conduct for Uptown Station since the facility opened in 2012, but that certain behaviors have been more common.
“Camping-type activities, excessive amounts of personal property, unattended personal property, storage of personal property on site, blocking of access points and excessive occupation of waiting areas has frustrated the facility’s intended uses, security and emergency access,” the memo said.
The multi-modal transportation center also houses most Town of Normal offices, including administration and the council chambers, and has a multi-level parking garage attached.
Home Sweet Home Ministries told WGLT they’ve noticed an increase in homeless people gathering at various locations throughout Bloomington-Normal since several encampments were disrupted. A recent count by Home Sweet Home indicated 11 people on the Uptown Station property during one visit.
The proposed ordinance states that behaviors that interfer with transit operations and security, such as lying down, using bedding, establishing a temporary living area, storing personal property and obstructing access points will lead to a verbal warning and request for them to move.
Violators may be issued a citation or ban from the property after a “reasonable opportunity for voluntary compliance.”
Anyone who refuses to leave the property when directed could be arrested and charged with trespassing.
The ordinance makes only one reference to homelessness, indicating that it’s not intended to “deny any person access to public services, public transportation, public buildings or public spaces solely because the person is homeless.”
Town staff say the ordinance will make exceptions to these rules when the facility is used as a warming or cooling center, but people will still be prevented from blocking pedestrian access or “taking up excessive space.”
Homeless presence in Uptown
The proposed ordinance comes as the town is planning two large projects in the heart of Uptown, Trail East and Trail West, and the underpass at Uptown Station.
In an interview recorded before the town proposed the ordinance change, Normal City Manager Pam Reece indicated homelessness is not the first impression the town wants visitors to have of Uptown.
"And I believe our community partners, our Uptown businesses, our social service providers — we're all on the same page," she said. "So, let's do our best to work together and find solutions."
In anticipation of the underpass, Reece said the town would remain active in addressing the possibility of more individuals coming to the area once the project is done.
“…making sure we can do our best to provide services, enforce rules that we might have in place at the time,” said Reece. “So, it’s not anything we’re going to push to the back burner. We want to make sure that we have options and how we can deal with the unhoused.”
Reece said a combination of groups have been helpful in responding to the individuals.
“Home Sweet Home Ministries and Salvation Army, they’ve been very responsive when we call them,” she said. “Normal Police Department has an officer that’s focused on this issue here in Uptown this summer, and he’s really our lead individual working with Home Sweet Home and Salvation Army.”
Home Sweet Home has attributed the community's rise in homelessness — offset by the opening of a shelter village — to a lack of available and affordable housing.
