The Normal Town Council on Monday approved changes to its code of conduct in and around Uptown Station over the objections of a crowd concerned the revisions targeted people who are homeless.
The revisions are meant to curtail “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," according to a memo from city staff.
That activity has at times interfered with intended uses of the facility, according to several town council members, as well as raising security and emergency access concerns.
But more than a dozen people — including several who work with people without housing — asked the council to delay the measure, saying the proposed revisions should be discussed with groups that work with homeless people.
Liam Wheeler said people without permanent housing who are pushed further from city centers find themselves sleeping in more dangerous places. They become harder to find, and are less likely to seek out services.
Wheeler, who described himself "as both a professional working in homelessness and someone who has slept on these streets," added "these types of policies create distrust in systems of care that are designed to help us."
Most agreed the conduct in question shouldn't occur, but felt the punishments listed were punitive.
Those punishments range from a citation to a ban from the area and arrest. The ordinance specifies that people in violation will be given an opportunity to comply, and notes 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.”
But speakers were skeptical.
"An ordinance that focuses on escalating punishments that will be meted out to our most vulnerable neighbors hardly seems the right focus," said Matt Burgess, CEO of Home Sweet Home Ministries, which operates a shelter and micro-cabin village serving the homeless population in Bloomington. "All this code of conduct does is detail consequences to be delivered to people if they engage in basic functions of existence."
The public comment section of the meeting took well over 30 minutes. Afterwards, council members addressed those comments.
Council members defend the ordinance
Council members Karyn Smith and Kevin McCarthy said some of the concerns voiced by the audience didn't reflect what was in the ordinance.
"It is not a condition that is being challenged with this ordinance, it is a behavior," said Smith.
After a few minutes, Smith's comments grew more pointed, stirring grumbling from some of the approximately 50 people in attendance. As she began to tell a story about a business patron being accosted by someone who was "probably homeless," an audience member stood and began shouting obscenities before storming out.
Mayor Chris Koos admonished the audience to avoid shouting at speakers on the dais, even if they disagreed, adding, "These are tough issues, and I realize that."
The council first voted to table the measure responding to a motion raised by Kathleen Lorenz. That failed 4-3, with Rory Roberge, Scott Preston and Lorenz voting to table. The council then voted on the ordinance, approving it 5-2, with Roberge and Lorenz voting "no."
Lorenz, who works for Home Sweet Home Ministries, was prepared to abstain, but Koos said he'd discussed with the town's legal staff and they'd determined there was no conflict of interest around the issue.
"I think what I'm hearing tonight is that people were caught off guard. People who work in this arena every day ... they were caught off guard that that relationship wasn't leveraged," said Lorenz.
Koos called the meeting a “very healthy discussion,” and ultimately, he echoed other council members about the goal.
”This is not about the person or the condition, it’s about the behavior. That’s what we’re trying to address here.”
At the same time, he acknowledged the need for collaboration in the future.
“We need to work with you in a more collaborative manner to address this issue and what we are trying to accomplish,” Koos said.
The amended ordinance does not change or restrict Uptown Station's use as a designated warming and cooling center.
