(La Junta, CO) -- After more than an hour of discussion this week on a ban on camping, La Junta City Council decided to let City Attorney Erin Harris meet with the Police Chief and City Manager about a resolution on a camping ban.
Starting off the work session, Harris reminded the room that the resolution she drafted did not include any punitive measures but rather the goals of the council from the last meeting.
Concerned citizens stood to talk about concerns of the homeless issue in La Junta.
Lauren Martinez said she works downtown and has faced what she called an uphill battle with the clean-up from those sleeping near her workplace. Martinez works at a bank and says she's had to deal with several things that concern her.
"We do have to get this taken care of."
"We have to deal with these people walking through the drive through, we have to sit there and worry is this going to be the day that somebody's gonna walk through take the money, take the tube, whatever and take the money from our customers."
"It isn't safe for a lot of people in this community." Martinez went on to tell council she's had to confront homeless individuals sitting by the door of the business.
We handle everything with kid gloves and no one is accountable for what they do.
She said accountability needs to happen.
"It's ok for them to drink and cuss and call me choice words, it's ok for them to let a load out by my back trash can, because I'm the one who has to clean it up. So like I said, the same accountability I have to have everybody should have to have."
Martinez said calling law enforcement is frustrating because she knows their ties are tied and can do nothing about it.
Steve Cordova of Total Concept Housing told council there are emergency service vouchers that all housing agencies receive. It is not an overnight process, however, it's not an easy solution to get funding.
He also called out the definition of "camping." "And it has been mentioned that it is these people and it is homeless. And if that is what you're actually looking at, say it, don't hide behind camping, say homeless, say these people!"
Attorney Harris added at this point they have not defined the term. She stated that she borrowed the words in the resolution came from a statute in Colorado Springs because there were some commonalities.
"They've often had concerns specifically about camping in Acacia Park," "They also have a lot of camping along the river. We have the Arroyo here and I knew we would be addressing that space as well."
It was decided that Police Chief Todd Quick and Acting City Manager Brad Davidson to meet with City Attorney Erin Harris and go over the resolution draft to give input.
It's expected there will be another meeting on the issue.
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