SPOKANE, Wash. -- The Spokane City Council plans to introduce a new unauthorized camping ordinance at Monday's Public Safety and Community Health Committee Meeting.

This ordinance, called "Safe and Accessible Spaces," would make camping and obstruction of public property illegal as well as give the Spokane Police Department officers the ability to cite unlawful camping violators and/or offer services to those willing to accept them. There would also be increased penalties for people who continuously are in violation of this ordinance.

The city says the ordinance emphasizes protecting waterways and publicly owned trees, preventing illegal fires and enforcing misuse of transit facilities and stops.

“We all want to see an end to public camping”, said Council Member Zack Zappone. “The Mayor

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