EAST PEORIA, Ill. – Following in the footsteps of cities such as Peoria and Pekin, East Peoria is amending city ordinances and code to try and ban homeless encampments.
The city council Tuesday night approved changes to the city ordinance regarding camping and sleeping on public property.
The changes mostly revolve around changing language to further define camping and campsites.
Camp of camping defined by East Peoria now includes whether a place incorporates the use of a tent, shack, other structure, or a vehicle as a temporary or permanent place of residence. It also defines campsite as a place where any material used as bedding is on site, along with a place for a fire or stove, used as a place to maintain a temporary or permanent place to live.
Mayor John Kahl says the city has been criticized for enforcing what’s on the books now. But he says there’s also been calls from families enjoying public areas who have found needles and human waste.
“We don’t develop these public spaces and maintain them, to have people come in and trash them,” Kahl said.
Other changes to the ordinance include additional language that allows for a vehicle to be parked on public property in East Peoria for up to two hours between midnight and 6:00 A.M.
The changes to the ordinance were passed unanimously.
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