Title 12 Public Ways and Property
Chapter 12.02 Obstruction, Encroachment of Public Ways
Article VI. Protection of Public Lands and Properties
Section 12.02.1000 Purpose
- The City of Spokane is committed to safeguarding the health and safety of its residents and to protecting its public lands and all of the properties within its geographical boundaries over which it exercises stewardship, including but not limited to parks, trees, natural areas, conservation lands, and the Spokane River from potential health and safety hazards which result from unregulated human activity. Damage to the natural foundation of public lands and properties and obstructing access to and use of public property threaten the public health, safety and welfare of the community.
- It is the purpose of this article to establish standards for the preservation of public lands and properties that ensure unobstructed access to public property and prevent such harms from degrading or destroying natural assets. It is also the purpose of this chapter to promote the public health, safety, and general welfare of citizens by providing protection to public lands and properties from the detrimental effects of unregulated human activity, which is not subject to the environmental restrictions of Chapter 17E SMC.
- This article provides clear definitions, uniform standards for compliance, and safeguards for constitutional rights, reflecting the City of Spokane and the community’s balanced approach to public safety, human dignity, and the responsible stewardship of public lands and properties.
- It is the intent of this article that responsibility for identifying violations shall not rest solely with the public. Enforcement efforts should be proactive to the extent practical and include establishing procedures for city employees, outside of public safety roles, to report observed violations encountered in the course of their normal duties or work.
- In enforcement of this article’s provisions against unlawful camping and obstruction, the intent of the council is to allow an officer to initially offer services in lieu of enforcement to individuals who promptly accept and navigate to available resources, so that citations can be avoided for those individuals who accept and use navigation and/or transportation to services.
- In enforcement of this article, the intent of the council is to have graduated consequences for repeat offenders, high utilizers of public resources, or persons resisting connection and navigation / transportation to available services in order to protect public safety and promote accountability.
- The intent of the council is that every interaction with people engaged with, notified, or cited under this article be documented to track repeat offenders, high utilizers of public resources, or persons resisting connection to available services.
Date Passed: Monday, October 27, 2025 Effective Date: Monday, October 27, 2025 ORD C36785 Section 2 |
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