By Megan Wehring
KYLE — The city of Kyle is considering an anti-camping ordinance within city limits.
Kyle City Council unanimously approved appointing city staff to bring forward an ordinance focused on the prevention of camping and begging. Council member Yvonne-Flores-Cale proposed the agenda item on Tuesday, May 18, after researching similar ordinances in surrounding cities.
“I look to other cities who I feel are successful with this issue,” Flores-Cale said. “I specifically did not look to or research Austin because I have seen their struggles and would never want to put our residents under that type of stress. I hope our ordinance can look like a combination of successful cities.”
The city of Kyle does have several sections that speak on camping, Flores-Cale told the Hays Free Press/News-Dispatch, but it would be easier for residents to find and understand if the regulations were in one section.
Flores-Cale explained that by proposing this ordinance, she does not want to prevent families or friends from camping but rather eliminate the camping that develops from homelessness.
“I don't want anyone to feel like the City wants to disallow for vacation camping or camping that pertains to the groups such as the Boy or Girl Scouts,” Flores-Cale told the Hays Free Press/News-Dispatch.
Staff will draft an ordinance using input from the Kyle Police Department before bringing it forward to the city council for a vote. Exemptions will be considered including which groups would be permitted to camp on green spaces for future events.
“I don’t think it’s an issue now but obviously with the amount of displacement that could take place in Austin," said Mayor Travis Mitchell, "We might as well figure out our position is going to be.”
