The Casa Grande City Council met Tuesday evening to discuss potential solutions to address homeless encampments in public spaces, with city officials seeking direction on drafting an ordinance that balances public access with compassion for the homeless population.
City Manager Larry Rains opened the work session acknowledging the complexity of the issue, noting that while no official decisions would be made that night, staff was seeking feedback on potentially developing ordinances related to camping in city parks and on public property.
“This is a very complex topic,” Rains said. “It’s one that many municipalities around the state are attempting to deal with. Unfortunately, there’s not a lot of great Solutions.”
Current Challenges
Community Services Director Daniel Gallegos detailed issues in city parks, particularly Peart, Eliot, and O’Neil Parks, where homeless encampments impact maintenance operations and public use.
“We do have a lot of people that don’t use those parks specifically,” Gallegos said. “They go to other parks and they let us know.”
He noted that other patrons are “unable and/or unwilling to use park amenities for the intended use” due to encampments. The department must often mobilize staff to clean abandoned camps, which contain “trash, bikes, tires, needles, mattresses, tents” and other items.
Planning and Development Director Paul Tice explained the city’s current approach to enforcement through zoning codes.
“Homeless camps, regardless of where they are, are technically a violation of the zoning code,” Tice said. “How we approach enforcing that is we don’t cite the homeless individuals who are camping, we contact and give a notice to the property owner.”
Tice noted that code enforcement is limited in its proactive approach: “We’re not that proactive in responding to homeless camps unless we receive complaints simply because we know that as we address it, the problem is just going to move to another property. It’s like a balloon – you squeeze it one place, it’s going to pop out somewhere else.”
The financial impact is substantial, with Tice estimating: “I don’t have solid figures for you but I’m going to tell you it’s in the neighborhood of 100,000 a year between staff time and vendor time.”
Police Department Perspective
Police Chief Mark McCrory emphasized that homelessness itself is not illegal while highlighting the strain on department resources.
“The police department recognizes being homeless is not a crime and should not be handled as one,” McCrory said. “However, when we get so many calls dealing with them and some of the issues they bring, it is a drain on staff hours and time that could much better be spent on other community issues.”
McCrory described the department’s limited enforcement options: “We actually have no authority to move what are obvious encampments from our parks. Our officers have gotten very good at suggesting that people move… but we really have no authority if somebody just says no.”
The chief noted that while the department works with organizations like Community Bridges and Horizon CG to assist those seeking help, many homeless individuals refuse assistance. He suggested an anti-camping ordinance would help address situations involving those who choose to remain on the streets, while allowing officers to maintain public access to city facilities for all residents. McCrory also encouraged citizens to redirect their charitable efforts through established organizations rather than giving directly to panhandlers, noting this approach is more productive for helping people off the streets since these agencies are properly equipped to provide assistance.
Business Impact
Councilmember Matt Herman highlighted concerns from local business owners who regularly contact council members about homeless-related issues.
“I get calls from business owners every week, lots of days,” Herman said. While maintaining the substance of what business owners tell him, Herman summarized their concerns: problems with messes in front of properties, people using the bathroom outside businesses, and downtown patrons being scared away.
Herman also shared an example from another city: “One of my good friends used to lease commercial property in downtown Portland and he’s out of a job because no one will lease property down there anymore because of all the homeless problems among other things.”
Legal Context
City Attorney Brett Wallace provided context on recent court rulings that impact how cities can address homelessness. He explained how the 2018 Martin v. Boise case limited enforcement options in the Ninth Circuit by ruling that cities couldn’t criminalize sleeping in public spaces when no shelter beds were available.
However, the 2024 Supreme Court case City of Grants Pass v. Johnson overturned aspects of the Martin decision, ruling that cities could enforce certain anti-camping ordinances without violating the Eighth Amendment’s prohibition against cruel and unusual punishment. This decision gives municipalities more flexibility in regulating encampments without being considered as punishing homeless status.
Wallace also outlined Arizona’s Proposition 312, passed in 2024, which has direct implications for how cities manage homeless encampments. The measure allows property owners to claim a refund of property taxes under specific conditions. Property owners who can document “actual expenses and reasonable expenses” incurred due to homeless encampments that constitute a public nuisance, or from the city’s failure to enforce existing laws against such encampments, may file a claim for reimbursement. Wallace noted this creates additional pressure on municipalities to actively enforce ordinances related to homelessness once they are adopted.
Potential Solutions
Staff presented possible ordinance provisions for discussion, based on measures taken by other Arizona cities, including:
- Prohibiting sleeping or camping on public property without approval
- Banning camping-related activities
- Restricting camping near schools, parks, and daycares
- Limiting storage of personal belongings in public spaces
- Setting time limits for ramada use without reservations
- Authorizing staff to confiscate abandoned property
Diverse Council Viewpoints
Councilmember Matt Herman noted the widespread nature of the issue: “It’s not a Casa Grande problem, it’s a US problem, and it’s very delicate.”
Mayor Lisa Navarro Fitzgibbons expressed concern about the human aspects of the issue: “This is one of the most difficult things that I face as a council member here in the city of Casa Grande… I see the homeless I see their faces I talk to them I ask them why they’re homeless… There are some that want help and there are some that don’t, and there are some that have major mental health issues.”
She also highlighted Casa Grande’s unique challenges compared to more urban areas: “When you look at some of the other cities, a lot aren’t as rural as we are. If you live in Gilbert, you can go over to Chandler where they have overnight… programs and services… We’re in Pinal County, and people don’t have anywhere else to go here in Casa Grande.”
Service Providers and Resources
Rains noted Casa Grande’s unique position regarding service providers: “Casa Grande is a bit different than other Pinal municipalities in the sense that we have a number of service providers that are operating in the community… but I will say this that there’s very little funding made available for this… Casa Grande is not eligible for any monies for shelters.”
Next Steps
The council expressed general support for drafting an ordinance that would provide enforcement tools while maintaining compassion for those experiencing homelessness.
City Manager Rains indicated that staff would begin drafting options and would engage stakeholders in the process: “We would envision that if the ordinance is the path that we’re going to take that we would bring some of our stakeholders that are the nonprofits in that see the other side of this… to ultimately look for some of their feedback as we continue to draft an ordinance.”
The work session concluded with plans to continue the dialogue in future study sessions, with staff exploring enforcement alternatives and resource options as they develop a draft ordinance tailored to Casa Grande’s specific needs.
Residents that would like to help can volunteer or donate to local charities.
Not just a city problem but a county problem as there is an entire homeless community living in the desert carmel housing area. Sherriff’s department is aware but as the article states, not much can be done.
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