City council bans being homeless in downtown Monroe

Two new laws Monroe Police say will make the community safer by restricting access to public spaces took effect this month.

The first bans sitting or lying down on public sidewalks within 100 feet of a business between 6-2 a.m., and is commonly referred to as a “no-sit/no-lie” ordinance. The second allows for designating zones where high volumes of drug trafficking occur as prohibited spaces for people charged with or convicted of a drug-related crime.

Each Stay Out of Drug Areas  (SODA) order must be approved through a separate resolution. There is already a proposal to zone the historic downtown corridor. Monroe Police Deputy Chief Ken Ginnard said both just add to the list of resources officers can use to address crime.

The restrictions on sitting and lying down came in response to a recent uptick in reports of each, according to council documents. The issue is particularly problematic for businesses and their customers, said Police Chief Tim Quenzer.

Other cities in Snohomish County have passed similar policies with mixed reviews. The Everett City Council brought an ordinance forward about two years ago. It was ultimately pulled due to opposition from the community.

No one in Monroe will be cited for the offense unless they have already been contacted by law enforcement before, according to the ordinance. Homeless people will also get a warning, and the officer must check shelters within 15 miles of the city to make sure there is no bed available. If there is space, they will offer the person a ride to the facility.

A conviction will result in a misdemeanor, for which a person could face up to $1,000 in fines or nearly three months in jail. The rule mentions the use of sleeping bags, chairs and blankets. No one can at any time sit on bike racks, trash cans, drinking fountains or anything else that isn’t specifically meant for sitting.

Exceptions will be made in some circumstances, such as if someone is having a medical crisis, received permission from a business owner, or is at a community event. Councilmember Jason Gamble commended the department’s effort, and addressed feedback that was received while the ordinance was being developed, specifically from the Downtown Monroe Association.

“I know this is just our first step, we’re not done, so I will be excited to see our further steps there,” he said.

The second ordinance was passed last Tuesday, and will take effect on Wednesday, March 28. Monroe Municipal Court judges will have the authority to impose the conditions. The downtown area proposed as the first zone was selected because of the volume of reports from that area, Ginnard said.

Ginnard said last year officers responded to more than 6,000 calls in the prospective zone, which Main Street cuts through. Drugs were not found in every single case; that would have required searching each suspect, he said, but crimes of malicious mischief, vehicle prowls and nuisances are all tied to substance abuse.

“These calls themselves are taking up a lot of resources and time,” he said.

Establishing the area is expected to reduce recidivism, according to the ordinance. It is believed related activities will lessen within those boundaries, and make the community safer overall, according to council documents.

North Madison and West Fremont streets form the area’s border to the southwest, and U.S. Highway 2 to the northeast. The boundaries stop short of Al Borlin Park to the east, and extend along North Lewis Street to the west.

Residential neighborhoods were intentionally not included, Ginnard said. He said the department watched other communities incorporate the policy.

Marysville, Arlington, Bothell and Everett have passed and expanded similar ordinances. Ginnard said he has spoken with law enforcement leaders in Everett, and was told that policy has proven very successful.

Councilmember Jim Kamp said he thought the ordinance was a positive addition to city code.  Councilmember Jeff Rasmussen said overall he was in favor of giving the area a trial run. He did have one concern with the concept; he worried it may not help the entire community.

“We put a ban in this certain area and it solves the issues in this area within boundaries of this map, but essentially pushes the issues beyond into other parts of the city,” he said.

Rasmussen wanted see something more inclusive in the long term. Ginnard reiterated he viewed it as just another tool in the toolbox. He said the department has received support from the DMA and municipal court judge Mara J. Rozzano.

The council can modify, or get rid of the area, or add more in the future. If someone is banned from a zone, it will automatically be for two years unless noted otherwise.