With no discussion, the Woodland City Council unanimously approved two ordinances on Monday, Nov. 4, targeting “aggressive panhandling” and unauthorized camping in public spaces.
The decision responds to residents’ growing concerns about public safety and cleanliness, amplified after a Sept. 16 council meeting where a resident reported that a person had set up a tent on a nearby sidewalk, allegedly engaging in disruptive behavior.
Ordinance on aggressive panhandling
The first ordinance prohibits “coercive solicitation” or panhandling that involves aggressive approaches or blocking pedestrians or traffic. It bars individuals from “forcefully” asking for money or entering roadways to interact with people, except when vehicles are legally parked. Additionally, solicitation near building entrances can only take place at least 25 feet away unless permission is granted by property owners. Panhandling is also restricted to daylight hours, prohibiting such activities from sunset to sunrise.
Violators of this ordinance may face misdemeanor charges, with penalties including up to 90 days in jail, a fine of up to $1,000 or both.
Woodland Police Chief Robert Gibbs highlighted the increase in complaints about individuals aggressively approaching and following shoppers outside local businesses, particularly at Woodland’s Safeway and near the city’s two Interstate 5 interchanges. According to the ordinance, aggressively beg means to beg with the intent to intimidate or coerce another person into giving money or goods.
“We have had issues in the Safeway parking lot on occasions, and a lot of times the answer we give is [that] it’s a private party, and unless the actual [manager] Safeway calls and says, ‘Hey, this person trespassed,’ we don’t interfere with them,” Gibbs said referring to complaints from citizens.
Under city code, transients would need permission from the store owner to beg 25 or fewer feet away from the storefront entrance.
Ordinance on camping in public spaces
The second ordinance prohibits camping and storing personal belongings on city property, which includes parks, streets, sidewalks and public parking areas. This measure extends to the use of parked vehicles for camping on any city-owned land. The ordinance allows the city to remove and store belongings left in these spaces. Penalties for violations start with a $250 fine for a first offense, escalate to a $500 fine for a second, and can result in a misdemeanor charge, a $1,000 fine or up to 90 days in jail for a third offense.
The city code has faced criticism from one former City Council member. DeeAnna Holland, president of the Woodland Action Center food bank, called the city’s ordinance discussion a “knee-jerk response” to a one-off incident during the October ordinance workshop. Holland argued that the new ordinances lack supportive services for those in need. She expressed concern that individuals arrested in Woodland are sent to the Cowlitz County Jail in Longview only to be released along Interstate 5, which she sees as Woodland’s “out of sight, out of mind” solution.
“It’s catch and release. They just moved them down the freeway, so that they can be that city’s problem. I hate to say that, but I mean, that’s effectively what it is,” Holland said. “...They just either get added to communities [with] already overwhelmed programs or they come back home and then rinse and repeat.”
She also criticized the council’s approval process, noting no residents or council members opted to speak on the topic during the Nov. 4 meeting.
“When it initially came up … people had comments and it made no difference,” she said. “... No amount of public comment was going to change the outcome. This was an eventuality in my opinion.”
When asked about enforcement, Gibbs said his officers can offer warnings before issuing charges, emphasizing an educational approach for those unaware of the new city code.
“We give our officers discretion, and we always encourage education as the first line of defense. Typically it would be a personal contact of ‘hey, this is what’s going on. We’re asking you not to do that and please move along,’” Gibbs said. “I’m not going to take away an officer’s discretion, but I would believe that, more often than not, the first contact is going to be more of a [warning].”
Gibbs added that officers can inform offenders about available resources, though options are limited in Woodland. He highlighted Hope and Recovery, a nonprofit assisting individuals with addiction recovery, as a resource to which officers can refer people. The organization plans to provide a representative for a monthly ride-along Woodland police, and each officer carries a pamphlet to share with those who may benefit.
Gibbs noted that, while officers have previously spoken with local transients offering assistance, the transients often prefer to keep to themselves and don’t typically seek assistance.
