The city of East Peoria is updating its code governing homeless encampments in the aftermath of a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision giving municipalities more enforcement authority to ban the campsites.
East Peoria Mayor John Kahl said the city is just clarifying the policies it already follows and eliminating any gray areas.
"East Peoria has always had this on the books, a similar ordinance, where we've not tolerated that, and nor will we," he said of public camping.
Kahl says city staff frequently clean up needles and human waste left behind by the people sleeping on public property.
"I think (the) Supreme Court got it right. It's not designed for someone's enjoyment as they see fit, it's for the enjoyment and benefit of all people, and so we got to be respectful of that," he said.
City attorney Scott Brunton said the ordinance only applies to city property. Other governmental bodies in East Peoria could pass their own ordinances, or ask the city to enforce its ordinance on their properties, he said.
Pekin and Morton recently passed new public camping ordinances, and the city of Peoria is currently considering one that's proven controversial.
