Tucker, GA — The much-debated urban camping ordinance will get a second reading at the March 8 Tucker City Council meeting.

The meeting begins at 7 p.m. and people who wish to attend virtually can do so by clicking here.

The urban camping ordinance would primarily affect homeless people living in Tucker’s city limits.

The ordinance defines urban camping as any living arrangement, sleeping, cooking or storage of personal property in a public place.

The first read of the ordinance was Feb. 8, when time ran out for the large number of residents who came to speak in opposition. A motion by Councilmember Noelle Monferdini to table the ordinance until March 22 was split in a 3-3 vote.

Just two days later on Feb. 10, Councilmembers Monferdini, Pat Soltys and Matt Robbins held a task force meeting with 30 city officials and experts on food insecurity, social work and the homeless community.

In a 12-page letter to City Council — submitted hours before the work session – the task force asked for council members to gather data about the depth and breadth of chronic homelessness in Tucker to inform the city why an ordinance is warranted. Short term solutions are needed to support our unsheltered neighbors, the letter said, suggesting a temporary shelter space until more permanent solutions can be addressed.

To learn more about the urban camping ordinance, click here.

Here are some other items of note on the March 8 agenda:

– Awarding a contract for TRC UV lighting filtration system

– A public hearing and first read of an ordinance for a special land use permit (SLUP-21-0001) in land lot 209 of the 18th district to allow CDC Federal Credit Union branch with drive-through lanes and canopy at 4816 Briarcliff Road NE, for applicant Consultants and Builders Inc.

To see the full agenda packet, click here.

Writer Logan C. Ritchie contributed to this story. 

The Tucker Observer is a new community news website owned by Decaturish.com. We provide locally sourced news about Tucker, Clarkston and Stone Mountain.