Common Council Committee of the Whole Meeting September 28th, 2026

The City of Utica Common Council Committee of the Whole met on September 28, 2026, to discuss proposed amendments to the city ordinance regarding prohibited camping on city property. The meeting focused extensively on the legal and practical challenges of enforcing camping prohibitions, particularly concerning homeless encampments. Key topics included the constitutionality of the ordinance, enforcement procedures, and the logistical difficulties related to the collection and storage of property left at campsites. The council reviewed proposed amendments that removed provisions related to property collection due to resource constraints, emphasizing voluntary compliance and outreach services as primary approaches. The discussion also covered the need for clear signage at city parks, coordination with county and state services, and the importance of maintaining records of enforcement actions. Additionally, the meeting touched on related public safety issues such as the cleanup of hazardous materials from encampments and updates to synthetic marijuana legislation to improve local testing capabilities. No formal votes or contract awards were recorded during this session, but the council indicated ongoing efforts to refine the ordinance and seek additional funding to support enforcement and cleanup activities.