Title
Consider/Discuss/Act on an Ordinance Approving and Extending Ordinance No. 2025-10-098 for an Additional One-Year Team, Regarding the Prohibition of Camping in Parks or Public Areas Found in Chapter 70, Article XI (Camping) of the McKinney Code of Ordinances
Summary
COUNCIL GOAL: Enhance the Quality of Life in McKinney
MEETING DATE: October 5, 2026
DEPARTMENT: Police Department
Code Services Department
City Attorney’s Office
CONTACT: Jennifer Arnold, AICP, Assistant City Manager
Joe Ellenburg, Chief of Police
Phillip Hubbard, Director of Code Services
Jeremy Page, Assistant City Attorney
RECOMMENDED CITY COUNCIL ACTION:
• Adoption of the proposed Ordinance.
ITEM SUMMARY:
• The proposed ordinance approves and extends Ordinance No. 2025-10-098 for an additional one-year term.
• Ordinance No. 2025-10-098 was adopted in October 2025 to relocate and strengthen camping prohibitions in the McKinney Code of Ordinances. As part of its adoption, Ordinance No. 2025-10-098 included a one-year expiration if not reconsidered and extended by the Council.
• The one-year expiration included in the adoption ordinance was to ensure city staff and leaders established a dedicated period of time to monitor implementation of the regulations and make progress on the broader community conversation regarding homelessness in McKinney (now known as the Better Together Initiative).
• Staff continues to make progress on the Better Together Initiative and anticipates having a final document and discussion with Council in late 2026/early 2027 for possible strategies and opportunities to improve the state of homelessness in McKinney. We also continue to monitor implementation of the camping regulations.
• To allow for completion of the Better Together Initiative and continued monitoring of the camping provisions, Staff recommends re-approving and extending Ordinance No. 2025-10-098. If City Council does not reconsider and extend the ordinance by October 5, 2027, it will expire.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
• On May 7, 2019, the City Council adopted regulations prohibiting camping in parks and public areas, except for designated campsites in Erwin Park. These provisions were placed within Chapter 74 of the City’s Code of Ordinances, which governs Parks and Recreation.
• To provide greater clarity and enforceability of the city’s camping regulations and prohibitions, approval of Ordinance No. 2025-10-098 strengthened the existing regulations by:
o Relocating them from Chapter 74 (Parks and Recreation) and adopting them into its own section of the Code of Ordinances (Chapter 70, Article XI).
o Carrying over the existing regulations from Chapter 74 and providing clarity on the definition of camping and public areas across the city where these activities are prohibited.
o Allowing exceptions, including designated City camping areas (such as Erwin Park), overnight parking in privately-owned commercial lots, and camping by a property owner on their own residential property.
o Establishing responsibilities for property owners to prevent unauthorized camping on their land after receiving notice from the City.
• Adoption of the provisions found in Chapter 70, Article XI came after a series of community discussions and meetings, as follows:
o On July 17, 2025, the city conducted a targeted stakeholder meeting to hear input on challenges and opportunities currently occurring in the downtown area. During that meeting, Staff shared possible ordinance amendments, which were generally received favorably.
o On August 13, 2025, the city hosted a second stakeholder meeting to share information about homelessness in McKinney and obtain feedback on possible ordinance amendments.
o At the August 19, 2025 City Council Work Session, Council Staff presented an overview of possible ordinance amendments, including the proposed ordinance, for discussion.
FINANCIAL SUMMARY:
• n/a
BOARD OR COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION:
• n/a