A draft of the proposal Asheville City Council member Gordon Smith presented at this afternoon's Public Safety Committee meeting. The proposal, which the committee sent to staff to flesh out, calls for a permitting process to campers using city property for free speech purposes:

Achieve/sustain a few goals:
- Zero violence
- Protection of free speech and civil liberties
- Minimize risk of legal liability
- Ensure that public space is available to all
- Minimize cost to taxpayers
- Maintain strategic priorities in regards to 10 Year Plan to End Chronic Homelessness & Public Safety

Can this type of use be permitted? Yes.
Permitted activity is for purposes of “speech”
Register individual campers
Maintain cleanliness standards (garbage removal, store items in tents)
Move tents with regularity (every 48 hours?) to maintain grounds
True cost pricing for camping permits – by the person, not the tent.
One tent or less per person, with storage allowed only inside tents.
No open fires/flame
Reapply every 7 days
Provide for use by all
Port-a-johns permitted using standards for other outdoor event permits
Port-a-johns available to the public
Port-a-johns not subsidized by city taxpayers
Permitted only in specific area(s)
-       utilize current property only
-       add other properties as appropriate
-       does not include parks pending further review by Parks Board & Parks, Rec, Cultural Arts Dept.
Consequences of violation could be:
-      -  rescinding permit for individuals in violation
-       - fines (up to $25) for safety violations (fire, sanitation, other)
-      -  fines (up to $100 or eviction and referral to Homeless Service Provider) for camping without permit
-       - notify homeless service providers if violator requests it
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Speech allowed 24 hours – these rules apply only to camping/sleeping