A downtown camping solution

The problem and facts, as I understand them.

Homeless people camping downtown (in tents or otherwise) is a problem, or at least a number of community residents and downtown merchants see such camping as a problem.

The Olympia City Council believes they cannot ask or require the campers to move if the campers do not have a city owned area where they can camp.

The City recently purchased the Spooner farm for a future park, with no intent of developing the park in the immediate future.

A suggested solution.

Use the Spooner property for a homeless camping area. I believe water is readily available at what should be a nominal cost. Putting portable toilets on the property should cost no more than putting them downtown.

If Intercity Transit routes don’t already pass the property, negotiate provision of such routes. Provide homeless persons with transit vouchers good for transportation between the camping area and downtown. Downtown merchants might be willing to pitch in on this cost.

Allow no one to camp downtown as a city owned area, accessible to the homeless, will then be available for use.