Marietta City Council Moves Forward with Camping Ban and Marijuana Ordinances

In a busy session Thursday, Marietta City Council made significant strides toward addressing public safety, homelessness, and cannabis regulation. Among the new initiatives, the council discussed and introduced several ordinances that will impact the city’s approach to camping on public property, recreational marijuana, and the allocation of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds.

One of the standout proposals was the introduction of a camping ban on city property. While this move aims to tackle growing concerns from business owners and residents, the council also passed multiple measures that would regulate adult-use cannabis in the city and amend how the city uses ARPA funds.

Proposed Camping Ban Seeks to Address Public Concerns

The first reading of Ordinance No. 105 (24-25) would introduce a camping ban on city property, allowing campsites to be maintained in designated areas only. This new regulation aims to combat the growing issue of unauthorized encampments, which have been a source of frustration for local business owners, especially in areas near the Washington County Homeless Project’s drop-in center.

The proposed ordinance would make it illegal for individuals to camp or sleep on city property for more than 24 hours unless designated camping areas are provided. Unauthorized encampments would be classified as a fourth-degree misdemeanor, with repeated violations escalating to a third-degree misdemeanor. Penalties for violations would be determined by the court, but mitigating factors would be taken into account, such as whether individuals removed their property and litter when asked or whether they sought private resources to address the reasons behind their camping.

This ordinance follows complaints made during a joint meeting of the Planning, Zoning, Annexation and Housing (PZAH) and Public Lands and Buildings Committees on September 23. Business owners voiced concerns about the increased noise, disturbances, and public safety risks associated with people camping near businesses on Front and Second streets.

While the council has completed the first reading of the camping ban, no further action was taken during this meeting, with discussions expected to continue.

Merging City Departments to Improve Efficiency

In an effort to streamline city operations and reduce redundancy, the council also introduced two ordinances aimed at restructuring city departments.

Ordinance No. 114 (24-25) proposes merging the city’s engineering department with the public works department. This move would dissolve the engineering department and amend the city’s organizational structure to reflect the change. The merger is expected to improve operational efficiency and simplify administrative processes.

Additionally, Ordinance No. 115 (24-25) seeks to abolish the recreation program and public facilities officer manager position. The duties of this position, along with the engineering office manager’s duties, would be combined with those of the public works office manager. This restructuring is part of an effort to consolidate roles and reduce operational costs.

Councilwoman Erin O’Neill, who sponsored both ordinances, emphasized that these changes align with the city’s goal of streamlining its operations and achieving cost savings. O’Neill added that while the roles would be merged, administrative services for engineering would still be provided under the new structure.

Marietta Regulates Adult-Use Marijuana with New Ordinances

In a move to regulate the adult-use cannabis industry, the council passed three ordinances related to the use and sale of recreational marijuana.

• Ordinance No. 94 (24-25) amends the city’s existing medical marijuana ordinance to include new definitions related to adult-use cannabis. This ordinance also establishes guidelines for dual-use dispensaries, which will sell both medical and adult-use marijuana.
• Ordinance No. 95 (24-25) sets the number of adult-use recreational marijuana dispensaries allowed in Marietta to two, regulating how these businesses can operate within the city limits.
• Ordinance No. 96 (24-25) establishes guidelines for dispensary licenses and zoning regulations related to adult-use marijuana businesses. This ordinance ensures that Marietta’s cannabis industry will operate within a controlled and structured environment.

These ordinances were passed without discussion, reflecting a straightforward approach to adapting city laws to align with the state’s legalisation of adult-use cannabis.

Approving ARPA Fund Allocations

Finally, the council made progress on spending American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds, which were allocated to support local governments during the COVID-19 pandemic. The council introduced Ordinance No. 111 (24-25), authorizing the safety service director to contract with Northeast Sweepers & Rentals Inc. for the purchase of a new RAVO R5 street sweeper for the city. The cost of the new street sweeper is not to exceed $256,800.92, with the funds coming from the ARPA allocation.

The street sweeper will replace the city’s aging 2018 Schwarze Tornado A7, and the council’s decision to approve the contract reflects their ongoing efforts to enhance city infrastructure using federal funds.