Bill Ryan/The Gazette The Frederick Occupy camp along Carroll Creek in Frederick on Jan. 23.

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Bill Ryan/The Gazette The Frederick Occupy camp along Carroll Creek in Frederick on Jan. 23.
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Bill Ryan/The Gazette Occupy protester Robert Viger, of Frederick, warming up by a fire along Carroll Creek, in downtown Frederick on Jan. 23.

Bill Ryan/The Gazette The Frederick Occupy camp along Carroll Creek in Frederick on Jan. 23.

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A repeat showing from the Occupy Frederick group might soon be illegal, if the Frederick Board of Aldermen has its way.

On Feb. 8 Mayor Randy McClement (R) and the board took their first steps in considering a law that would ban camping on city property in most cases. The proposal was prompted by Occupy Frederick — an encampment of about 15 people who slept in tents and used grills to cook along Carroll Creek in downtown Frederick between Jan. 23 and 29.

“I suspect Occupy Frederick in and of itself did not create the need for an ordinance,” Alderman Karen Young (D) said. “What it did do was raise the question. What if it was a different scenario? What if it was a different experience? What if it becomes a pattern and more frequent?”

The draft of the proposed ordinance would prevent camping except for those who get a valid camping permit, which would come with restrictions, including a limit of four camping trips in a 12-month period, and a limit of two consecutive days.

Applications would go through the Department of Parks and Recreation and require approval from the mayor.

The board is expected to discuss the proposal at an upcoming meeting, but the date has not been set.

There are currently no restrictions beyond the park hours, which close at 10 p.m. and open at 5 a.m., except for the city’s 24-hour parks, such as Carroll Creek Linear Park, Harry Grove Stadium, Loats Park and McCurdy Memorial Park.

Alderman Michael O’Connor (D) said the city does not have a history of problems with camping.

“There’s a part of me saying ‘what problem are we trying to correct right now?’” O’Connor said. “I’m not saying we shouldn’t, I’m saying ‘What’s the problem that we think we’re dealing with?’ Occupy Frederick? Come and gone. Might come back, but every account we got was that our police department did a masterful job in maintaining that and there were no headaches from those people. In 250 years we’ve had one situation and we’re trying to craft a policy to change it.”

The five-member Board of Aldermen agreed that the plans for camping should continue to discussed, as the city doesn’t have adequate facilities — such as restrooms — to facilitate camping, though no decision was made. However, the aldermen favored allowing use of the facilities on a case-by-case basis, such as a previous Boy Scout camping trip that was a celebration of the group’s anniversary.

“I’m inclined to say there’s no reason at all for camping on our property,” Alderman Shelley Aloi (R) said. “But occasionally there’s a group like that celebrating a milestone that I’d like to be included.”

However, she said there are other places in the county for camping.

“I don’t see why people need to be camping in Monocacy Village Park,” she said.

tlaino@gazette.net