The Astoria Police Department plans to bring an ordinance before the City Council on Monday that could temporarily ban people from downtown.

Ongoing concerns from local businesses and residents about harmful behavior in the downtown area prompted the proposal.

Disorderly conduct, criminal mischief, trespassing, harassment and theft are among the most common offenses enforced by officers in the area.

Additionally, police have observed ongoing violations of Astoria’s camping ordinance, which prohibits camping on public property after 7 a.m. and before 9 p.m.

City Manager Scott Spence said the ordinance is an opportunity to reinforce community standards, and that a civil exclusion ordinance in Medford had been cited as an example and used as a model.

“You do hear a lot of complaints about smoking illegal drugs on a public sidewalk,” he said. “That’s already illegal, but that’s one that’s not necessarily prosecuted, but again, it’s also a behavior that is not necessarily conducive to maybe trying to run a business or actually going downtown.”

Depending on the seriousness of an offense, offenders may either be removed immediately from the zone, which spans between Second Street to 19th Street and from the river to Franklin Street, or receive up to three citations before being removed.

The exclusion zone also covers existing camping areas in parts of Uniontown and Uppertown. The exclusion would be in effect for 90 days before offenders are allowed to return.

“Sexual offenses, arson, assault, drug violations, weapons violations, those are all one strike and you’re out,” said Chief Stacy Kelly. “And then when we come down to prohibited camping and storage of material in the right of way, if you get three citations within 90 days, you could be excluded.

“If you committed a weapons offense, you could be arrested, but then you would be back out, you know, within the day, or whatever it is according to their history — they could be out immediately. So it’s kind of a civil action that’s separate from the criminal process.”

If a “one strike” offense is committed within the zone, the offender will, upon being arrested, receive a pamphlet detailing the exclusion and any exemptions.

“They can come back into the area for social services, medical appointments, seeking work,” Kelly said. “If you have a valid reason or even just walking through, like if you need to go to Uppertown for a doctor’s appointment, you can walk through the exclusion zone. You just can’t stop and hang out and continue to do illegal activity.

When new individuals are cited for breaking the camping ordinance, authorities will first try and connect them with services before slowly moving into enforcement.

The first reading of the ordinance is scheduled for the City Council meeting on Monday following a public hearing. If councilors agree with the current language in the ordinance and the ordinance as a whole, it would be brought up in the next meeting for a second reading and then adopted.

The ordinance would go into effect 30 days after adoption.

“Our end goal is, we want to see people connected with services,” Kelly said. “And hopefully this will motivate people who currently do not want to engage with (Clatsop Community Action) and (Clatsop Behavioral Healthcare).”