For the first time, the city could soon begin charging fees for camping in public parks.

Details still are being worked out, but a specific fee proposal should be presented by summer, said city parks director Lester K.C. Chang.

If approved by the City Council, the fees could be implemented as soon as October, he said.

Revenue from the fees would help offset the cost of maintaining parks, but would not produce a profit for the city, Chang stressed.

He acknowledged that many people likely will see the plan as a tactic to remove homeless people from public parks. But Chang insisted that is not the main goal, and said problems arise when anyone grows too aggressive about claiming space in parks.

"We're not chasing the homeless out. Anyone is welcome to use the parks," he said. "But anyone who says 'this is my spot' is not being fair to others."

Beach parks, particularly on the Wai'anae Coast, have been inundated with homeless campers in recent years as housing costs on O'ahu skyrocketed.

Besides the homeless, "Very few people have the opportunity to camp out at beaches now, and we're not here to provide supplemental housing," Chang said of the Parks and Recreation Department.

Parks that allow camping are often the most expensive to maintain, because they are used all night by groups that usually cook meals, produce garbage and require restroom facilities, he said.

"Nobody wants to pay a fee, but it's not fair to put this added service on the general taxpayer," he said.

MAINTENANCE COSTS

Reasonable camping fees would provide money that's sorely needed to keep the parks in better shape, Chang said.

"If people don't want that, we won't do it," he said.

Council chairwoman Barbara Marshall said the idea should be considered carefully.

"I think we're at the point in the city budget where we have to consider fees for special services," she said. "It just makes sense. I'm not saying we'll approve them, but I think it certainly merits discussion."

The state has long charged fees for camping at several parks it maintains on O'ahu. State permits currently cost $5 per campsite for each night, with a maximum stay of five nights.

Camping is allowed in 15 city parks at various times; permits are free but must be obtained in advance. There are 240 legal campsites, with a maximum stay of five nights. Each permit allows a maximum of two tents and 10 campers.

LAX ENFORCEMENT

The city requirements have not always been strictly enforced, however, and have sometimes been quietly suspended at certain locations.

Marshall said the city would not need to create fees to prevent homeless people from camping for extended periods.

"Arguably, they're in violation of our camping rules as it is," she said. "Playing devil's advocate, you could go in right now (and evict them) with what we have on the books. We don't need something else to get rid of them, if that's the intent."

While some may object to strict enforcement, others grow upset if someone takes over a campsite they obtained a permit for, she said.

Over the past year, the city has evicted illegal campers from some Wai'anae Coast beach parks or funneled them into specific portions, only to have them return soon or move into other parks nearby.

Many beach parks are now home to entire families, including children. And many more campers live illegally among brush that is not park land, or sleep in public parks that do not allow camping.

The state last week opened a major new homeless shelter in Wai'anae that eventually will house up to 300 people, in addition to a 220-person shelter in Kalaeloa. But officials say more permanent affordable housing is needed.

Reach Johnny Brannon at jbrannon@honoluluadvertiser.com.