Eugene police officers could arrest individuals who are trespassing on planter strips — the narrow areas of land between sidewalks and curbs — under a proposed revision to city law that will be subject to a public hearing Monday night.

The move comes amid public concerns about homeless people camping or loitering and leaving garbage and other debris on the strips that are visible to residents and passing motorists.

Monday's meeting before the Eugene City Council begins at 7:30 p.m. in Harris Hall, located within the Public Service Building, 125 E. Eighth Ave. The public hearing will begin after the council's public comment period.

Planter strips provide a buffer between motorists on the streets and walkers on the sidewalk. They also can beautify the streetscape with plants, flowers and street trees.

Under current city code, the adjacent property owner is responsible to fill and maintain the planter strips with earthen materials and plants. But increasingly, particularly in downtown and the Whiteaker neighborhood, the strips have turned into a haven for homeless people who have nowhere else to go.

The proposed change would clarify that the owner has the authority to enforce trespass on the planter strips.

It's unclear whether the owner can enforce trespass on planter strips because the manner in which those areas were dedicated as right-of-way to the city varies.

In some cases, the developer transferred ownership of the planter strips to the city. In others, the city secured a legal easement but the underlying ownership remains in private hands.

Having individuals camping and loitering on the strips not only can create a nuisance and garbage but also can create a safety hazard by obstructing the view of walkers, cyclists and motorists, city officials said.

Currently, police officers and city workers can cite individuals for illegally camping on the planter strips and remove them by closing the area to public access for clean-up.

The change would give police officers the ability to arrest an individual who is on a planter strip without permission and won't leave when asked with second-degree trespass, a misdemeanor.

Homeless advocates decried the proposed change as another move by city officials to chase off individuals.

"The city is doing everything it can to make life for the homeless more and more difficult," said Karl Eysenbach, an advocate, on Friday. "The (planter) strip is another tactic in that strategy."

The Eugene Area Chamber of Commerce supports the proposed change as a way for businesses and property owners to control the area they are legally required to maintain.

A chamber representative didn't return a phone message seeking comment Friday.

Follow Christian Hill on Twitter @RGchill. Email christian.hill@registerguard.com.