Six times it's been on the agenda and six times it's been delayed.
Spokane Councilwoman Kate Burke first proposed the ordinance four months ago.
It mandates that the first floor lobby of Spokane City Hall be open to any member of the public during business hours for as long as they want. There are exceptions for people causing significant disruptions.
It was proposed largely to provide a place for people without shelter to warm up during cold winter days.
"That's the point of this ordinance, is to make sure we open our doors and that we are acting as a city should be acting, which is empathetic and here for people who need services and help," Burke said.
At one of the meetings where it was originally considered, the ordinance received several comments of public support.
"It takes a lot of heart to open up a place where you work to homeless people, that are looking for some sort of help," said one speaker.
But it never got a vote. Local 270, the union representing the people who work in the building, sent a demand to the council.
They wanted to meet with them to address safety and sanitation concerns.
A statement from the union at the time read in part: "Local 270 would also like everyone involved to be treated with respect and compassion; and ensuring the safety and security of our members has been and will continue to remain a top priority for our Union."
Since then, the union has been meeting with city human resources to work out some changes.
"They wanted the city to put in metal detectors, which the city denied," Burke said.
Other changes have been accepted, according to Burke. She says progress is being made, although she is concerned about some of the rhetoric.
"I find it odd that we're afraid of people who are unsheltered," she said.
The ordinance has appeared on six agendas since Nov. 5, including Monday's meeting. But on Monday, as with the previous five times, the council pushed back the vote.
This time, the vote is deferred for three more weeks. That means even if it does pass, it will be in mid-March, at which point the wintry conditions that drove the ordinance in the first place may have ceased.
"With this winter we had it would have been really helpful to have a place for them to be able to go and take a load off their feet," Burke said. "Especially now that we've reinstated the sit and lie ordinance, and have very little places for individuals to go during the day."
But Burke says she's hopeful her ordinance can finally pass and still have an impact.
"I still think getting this in place will help for future years," she said. "And I do know that in March we're going to be likely shutting down the warming centers."