In what was repeatedly referred to as a “unique” approach in dealing with Nevada City’s homeless residents, the town’s City Council took the first steps Wednesday toward a camping ordinance that requires a permit to lodge on public property. The council adopted a first reading of the no-camping ordinance, which Nevada City Police Chief Jim Wickham described as the groundwork for a camping ordinance. Because the town has no ordinance against camping on public property, Wickham initially tried to get council to amend the code in July. “Then I recognized the homeless issue is the elephant in the room,” Wickham …