MISSOULA — The Missoula City Council voted on Monday evening to approve an amendment prohibiting urban camping in public parks.
The decision, which came after several hours of debate and public comment, amends a decision adopted by the City Council in June.
Members of the public offered comment during the meeting which lasted for nearly six hours.
“I'm all for giving hands up, but the hands out that we've been given in this city doesn't work."
“Give them somewhere to go. If you don't want them in the parks, you don't want them on the turf, give them somewhere to go."
“It's a sight that I would have never imagined in Missoula.”
“This amendment only serves to cause harm. I urge you to reconsider.”
People crowded into the city council chambers to share their concerns and support for amendments to the city’s urban camping ordinance.
The additional amendments were approved following an almost six-hour-long meeting.
The city will continue to coordinate, collaborate and communicate with services and provide lockers for people, provide services for trash, temporary bathrooms, and distribute a resource guide to unhoused community members.
The second amendment allows the city to permit a camping site on city or private property.
Those are in addition to the amendment prohibiting urban camping in public parks which caused controversy among neighbors after the urban camping ordinance was passed in June and rolled out in July.
The ordinance was due to be reviewed in January, but due to the overturn of the Grants Pass case by the U.S. Supreme Court, a review was prompted sooner.
