Martin Kidston
(Missoula Current) Less than six months after passing the city’s camping ordinance and following a recent Supreme Court ruling, the Missoula City Council may change its ordinance banning overnight camping in city parks.
That would mean repealing an ordinance passed in June that specified the “time, place and manner” in which overnight recreation is allowed in city parks. But the measure has since sparked growing public opposition, and many council members agree it’s not working as intended.
After a five-hour hearing, council members voted 7-3 Wednesday to consider the proposed changes in December.
“It’s become clear that this is something the public needs, especially those who live near multiple parks,” said Councilman Bob Campbell, one of the event’s sponsors. “I have heard many complaints about encampments and non-compliance with existing guidelines, including sleeping in parks after 8am, littering, toilets and discarded drug paraphernalia, all of which make our parks unsafe for children and others to use. reconstruction”.
Current politics adopted in June no camping in parks from 8am to 8pm and details of where overnight camping is permitted.
The order also directs the mayor to “develop a city camping support program” and explore other programs, such as opening up a permitted campground, offering more trash and needle containers and creating an on-street overnight parking permit program.
While some parts of that ordinance may continue, the City Council is now considering striking down some parts. Among them, it repeals a directive asking the mayor to develop a city camping program and changes procedures around violations and fines to increase the public’s expectation of personal responsibility.
“In just a few short months since this ordinance went into effect, it’s clear that allowing campers in parks is not a sustainable or effective solution to meeting their needs or helping them access the services they need,” said Councilman Mike Nugent. “Parks are designed to be recreational spaces for all residents, including families and children. There has to be some level of regulation that allows for the 5% that don’t follow the rules.”
Most supporters of the proposed changes see it as a safety concern for both those who sleep in the parks and residents who live near the parks. But as one council member said, the city can’t solve all problems, and it’s not equipped to be a service provider.
“We also have to rely on service providers in the community. Municipal government is not prepared for every eventuality,” said councilor Amber Sherrill. “I don’t think most of our community wants people camping in our parks, and neither do I. This creates safety issues for both campers and park users.”
Balancing opinions
At Wednesday’s hearing, both supporters and opponents of the ordinance change spoke out. Opponents accused the city of treating the homeless as “criminals” and implementing “cruel and unusual punishments.”
They also suggested the city should not proceed with the changes because the U.S. Supreme Court recently cleared the way when it overturned the Ninth Circuit Court’s decision.
“In Montana alone, we’ve seen boards and commissions close down shelters, impose exorbitant fees, and impede homeless people’s efforts to find stable, permanent housing,” said John Rhoads of Montana Women’s Voice. “Missoula shouldn’t be leading this group.”
But others disagreed.
“We don’t want camping in city parks for the safety of our kids,” resident David Moore said. “This community has a generational investment in its parks. There are other places in the city that are suitable for this purpose.”
While some have accused the “city of being homeless,” recent actions say otherwise, city officials say.
During the last budget session, the city allocated several million dollars for homelessness. It funded the operation and management of the Johnson Street shelter for a year and paid for renovations to the facility to include new restrooms and lockers.
It also funded mobile support and crisis response teams and helped finance the construction of the Trinity and Villaggio housing projects, which reduced the city’s homeless population to 2018 levels, according to city CAO Dale Bickell.
Bickell added that the ordinance change does not mean the city plans to stop working to address homelessness.
“The fight against homelessness in the city is intensively carried out,” he said. “Regardless of what amendments are passed, we plan to continue enforcement through clarification and education first. This is done with compassion and in partnership with the provider community to minimize adverse effects.”
Council members Kristen Jordan and Daniel Carlino spoke out against the city’s current camping ordinance in June. On Wednesday, they also opposed proposed changes to the ordinance, trying to block a public hearing in December.
“We have all the collective resources and tax money we have as a city council,” Carlino said. “But you seem to want to spend millions of dollars a year prosecuting people who have nowhere to go.”
Jordan added, “We need to provide a safety net for all of our citizens. These laws only hurt the most vulnerable in our community. I want to congratulate all of you for doing this.”