The Missoula City Council approved new restrictions on urban camping on public property in the early hours of Tuesday morning after a nearly 10-hour meeting that started Monday evening.
The council voted 10-2 to approve the resolution. Councilors Daniel Carlino and Kristen Jordan voted against the new policy.
View of a packed Missoula City Council meeting as people sit on the floor to wait to make public comment on Monday, June 10, 2024
The resolution immediately went into effect overnight, according to Ryan Sudbury, city attorney for civil services.
The meeting ended at around 3:45 a.m. Tuesday.
“As much as it doesn’t feel like progress, I actually do think this is a little bit of progress,” said Sierra Farmer, Ward 2 councilor. “I know it’s not perfect, but what I heard in the working group is what we are doing right now is not working, and that everyone wants to know what the rules are.”
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The resolution establishes several “buffer zones” that ban people from camping near certain areas — 100 feet from houses and businesses and 300 feet from shelters or schools. It bans camping altogether in Caras Park, McCormick Park, and Westside Park. People sleeping outside must be 100 feet away from playgrounds, sports courts, splash pads, athletic fields, bandshells, and pavilions in city limits.
The resolution requires people camping in public places that don’t fall into the above categories to take down their tents and remove their campsites between 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. The resolution also directs the mayor’s office to look into providing necessary restrooms, garbage service, and “needle drop-off” locations near areas where unsheltered living is allowed.
Missoula city councilors partake in a city council meeting on Monday, June 10, 2024.
