A new ordinance is now in place in Missoula to secure safety in public parks, trails and picnic areas, while at the same time complying with a U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruling not to enforce bans on homeless camping.

Just before midnight, the Missoula City Council adjourned a meeting where heated comments stretched for hours on an emergency declaration, citing that homeless camping is endangering the safety of children and families who want to use public parks that they paid a lot of money to build and establish. It states that Missoula must have reasonable rules to prevent activities like digging, leaving garbage and more in public parks, and homeless camping can happen on different city owned spaces. City council members considered a number of amendments, including setting different hours for homeless camping, or designating one certain park for it, but those amendments failed.

This emergency ordinance is to last for 90 days, but another measure is in play to continue it permanently.

The city council set a public hearing for this ongoing matter for June 26.