Missoula City Council Hears Testimony About Camping in Parks

Missoula, MT (KGVO-AM News) - The Missoula City Council’s Committee of the Whole heard testimony on Wednesday both for and against amending the rules to prohibit overnight camping on city park lands.

During the public comment segment, there were individuals representing viewpoints both for and against the amendment.

The Council Heard Public Comments on Camping in Missoula Parks

Speaking for the amendment included Susan Campbell Reneau.

“I would ask for mercy on the taxpayers of Missoula and not allow camping at all in our public parks,” began Reneau. “I have two small granddaughters, and I have two Labrador Retrievers that love to frolic, and I no longer take my children to the park, and I no longer take my dogs to the parks because I have seen hypodermic needles in parks, and I am concerned about their safety.”

Another individual expressing support for the ordinance was Steve, who made this comment.

Susan and Steve Were Both in Favor of Prohibiting Camping in Parks

“My name is Steve and I live in Ward 3, he began. “I'm here to represent the actual taxpayers in this city. The majority of the people you've heard from today are either activists or don't pay the taxes that fund the creation and upkeep of our public parks. We do not pay for them to become campgrounds and drug dens. Our taxes also pay for not one but two shelters. If people don't want to go to the shelter because it requires sobriety, that's not our problem, they can go spend the night in jail or go find another town that will enable their behavior.”

Two Individuals With the ACLU Spoke in Opposition of the Ordinance

There were two individuals who identified themselves as being part of the ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) who opposed the ordinance.

“The ACLU Montana stands fully against this ordinance already and finds expanding it to be inhumane and unethical to the beliefs that Missoulians share, which include inclusivity, equality and safety,” she began. “We encourage you to vote against this proposal and to consider evidence based compassionate approaches to the issue of homelessness. Please go back to the reports created by the working group, including the Minority Report, and focus on fixing the underlying causes of homelessness rather than criminal criminalizing being unhoused.”

READ MORE: What Are Those 'Homeless Camping" Signs Around Missoula?

Henry, who also said he was with the ACLU, provided this comment opposing the amendment.

“Most of us against the urban camping ordinance understand that park camping isn't the solution to the issues at hand,” began Henry. “However, that doesn't excuse the city to rip away all solutions without setting sufficient resources in place first. Along with that, using a Supreme Court decision as an excuse to discriminate against unhoused people doesn't mean that this measure isn't harmful and dangerous. For example, for those who believe in the right to bodily autonomy and reproductive care, just because the Supreme Court overturned that principle doesn't mean that that right isn't still fundamental.”

Watch the entire meeting here.

There will be a public hearing on the issue on December 2 to amend the Missoula Municipal code.