DULUTH, Minn. — After 7 hours of deliberations at Monday evening’s municipal council meeting, a verdict was reached. The city council passed a measure that extends the ban on outdoor camping to all city properties. However, they amended this ordinance and reduced the penalty from a misdemeanor to a fine.

“The littering, the drug use, the drinking is an affront to all of us as citizens,” said Eddie Gleeson, who spoke in favor of the ordinances. “At the same time, I recognize that this country needs a marginal plan for the homeless and for mental health. And we can point fingers all over the place, but they’re calling, come back to us.”

Strong emotions pour out in the public comment section at the Duluth City Council meeting. Dozens of people chimed in on Mayor Roger Reinert’s proposed public safety ordinance.

The proposed package of public health and safety regulations targets non-violent crime. Regarding burning, graffiti, property damage and camping in public areas. So far, these behaviors have only required fines.

Mayor Reinert has said that by raising these charges to a misdemeanor, repeat offenders will be better connected to the necessary resources through the court system. But many who opposed the proposed changes say they criminalize homelessness and seek to limit people’s right to protest, especially on city property.

“In their language and their existence, the proposed ordinances/city solutions are the least beneficial, low-hanging fruit version of the problem,” said Hannah Montoya, who spoke against the ordinances. “From my side of the defense, it looks like all the public officials who are pro-ordinance are just fronting. It’s fronting and putting on a show, because voting for these ordinances doesn’t actually address the reality of the situation. The reality is that Duluth’s problems are systemic and need proper funding.”

But several businesses and community members prefer the updated wording. Many expressed that through misdemeanor charges, rehabilitation and access to specialized care is possible.

“While we do our best to help, sending someone to the emergency room in the middle of a mental health or substance abuse crisis, without some kind of long-term support or treatment is like putting a band-aid over a gaping wound,” said Lisa Cuttle, who spoke in favor of the regulations. “Also, our emergency rooms in the city, like so many across the country, are constantly boarding people for hours or days waiting to try to get them somewhere, get them somewhere they can get help. We need more ways to help people before they end up in crisis, which is much more resource-intensive than outpatient mental health programs.By allowing misdemeanor charges for some of the disruptive public behaviors associated with substance abuse problems and crises, it provides community members with a tool for more longitudinal interventions that are much more likely to be successful than just sobering up in the ER. And then leaving without getting the proper treatment these individuals need.”

The proposed ordinances that passed will allow penalties of up to 90 days in jail or a $1,000 fine. Camping on city land only requires a fine. An ordinance from this package, to change the false enlistment language, was introduced.