Overview
- The City Council, which voted 6–3 Wednesday, adopted an ordinance that bars unpermitted food distribution and medical care in city parks starting June 5.
- Permits are capped at two per park per month and apply only to about 105 neighborhood parks with parking lots plus community and regional parks, with applications opening Thursday.
- The rules require services to run inside enclosed tents or mobile medical vehicles in parking lots or other hardscape areas and ban needle exchange and injectable naloxone, though nasal Narcan remains allowed.
- Violations are a class 1 misdemeanor carrying up to a $2,000 fine and six months in jail, and the police chief said officers will start with warnings and education before citing people.
- Backers cite needles, trash and safety concerns, while nonprofits and legal advocates warn the limits will curb aid in extreme heat and could face court challenges on constitutional and disability-rights grounds.