Tuesday, with a packed house at Springs city chambers, council members voted 8 to 1 to pass an ordinance which would make it illegal for anyone to camp, or live, on city owned property. Tom Gallagher was the one councilman to say no to the proposal.

Dozens of Springs residents showed up to voice their opinion on the proposal, which comes as more homeless camps are popping up along Fountain and Monument Creek in Colorado Springs.

"The fact that they call it camping makes it sound like a vacation... no one chooses to go camping this time of year," said one Springs resident, in opposition to the measure.

Police say there are more than 200 homeless people living in tents along the creek beds. In 2009 there was 490 cubic yards of trash removed from the homeless camps, which officials say is about double that of 2008. They hope the ordinance will improve the trash situation on the public property.

The proposed ban, which still faces a second city council vote before becoming law, would allow police to give written warnings to offenders along with a list of homeless outreach services. If, after 48 hours, the offender is found still camping, he or she would be given a "no camping" ticket. The ticket would carry a fine and/or jail time.

The number of shelter beds actually available in the city is a concern for homeless advocates.

Colorado Springs police say they will not ticket homeless people who camp at parks near downtown and city creeks if there is no room at shelters. Police Commander Kurt Pillard says if there are no shelter beds, officers will not issue tickets.

The second vote on this "no camping" ordinance will happen sometime in the next two weeks.