That hasn’t assuaged advocates, who’ve accused the council of trying to push out the city’s homeless population. They worry the ordinance will have a “chilling effect” on local nonprofits and community groups and deter the city’s roughly 600 residents living on the streets from accepting needed services.

The move follows a landmark U.S. Supreme Court ruling this past June allowing local officials to ban people from camping in public places. Fremont’s measure could be the Bay Area’s most aggressive response yet — potentially setting a precedent for other cities.