A measure to crack down on loitering and other more offensive activities, especially downtown, was approved on the second reading Monday by the Fort Dodge City Council.

The proposed prohibited acts ordinance must be approved once more by the council in order to become law.

The measure does not include the word homeless in it, although many of the activities it targets are things that city officials have received complaints about homeless people doing downtown.

Council members did not discuss the measure Monday before voting unanimously to approve the second reading. No members of the public addressed the council about it.

These are the prohibited acts included in the measure:

• Aggressive solicitation — The act of making repetitive, unwanted solicitation requests, despite refusals from pedestrian or vehicular traffic.

• Interference — The act of interrupting or slowing the normal flow of pedestrian or vehicular traffic.

• Loitering — The act of intentionally standing, sitting, or lying at length in the public right-of-way with no apparent purpose.

• Obstruction — The act of standing, loafing, or sleeping anywhere that hinders the public right-of-way, passage or entryway or deters the public from using such right-of-way.

• Public camping — The act of setting up and occupying a makeshift living space within the city in an area that is not specifically designed, designated or approved by the city for such purposes.

• Public urination/defecation — The past or present act of urinating/defecating on or within clear view of public property, businesses, store fronts, parks, roads, alleyways or a public right-of-way.

• Rummaging — The act of foraging through the belongings or property of another in search of resources or items.

• Unauthorized residence — To occupy, shelter or dwell in any abandoned or unmonitored space without the expressed knowledge and consent of the property owner.

• Vehicle habitation — To shelter or dwell within a motor vehicle that is not designed for prolonged habitation.

Violations of the ordinance would be a simple misdemeanor, punishable with a fine of up to $300 or a short jail sentence.