ELMIRA, N.Y. (WENY) -- Last month, the City of Elmira passed an ordinance banning camping within city limits.  On Wednesday, the city took action in enforcing that ban.

According to Mayor Dan Mandell, twelve people were cited by the Elmira Police Department at a homeless encampment by the Lackawanna Trail.  This follows the camping ordinance passed in November, putting fines and jail time on the table for violators.

Mayor Mandell said DSS had previously identified this site, and he said it became a matter of public safety.

"People from DSS and their partners have been working on it for a while to get these people help, and [the people living there] have been refusing. Then we received information that there may be firearms and weapons and propane tanks out in that area. At that point we decided for public safety, because that's right near the Lackawanna Trail, that we had to take action," said Mayor Mandell.

Mayor Mandell said the people in the camp were given appearance tickets for January, and encouraged to contact DSS and Catholic Charities.  He said the people cited have 48 hours to remove their belongings, and after that time, the police will clear the site.