KALAMAZOO, MI -- Behind closed doors Friday, homeless people who have been living in tents at Bronson Park met with Kalamazoo city officials and came to an agreement to vacate the park.

After a negotiation between members of the group and the city, both sides signed a document on official city letterhead that states members of the encampment are allowed to camp overnight for 30 days at the city-owned vacant fire station, at 116 West Cedar Street.

Members of the encampment exited city hall about 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 31, to let others know about the agreement, that states they would vacate Bronson Park by 9 p.m. Friday.

People who choose to continue camping overnight at Bronson Park will be subject to enforcement action, Kalamazoo City Manager Jim Ritsema said, and are considered trespassers. If they resist vacating the park and continue to camp overnight, they could be arrested, he said.

Ritsema walked with homeless encampment member Stuart Hamilton through the park after they and others met and came to the agreement.

Some of the campers worked to start breaking down the tents and other shelters at the park as the sun started to disappear behind downtown Kalamazoo Friday.

About 25 tents or other shelters have been set up at the parks for nearly two weeks.

People of all ages including families with young children were among those living at the encampment.

The agreement, signed by Ritsema as well as six members of the encampment, indicates that Kalamazoo will work on short-term and long-term solutions to reduce homelessness and increase options to help homeless people. Ritsema did not allow a reporter from the Kalamazoo Gazette to attend the meeting with city officials and members of the encampment, and spoke to the media after the agreement had been signed.

"We began a dialogue that was very productive on both sides," Ritsema said. "We came together and agreed to work on solutions to end homelessness in Kalamazoo together."

Hamilton said he has heard the city has been uncooperative, but now he believes they are there to help.

"I want everybody to know that the city is working with us," Hamilton said, and he believes people in Kalamazoo can work together to make an impact and set an example for the rest of the country.

"You don't have to be homeless. There's a solution to the problem. You've just gotta be smart enough to come up with a solution to the problem," he said.

A copy of a letter that members of a homeless encampment and city officials signed on Aug. 31.

Commissioner Shannon Sykes and other city officials also attended the meeting.

Sykes called it a "beautiful gathering" and said she was happy to see city staff work with the activists to come up with a solution.

People will be allowed to camp at the vacant fire station for 30 days, the city said in a news release, to provide an immediate option for homeless residents and time for the workgroup to explore alternatives.

Hamilton said he did not know if everyone camping at Bronson Park would vacate the location, but he believed a large group of people would leave.