Denver Mayor Michael Hancock today signed the controversial ordinance that makes it illegal to camp on city streets.

The Denver City Council approved a homeless-camping ban Monday night in the face of an angry crowd that taped dollar bills to their mouths, chanted “shame” after the 9-4 vote and staged a sit-in outside the chambers.

The ordinance, which forbids unauthorized camping on public and private property in Denver, will go into effect May 30, giving police time to learn the procedures on how to deal with homeless people caught illegally sleeping outside.

In a statement e-mailed after the ordinance was signed, a mayor’s spokeswoman said the new law provides tools that will help the city continue its “compassionate work of connecting our most vulnerable with services needed.”

She also wrote that the administration is working with community stakeholders and regional partners to implement the new law.

Supporters say the ordinance will help people who are homeless find services. And it will give police the tools to move out homeless people, who over the past few years have irritated downtown merchants and tourists.

Detractors say the ordinance criminalizes homelessness.

Police Chief Robert White said he expects officers to have a “light touch” and arrests would occur only as a last resort and only when an alleged camper was unwilling to comply with the officers’ requests to move on.

Officers would need to determine whether the person needed medical or human services and try to contact a member of the street outreach team.

If no outreach workers were available, or if the person still didn’t want to comply, officers would have to call a supervisor to sign off before making an arrest.

“The very last thing that we would do is make an arrest for camping,” White said last week. “The only time we would be doing that is if someone refuses.”

No arrests would be made when shelter beds were unavailable.