City staff propose temporary Southwest parcel campground, navigation hub partnerships and phased 'pilot' improvements

City staff presented a revised encampment response report that recommends a time‑limited pilot to manage camping on the city’s Southwest parcel, pair an on‑site amenities area with an off‑site navigation hub, and invest in phased site improvements intended to reduce hazards and improve access to services.

Deputy City Manager Liddy and the encampment response coordinator outlined changes to the pilot since the March briefing: staff added stronger language on fire prevention, clarified that navigation‑hub services should be available to all people experiencing housing insecurity (not only those who live in encampments), and tightened site mapping so that wet and hard‑to‑access areas would be excluded from any temporary camping footprint.

On site design, staff proposed scattered, leveled 1,250‑square‑foot camping plots, tree‑mounted solar lighting along access routes, marked grid addressing for emergency response and a centralized amenities area for potable water, toilets and storage. The presentation included a conceptual map and a focus on responder access; fire officials recommended a 20‑foot access road and smaller, off‑road suppression apparatus to handle brush and small fires more quickly than a full pumper truck. Staff said campground permits may require waivers or variances from environmental health standards but that nearby navigation‑hub services could satisfy public‑health objectives in lieu of on‑site infrastructure such as showers.

A navigation hub concept would offer showers, laundry, storage and on‑site case managers or county partners who could provide entitlement assistance. Staff said the city will pursue county partnerships for staffing and program delivery because operational funds are limited: a small capital appropriation could pay for site improvements, while ongoing hub staffing would likely need partner or county funding.

Budget and timing: staff provided a rough two‑year, phased estimate for Southwest parcel improvements of about $380,000 and noted that amount is “less than half of what was set aside” in council capital funds for encampment response work. The deputy city manager said a resolution accepting the report and updated policy language will come to the council voting meeting on May 7; if council accepts the direction staff would begin phased implementation informed by environmental‑health permit conversations and by coordination with Tompkins County.

Councilors pressed staff on public outreach, the fire‑safety strategy and staffing for non‑police outreach (a new policing‑alternatives unit). Staff said they will present additional details at upcoming meetings and seek operational partnerships with the county; the county’s shelter plans and strategic goals were referenced repeatedly as important partners in any temporary camping program.

Why it matters: the report is a near‑term operational plan for how the city will respond to people living outside — balancing outreach, public health, safety and neighborhood impacts while the county plans longer‑term shelter capacity. The pilot emphasizes temporary status and repeated review, with staff recommending a phased approach and continued public engagement.

Ending: Council will consider a resolution to accept the report and policy updates on May 7. Staff said additional public outreach and further coordination with county partners will continue before and after any implementation steps.