Grants Pass narrows potential temporary camping sites to four as city seeks to address court order

At a Grants Pass City Council workshop, staff briefed the council on potential designated resting/camping locations for people experiencing homelessness as the city seeks to respond to a temporary restraining order and litigation over whether its rules are “objectively reasonable” under state law. Councilors narrowed an initial list of properties to four sites and asked staff to consult city legal counsel and schedule an executive session to discuss time-related limits.

City staff member Aaron introduced the discussion as a review of past, current and potential sites and framed the workshop as informational: “This is not an all inclusive list… and call to action today would be any direction council may be able to provide with regards to future camping sites,” he said. Aaron reviewed past sites (6th & 8th Street, J Street) and the city’s current site at 712 Northeast Seventh Street, which he said is 0.32 acres and has porta‑potties, dumpster, handwashing and some services.

The council discussed the legal context. A counselor summarized the litigation background: the city changed its camping exclusions on Jan. 7, was sued, and a judge placed a temporary restraining order on enforcement; the city has an opportunity to propose adjustments to the judge…