Seaside residents, businesses press council for stronger management as unsanctioned camp draws complaints

Residents and business owners in Seaside described repeated thefts, drug activity, hazardous litter and damage they attribute to an unsanctioned homeless camp and its nearby recycling hub, and asked city officials at a community roundtable to confirm a planned relocation and increase on-site supervision.

At the meeting, Destiny Darris, a Seaside resident and former restaurant owner, said items including arrows were found buried on her property after a loud roof “explosion” she could not explain. “A couple days later, Phil walks outside and sees a broken arrow laying in the driveway,” Darris said. She described being concerned for neighborhood safety and property values and said she has personally engaged with people at the camp but worries some are there for drugs rather than services.

The meeting drew multiple accounts from business owners and residents near the camp on Avenue S about theft, needles and open drug use. Randy Stimper, a general contractor in Seaside, said the problem had put his contractors at risk: “I had a knife pulled on me by a homeless person. The problem is getting worse.” Randy Anderson, who owns commercial property by the recycling center, said he has witnessed overdoses on his property and tracked 34 related police calls in two years. “Kudos to the Seaside Police Department—they’ve responded every time I’ve called,” Anderson said, while adding that repeated incidents have led him to erect cameras and fencing.

Business owners also described theft of construction materials and regular dumping at the recycling hub next to the camp. Mark Boggan, who co-developed a storage property at 900 Avenue S, said material and equipment were stolen and that local businesses needed a point person to manage the camp. “It greatly affected our construction. We had stuff stolen almost on a daily basis,” Boggan said. Sam Jasmine, who identified themself as a manager in Seaside, reported finding needles and water thefts at night and said the campsite had become “the hub” for people collecting recyclables.

Several speakers urged the city to remove or relocate the recycling center, saying it attracts people who sort bins for resale and fuels criminal activity. One participant said the annual cleanup cost is about $50,000. Suggestions at the meeting included a city-managed “junk day,” better fencing to prevent cut-through paths from the camp to neighborhood properties and more frequent patrols.

Public-health concerns surfaced repeatedly. James McCorple, a resident near Avenue West, said he regularly finds sharps and asked whether the city could provide safe sharps containers or a hand-washing station near the camp. “Can we provide them some place safe to put their sharps?” McCorple asked. Others said sharps containers had been provided previously but their maintenance had lapsed when a homeless liaison position changed.

Business owners also described impacts to customer and employee safety. Bridal Bancroft, who said she co-owns The Commons, said trash and clothing left by campers create hazards for staff and guests and described attempts by people to access units or open doors. Brian Olson, who operates vacation-rental laundry facilities, said staff fear walking outside because people have used needles and stored belongings on his property.

Council involvement and next steps were discussed. One attendee asked whether the planned April relocation remained on track; a councilor in the room responded, “They’re still moving.” Several speakers said they had not been notified about the camp’s original placement on Avenue S and called the lack of prior outreach a “slap in the face.” Attendees urged the city to commit enough funding and staff time for 24/7 management if the camp is relocated, and to remove the recycling center from the site so the camp loses its local resource hub.

The roundtable included a variety of proposals and requests but no formal vote recorded in the transcript. Speakers repeatedly asked for stronger enforcement, a dedicated manager for the camp, improved trash and sharps disposal, fencing to stop cut-through paths, and clearer communication from city officials to nearby residents and businesses.

The meeting ended with residents and business owners urging the council to follow through on the relocation plan and provide a clearer management strategy and notification process for neighbors.