Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Human Services Public Safety topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Resident urges city to act on long‑standing homeless camp near Willamette Falls
Summary
A resident told the commission the riverbank campsite adjacent to Willamette Falls has become a sanitation and debris problem; staff said responsibility is complicated by property ownership and will follow up.
A resident raised sanitation and safety concerns about a long‑standing homeless encampment on the Willamette Riverbank adjacent to Willamette Falls during public comment.
Ken Basinger told the commission the camp has occupied the riverbank for about three years and that piles of debris and decomposing organic matter have produced an “a stinking, rotting mess.” He urged immediate removal, telling commissioners: “It has to go. It’s unsanitary, unsightly, and illegal.”
Basinger said the property was formerly part of the paper mill and, he believes, is owned by the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde; he urged the city to coordinate with the recorded property owner. City staff said the issue has been examined and that the city has been in contact with railroad police regarding activity on nearby tracks. Staff did not confirm whether the tribe had been contacted and said they would follow up with the resident after the meeting.
No formal action was taken at the meeting; the item was referred to staff for follow‑up. Members of the commission acknowledged the complaint and asked staff to investigate ownership and enforcement options.
