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Council advances camping ordinance and hears quarterly update on Stepping Stones camp
Summary
City staff advanced Ordinance 2025-06 to add a legal definition of "established camp" (five or more days) and clarify where sanctioned camping is permitted; Classic Community Action reported on operations at the Stepping Stones camp (29 residents, peak ~40, drainage fixes and a planned shower/laundry trailer).
Ordinance 2025-06: definition, enforcement tools and vehicle camping
City staff presented Ordinance 2025-06 on Nov. 10, bringing code chapter 102 into alignment with state practice and a court-reviewed Medford model by adding a definition of an "established camp" (five or more days at a location) and clarifying permitted and restricted public locations for camping. The ordinance would give police and city staff a clearer enforcement framework while preserving the council's and manager's ability to designate sanctioned sites.
A key operational provision added to the draft would allow, when the council or city manager designates a temporary site for individuals participating in the city's sanctioned camping program, that designation to override ordinary parking rules for vehicle-based sleeping in that location. Staff said state law (ORS 195.520) permits cities to allow vehicle camping under limited conditions but does not require them to provide parking spaces for vehicles; the ordinance is worded to preserve local discretion while meeting sanitary requirements in any vehicle-designated site.
Stepping Stones quarterly update
Kenny Hansen, the Classic Community Action (CCA) manager overseeing the Stepping Stones sanctioned camp, delivered a quarterly operational report. He said the camp, opened in August, currently serves 29 participants and peaked near 40. CCA supplies initial tents and 15—y—0 tarps; staff are present mainly daytime hours (one staff member contracted for roughly 32 hours/week plus additional unpaid effort on nights). CCA reported two felony assaults in October (both participants no longer at the camp) and ongoing work to address drainage and site maintenance. A shower and laundry trailer is planned for Avenue U near the golf course and a program is being developed to offer community-service opportunities and help participants with job applications and housing referrals.
Council concerns and next steps
Council debates focused on overflow-site planning, neighbor notification, and distinguishing habitable RVs from vehicles used by people experiencing homelessness (HUD and state standards were raised). Some councilors urged identification of potential overflow sites and advance notification processes; others said updating the ordinance now is a necessary legal tool for enforcement and that overflow planning can proceed in parallel. Council conducted first and second readings of the ordinance and scheduled further action; staff said a notice requirement would apply for established camps (72-hour notice for abatement when the camp meets the definition of established).
