Council weighs options to protect riverbanks as officers ramp up camp cleanups

Councilors spent the final portion of the meeting discussing concentrated homeless encampments along riverbanks and associated environmental damage.

Councilor Tom Micklec described extensive erosion, tree cutting and trash along riverbanks where campers have concentrated and asked whether the city could designate those areas as environmentally sensitive or require people to stay on designated pathways to allow recovery. Councilors and the police chief discussed legal limits on removing campsites: Oregon law requires a 72‑hour notice period for camp cleanups and additional property‑holding requirements when law enforcement seizes items, complicating enforcement and increasing staff workload.

Police representatives said enforcement has been prioritized at the riverbank sites: in recent weeks officers issued convictions and multiple citations for prohibited camping in the area, and the department has run targeted camp cleanup operations using a dedicated shift. Councilors acknowledged the enforcement constraints and emphasized the need to identify alternative locations if the city tightens restrictions so people are not displaced without options. Several councilors praised Officer Chavez for his work on camp cleanups and said staff should continue to evaluate time, place and manner rules to protect environmental features while considering shelter capacity and services.

No ordinance or binding directive was adopted at the meeting; councilors asked staff to review the issue and consider environmental impacts as part of future agenda work.