Roseburg council weighs continued search for urban campground as new camping ordinance nears enforcement

Roseburg City Council members debated whether to continue actively searching for a designated urban campground while new campsite regulations — adopted in Ordinance 3605 — move toward enforcement.

At the meeting the mayor reminded the public that Ordinance 3605, which the council approved at second reading last month, will take effect in roughly 30 days and that police will spend that time educating people before issuing citations. "From now to the 20 sixth...the police...are out educating everybody," the mayor said, and noted penalties guided by the Grants Pass ruling: a first offense up to $100, a second up to $250, and a third offense that can carry up to seven days in jail.

Residents and councilors offered sharply differing views. Carolyn Goff, who identified herself as a Roseburg resident, told the council she was "very upset" at the prospect of an urban campground near her neighborhood and said she had expected more neighbors to attend. By contrast, councilor Kyla said she supports continuing to look for sites, citing visits to Eugene where she observed campgrounds that appeared clean and well managed. "Being able to see that transformation within a matter of less than a year...is proof that that is...a solution that's working for that community," Kyla said.

Several council members urged a measured approach. One councilor recommended waiting "3 or 4 months to see how everything changes with the new rules" and to give officers a chance to implement the ordinance. Councilor Ellen said the new tools for enforcement may help but cautioned that people experiencing homelessness are not a single group: some are transitioning and need services, while others have chosen a different lifestyle. "We do have different segments of unhoused people," Ellen said, adding that sanctioned campgrounds offering porta‑potties and handwashing stations had worked in city‑run pilot sites.

Councilor David framed the issue as one of capacity and ethics: "Homelessness is not a crime," he said, arguing for places where people who want to can legally exist while receiving services. He also cautioned that the police department is not fully staffed, and relying primarily on enforcement would add to officers' workloads.

Public commenter Nicole Inglis, who identified herself as transient in Roseburg, urged short‑term placement of people into communal spaces for 30 days to document needs and direct services. Other speakers described nearby examples — Hastings Village and Cottage Grove — and raised questions about whether a campground must be inside city limits; staff said it could be located outside the city if the county agreed.

Council members agreed on next steps for process and logistics rather than an immediate site selection. The mayor said the council will develop a procedure to inspect candidate sites and may convene emergency executive sessions if a viable site appears between meetings. He asked council members to send ideas by email and said staff will bring logistics back at the next meeting.

Clarifying details raised during the discussion included the mitigation process for citations — cleaning a campsite or showing participation in transition programs can reduce penalties — and that the city will count existing shelter beds (mission, navigation center, adapt beds) toward availability. Several councilors emphasized the need to prepare for winter and consider warming‑center capacity.

The council did not adopt or authorize a specific campground at the meeting; it directed staff to finalize logistics for rapid review of candidate sites and to report back at future meetings.