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Residents press parks commission on disc golf equipment and homelessness in city parks
Summary
Members of the public urged the parks commission to hold and redeploy donated disc-golf baskets and to address widespread homelessness and safety/cleanliness concerns in parks; staff said donated equipment is city property and noted enforcement limits until sanctioned urban-camp solutions are in place.
Several members of the public used the commission’s audience-participation period to press two related issues: the disposition of donated disc-golf baskets and escalating homelessness and sanitation issues in Roseburg parks.
A disc-golf community representative asked why nine donated baskets were being auctioned rather than reused or installed at other parks, noting the community had raised funds and volunteered for course improvements in the past. Staff replied that donated equipment is city property and that liability and city policy limit direct donation of equipment to private parties, but staff said the baskets can remain city property and that staff would meet with the group to explore options and permitting steps for installing baskets elsewhere.
During extended public comment, Bernie Woodard of the Elk Island Trading Group described widespread unmanaged camps and sanitation problems in multiple parks, saying, “I counted 72 camps in Deer Creek Park,” and describing incidents of theft and human waste in park areas. He urged stronger enforcement tied to city efforts to establish sanctioned urban camps and transitional housing. City staff and commissioners acknowledged the problems, described smaller managed camps already operating (examples given: sanctioned tent sites and temporary managed camps) and said enforcement options are limited until managed urban-camp policies and sanctioned-location infrastructure are in place. Staff and commissioners discussed proposed managed-camp locations (216 Pine Street, a site at 0 LaSalle and other properties) and described a transition model involving managed tent communities moving to converted container housing and tiny homes.
The public asked the commission to pause auctioning donated equipment and to create clearer pathways for volunteer groups to propose park improvements; staff agreed to follow up. Commissioners and staff also recommended exploring enforcement, transparency about enforcement plans and coordinating with police or the city attorney on time, place and manner enforcement tied to available housing options.
What happens next: staff offered to meet with disc-golf volunteers to review permitting and insurance steps and to continue coordinating with other city departments and Council on sanctioned-camp proposals and enforcement options.
