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Council debates added city capital share for managed homeless camp; motion to table to Nov. 3
Summary
City Manager Keith Witkoski told council a low construction bid for a county-run managed homeless camp exceeded earlier estimates, prompting a proposed city capital increase from $250,000 to about $322,005.59; Councilor Patrick moved to table the IGA amendment until Nov. 3 to discuss with county partners, and Councilor Osborne seconded. The transcript does not record a final vote tally.
City Manager Keith Witkoski briefed the Redmond City Council on an amendment to an intergovernmental agreement with Deschutes County to develop and operate a managed homeless camp on county-owned land. Witkoski said the county ran the procurement and the lowest construction bid came in roughly $145,000 higher than earlier estimates, increasing the city’s capital share from the budgeted $250,000 to about $322,005.59; Witkoski said the county’s capital share would be approximately $353,005.59 if contracts are approved.
Witkoski emphasized the city’s role is limited to capital funding under the IGA and that the county would lead operations and service procurement. He noted the budget committee previously discussed dedicating $250,000 and that any additional city contribution would require a subsequent budget adjustment and use of general-fund reserves if the council approved it.
Jason, the deputy city manager, told the council the additional $73,000 is not in the current budget and that "the simplest way is to take it out of our reserve," adding the city projects about $12.7 million in reserves at the end of the next year and keeps a $9.6 million minimum threshold. "So we take it out of reserve and then we put it in the expense line," he said.
Councilor Patrick raised concerns about committing city dollars without operational funding guarantees, argued the city’s limited budget should prioritize core services and suggested downscaling or re-evaluating the bid. "Continuing to pour money into a project without fully understanding the total cost is risky and irresponsible," Patrick said. He moved to table the IGA discussion until the council’s Nov. 3 meeting with county commissioners; Councilor Osborne seconded the motion. Councilors clarified that the vote would be to table, not to approve the IGA. The transcript records some votes and a prediction that tabling would pass 3–2 based on current positions, but a definitive final tally is not included in the provided transcript.
Witkoski noted the county aims to have the managed camp operational by January and that operational funding beyond an initial two-year county effort would need further calculation and agreement. No final IGA approval or binding budget adjustment was recorded in the transcript during this meeting.
