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Commission authorizes MOU to colocate municipal Caring Court at proposed Caring Place, amid process concerns
Summary
Oregon City authorized a memorandum of understanding to show intent to colocate the municipal Caring Court at the proposed Caring Place, aiming to coordinate services for people experiencing homelessness; one commissioner voted no citing lack of early city involvement.
The Oregon City Commission voted May 20 to authorize a memorandum of understanding (MOU) expressing the city’s intent to colocate the municipal Caring Court and related staff at the proposed Caring Place collaborative facility.
City Manager Tony Conkl presented the MOU, saying the document signals the city’s willingness to negotiate separate lease agreements and to join other potential tenants to demonstrate to funders that tenants will occupy the facility. Conkl described the Caring Court — a municipal court process that routes eligible defendants toward social services as an alternative to traditional criminal sanctions — and argued colocating that work at the Caring Place would streamline access to housing, medical and social‑service providers.
“Locating the city‑run Caring Court at the Caring Place would be beneficial to coordinate care with the service providers at the facility, improving the efficiency and effectiveness of providing services to those in need,” Conkl said.
Commissioner Marl opposed signing the MOU, citing concerns that the Caring Place proceeded too far without meaningful early coordination with the city and that it's now seeking city signatures to leverage additional funding after design decisions were already made. Marl said that signing the MOU at this stage would not change the project’s form and expressed reluctance to endorse it.
Other commissioners disagreed that authorizing the MOU would lock the city into unfavorable terms and emphasized the potential operational benefits of colocation. Commissioner Wilson said discussions about relocating Caring Court to the Caring Place had taken place for more than a year.
The motion to authorize the MOU passed on a roll call vote; Commissioner Marl voted no, and the remainder voted yes. Commissioners instructed staff to ensure any future lease agreements follow legal and policy requirements and to monitor implementation.
Next steps: the commission authorized the city manager and municipal court as appropriate to sign the MOU and requested staff bring any subsequent lease or legal documents to the commission for review as needed.
