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Business owner urges action on encampment and trash near railroad; city points to jurisdictional limits
Summary
A local business owner told council a homeless camp near the railroad is producing large amounts of trash and public-safety incidents; city staff said responsibility falls to multiple authorities — county redevelopment, the railroad and the state — and that the city and police have limited ability to force removals absent private-side trespass enforcement.
Business owner Dave Bagda of 992 Scott Street addressed council during public comment about a homeless encampment near the railroad, describing large amounts of garbage, an apparent overdose response in December and what he called widespread theft of merchandise. "There must be 15 to 20 garbage trucks that you'll need you you'll need a tricycle to get the garbage out of there," he said, adding that the site straddles state, county and city property and criticizing news coverage that suggested the camp was "legal."
City Administrator Charlie McCormack said a small piece of land is city-owned but that the primary problem lies on parcels owned by the county redevelopment authority, the railroad and the state. He said the city and police have notified the responsible entities and asked people to leave, but that officials do not always have the legal authority to force removals; private owners can enforce trespass if they post signs and pursue enforcement.
Council members and staff discussed whether property had been transferred to the redevelopment authority and whether signage had been placed to enable trespass enforcement. Staff did not announce a cleanup plan or a timetable at the meeting.
What happens next: staff said they have notified the county, railroad and state entities; no new enforcement actions or cleanup schedule were recorded in the transcript.
