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Umatilla staff propose updated camping ordinance aligned with Oregon law; council asks about enforcement and shelter access
Summary
City staff and the city attorney presented a draft update to Umatilla’s camping regulations to implement Oregon’s time, place and manner rules for encampments (House Bill 3115 / ORS 195.500 series). The proposal emphasizes shelter availability through regional partners and a preference for services over citations; councilors pressed staff on enforcement, legal risk and police safety.
City staff and the city attorney recommended changes to Umatilla’s municipal code governing camping in public spaces to conform to Oregon’s statutory framework for time, place and manner restrictions on encampments.
City Attorney Joanna Lions Antley told council the draft draws on recent municipal examples and is intended to be a simplified, enforceable code. She said the city modeled parts of the proposed language on Portland’s updated ordinance and tried to keep implementation "as simple as we could ... and make follow the law." The draft provides definitions for shelter, camping, public and private spaces and outlines enforcement steps and service referrals.
Staff and the city attorney emphasized the city’s regional shelter partnership (the PATH navigation center and contracted services with Stepping Stones Alliance) as the operational basis for time/place/manner enforcement. Councilors asked whether recent court decisions (the Martin v. Boise line of cases and other federal rulings) or state enactments create exposure to litigation; staff responded that Oregon’s codified approach (ORS 195.500 series) remains in force and that the city believes the ordinance can comply with both state and federal law when a publicly available shelter is operating.
Council discussion also focused on officers’ safety and humane enforcement: staff said the intent is to prioritize outreach and shelter connection and to use trespass and encampment removal tools only when necessary to address public-safety risks. The council did not vote on the ordinance and directed staff to return with final language for a future meeting.
Why it matters: Updating local code defines how the city will address illegal encampments, balancing compliance with state law, court precedent and on-the-ground public-safety considerations while relying on regional shelter capacity.
What’s next: Staff will refine the draft, monitor legal developments, and bring a final ordinance back for council consideration.
