Residents press council for action on homelessness and Old Town maintenance; city to report back

During the public-comment period, several residents urged the council to take action on homelessness-related issues in Old Town and called for expanded maintenance to improve business appearance and safety.

Bob Webb (introduced by the clerk as a signed speaker) described repeated calls to police and said he would remove benches from his property because of persistent problems with a particular individual. "I've had customers... some are frightened," he said, adding he had called police three times in the last month. Neil Barlow, who earlier spoke on Seabird Drive, returned to urge small, quick public-works improvements in Old Town such as pressure-washing sidewalks, repainting markings and weeding, suggesting a business forum with city staff to identify practical short-term actions. Mike Mulloy, a Seabird resident, recounted police enforcement in one case and said the individual had been trespassed but later returned; he urged the city to seek creative, lasting solutions rather than repeated short-term measures.

City staff cautioned that legal constraints, including state law governing possession and the required retention of property for a period, complicate aggressive local enforcement. The city manager and city attorney were asked to research available legal tools; staff and council committed to a report back at the next meeting. The chair noted that while other jurisdictions have different approaches, Bandon must work within Oregon law; the council asked the police chief and city attorney to advise on options and a timeline for a staff report.