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City, police and school outline steps on city‑center safety and encampment policy
Summary
City staff, police and school leaders briefed council on follow-up to an October listening session about safety around Rick Marcotte School and city center, describing increased foot patrols, outreach to the school community, data collection and options under existing policy; police recommended a citywide rather than site-specific ordinance and said current policy allows prioritized response near schools and playgrounds.
City staff and the police chief updated the council on a series of actions and partnerships intended to improve safety in the city center and near the Rick Marcotte school following an October listening session and a recent serious incident on school property.
Chief Bill Bridal and city manager Jesse Baker said police have increased foot patrols, prioritized camps near schools and playgrounds for rapid response, and are coordinating with the school district on communications and operations. The council and staff discussed whether to pursue location-specific ordinances (a proposal some councilors raised for city center) or to use citywide policy updates; Chief Bridal urged caution about a location-specific ordinance because it can push encampments elsewhere and recommended strengthening and clarifying existing policy and enforcement procedures.
“Any area around the school is a critical area,” Chief Bridal said, adding that the department has prioritized rapid removal and follow-up on encampments near educational facilities. Councilors asked for clearer language and better alignment between sections of the encampment and removal policy; staff agreed to propose edits and bring back a more detailed plan in the coming months. The Rick Marcotte principal described school outreach and communications, and members of the public urged faster, clearer messaging to the broader community.
