Long-term camping – and living – in tents is now prohibited in Umatilla.
On Tuesday night, the Umatilla City Council unanimously approved the ordinance, which bans camping on public property within the city completely – with an exception for organized youth groups with permission of the city manager. The ordinance also limits camping on private property. Restrictions on private property include camping without permission of the landowner and camping with the intention of living.
The city council has heard complaints about “tent cities” and homeless individuals camping along the city’s rivers, and Umatilla City Manager Bob Ward referenced individuals camping long-term on vacant property in the city. City staff referenced living in tents as a safety and health issue.
Ward called the ordinance a tool for the Umatilla Police Department, especially in light of “illegal activity” discovered during the citywide cleanup this spring.
The action follows the city’s ban on passing any objects or currency from vehicles on roadways – designed to curb panhandlers at the city’s major intersections – and Councilman Roak TenEyck expressed some concern over taking care of people who are struggling.
“I think it’s important for us as a community to try to reach out to the folks that are in need,” he said. “I talked to a couple of those guys, and they’re willing to work. They just need the opportunity. I want it to be known we’re not up here heartlessly or without feeling.”
In addition to the camping ordinance, the city faced a full agenda during Tuesday’s meeting, its only planned meeting this month.
In other business:
• The council unanimously approved an ordinance changing the Code Improvement Board to the Code Enforcement Board and adjusting the code enforcement procedures.
• The council declared a vacancy on the Parks and Recreation Committee.
• Honey Bunnz Hideout owner Steve Bunn approached the council and said the council is discriminating against him and his business. The council did approve a request for a beer garden on Sept. 12 to celebrate Honey Bunnz Hideout’s one-year anniversary.
• Two resolutions passed unanimously on tax abatement agreements for Vadata buildings in the Port of Umatilla.
• The council discussed concerns about a recent Oregon Department of Transportation project on Powerline Road.
• The liquor license for Moon Ha, Inc – which operates PikA Pop – was renewed.
• The city approved a request from the county to host a ballot drop-off box at Umatilla City Hall.
• The council approved a $2,600 grant request application from the Umatilla Chamber of Commerce for general operations.
• An offer from Kathy Meharry to trade parcels of land within the city was denied. Meharry suggested trading four parcels of land she owns on Seventh Street with city-owned property on Sixth Street. The city’s lot on Sixth Street is valued at $54,934, and Meharry’s four lots are valued at $20,940 total.
