The Grants Pass City Council last night approved the second reading and adoption of an ordinance regulating services provided to homeless people residing in parks.
The City Council voted 5-3 to adopt the ordinance, which regulates humanitarian service events on publicly-owned land. A number of organizations hold regular events to provide the unhoused population with food, services and medical help.
The ordinance creates a registration process for individuals, non-profits and other charitable organizations to use city parks and public places for such events, and prohibits them from engaging in the dissemination of drug paraphernalia and compressed combustible materials.
Organizations will now have to pay a $25 administration fee with an application, but they can re-register for no additional cost. Proof of registration will be held by City Administration and the Grants Pass Police Department. Registrants must also indemnify and defend the City from any legal claims arising from these events.
As part of the Consent Agenda, the City Council passed a resolution to submit a grant application for US Homeland Security assistance in acquiring self-contained breathing apparatus and six Rapid Intervention Team packs for the fire department.
The meeting was briefly adjourned and the City Council reconvened as the Urban Renewal Agency. The panel discussed forming an Urban Renewal Task Force that will be charged with reviewing the status of current and proposed projects before developing a five-year implementation strategy that aligns with the adopted plan. A motion was made and passed to hold a workshop for additional discussion.
Alberto Pinedo was appointed to the Committee on Public Art.
