The Grants Pass City Council has identified four properties that could be utilized as camping sites for the unhoused population.
During its Monday workshop session, the City Council acknowledged that it has 10 days to come up with solutions to end a 14-day restraining order that prohibits the city from enforcing most restrictions on public camping.
The City of Grants Pass is currently under the two-week injunction due to a lawsuit filed last month by Disability Rights Oregon and the Oregon Law Center.
Grants Pass Mayor Clint Scherf opened the workshop by stating that discussions regarding homeless sites -- including locations and resting hours -- were part of an informational session only, with the information being shared with the interim City Attorney. It is hoped the information will limit the order to two weeks rather than it becoming a permanent injunction that could last until the lawsuit is settled, which could be as long as three years.
Council members went through a long list of potential homeless camping sites before settling on the existing site at 712 NE 7th Street, the former hospital land at 124 NW Midland Avenue, 601 SE I Street next to the City Shops and industrial property at 2660 NW Vine Street. The first three sites are city-owned while the Vine Street site is currently for sale by a private owner.
The City Attorney was not present at the workshop, but asked the Council to come up with alternatives with "more space and more time." He said last year's Supreme Court ruling in favor of Grants Pass has no bearing in this case.
