BEND, OR -- The Bend City Council reviewed their Camping Response Strategy at a work session Wednesday night. The draft code specifies 24 hours as the amount of time an individual can spend in the rights-of-way. This would still require a 72-hour removal notice in the event of a violation which is state law for established campsites. Also, where and how valuable items will be stored was clarified.
Councilor Anthony Broadman was concerned about city and county responsibilities, “Doing work that the county needs to be doing. Specifically, like we continue to do the county’s work for it and you know I don’t think we can do anything else but the county needs to step up particularly on a lot of the items we’re committing to on this code.”
“I think the intent with the code in its current draft form would be implementation in March and that is to give us some time to work through some of those details,” City Manager Eric King said after presenting the latest plan to the council.
Council approved the draft plan after proceedings were interrupted by protesters. Mayor Gena Goodman-Campbell then outlined the next step, “I think we have a draft that is ready to come us on November 16th for our official consideration and public hearing. There may be some small changes to the resolution but it sounds like we have what we need there as well.”
The public hearing for the Camping Response Strategy resolution will be at the next council meeting on Wednesday, November 16 at City Hall.
