Roseburg City Council Schedules Homelessness Work Session Following Discussion on Shelter Options and City Progress

ROSEBURG, Ore. - The Roseburg City Council agreed Monday night to hold a special work study session in December focused on homelessness, following a discussion about the city's ongoing efforts, property leased for potential shelter expansion, and the need to better prepare incoming council members to address the issue.

The discussion took place during the November 9 City Council meeting under an agenda item titled "Standing Homelessness Agenda Item Discussion." What began as a conversation about keeping homelessness on future council agendas expanded into questions about the Navigation Center, shelter capacity, city spending, and whether the council should act before new members take office in January.

By the end of the discussion, councilors had agreed to schedule a one-hour work study session for December 14 at 6 p.m., immediately before their regular meeting.

Questions Raised About Leased Property Near Navigation Center

Councilor Ruth Smith opened the discussion by raising concerns about property the city has been leasing near the Navigation Center.

Smith questioned why the council had not received more information about the property and what it would take to make the site usable, particularly as the community enters another winter.

She asked how long improvements would take, what they would cost, and whether other temporary shelter arrangements could be considered.

Smith also suggested exploring whether a warehouse or another available building could provide an alternative location for people currently camping near the area known as The Point.

Special Projects Coordinator Jennifer Bragg explained that the city has leased the Van Acker property adjacent to the Navigation Center as part of an existing council goal to expand shelter options.

Bragg said preliminary work has been completed on a site layout and estimated improvements.

According to Bragg, preparing the property to accommodate additional shelter pods would require approximately $327,000 in site improvements.

The property is under a three-year lease that includes an initial option to purchase, she said.

Smith expressed concern about continuing to spend money leasing property without moving forward on improvements or determining how it will be used.

Her questions also highlighted the broader issue of how quickly the city could establish additional shelter capacity and what alternatives might be available in the meantime.

No funding was approved for the proposed improvements during Monday's discussion, and no decision was made to move forward with construction.

Councilors Discuss Keeping Homelessness on the Agenda

Councilor Zack Weiss, who previously requested that homelessness become a recurring topic at City Council meetings, explained that his goal was to prevent the issue from going several meetings without discussion.

Weiss said regular updates could include reports on city spending, progress at the Navigation Center, or presentations from organizations involved in homelessness services.

He pointed to the information presented about the Van Acker property as an example of the type of update that could help councilors and the public better understand what the city is doing.

Weiss also expressed frustration with the pace of discussions surrounding homelessness, saying the council should be able to identify at least one relevant issue to address at each meeting.

During the discussion, Mayor Larry Rich explained that placing a general homelessness item on every agenda could create difficulties with public meeting notice requirements.

He said agenda items need to identify the subject being discussed with enough detail for residents to understand what the council intends to consider and decide whether they wish to attend.

A regularly scheduled work study session was presented as one possible alternative.

That approach would allow councilors to discuss homelessness while developing more specific subjects for future meetings.

Councilor Katie Williams also expressed support for holding work sessions before regular council meetings, saying they could help establish clearer topics and direction.

Porter Questions Progress and Conditions at The Point

Councilor Ellen Porter supported the idea of additional work sessions and questioned whether the city has made sufficient progress in addressing homelessness.

Porter said the issue has been discussed for years and expressed concern that previous efforts have not resulted in enough meaningful change.

She also asked whether the leased property near the Navigation Center could potentially provide a temporary place for vulnerable individuals currently camping at The Point.

Porter raised questions about how The Point has come to function as a camping location, noting that the City Council had not formally voted to establish it as a sanctioned campground.

She said the council needs to continue exploring alternatives rather than allowing the existing situation to remain unchanged.

The discussion did not result in a decision to authorize camping on the leased property or establish a new campground.

Preparing the Incoming City Council

Another concern raised during Monday's discussion was the approaching transition to a new City Council in January.

Councilors discussed whether it would be more appropriate for the incoming council to make significant decisions about homelessness, while also acknowledging that delaying discussions could cost additional time.

Weiss suggested using a December work study session to prepare information for incoming council members.

The session could review previous city actions, explain the Navigation Center and related property arrangements, and identify existing council goals and possible next steps.

Other council members supported providing that historical background so newly seated members would better understand the city's previous efforts and outstanding decisions.

Weiss also reflected on earlier discussions in which homelessness-related decisions had been referred to the city's Homeless Commission. He acknowledged concerns about repeatedly delaying decisions and said he hoped the upcoming session could help the next council avoid similar delays.

The Homeless Commission's future remains unresolved. In October, the commission voted to suspend its meetings until 2027 and requested further direction. The council's tentative January 11, 2027, agenda includes a discussion about potentially modifying or dissolving the commission.

Council Agrees to December Work Study

Following the discussion, Weiss made a motion to schedule a work study session before the December City Council meeting to prepare the incoming council for future homelessness discussions, plans, and goals.

The motion was seconded and approved by the council.

The meeting transcript does not provide an individual vote tally, but Mayor Rich announced that the motion carried.

The work study session is scheduled for Monday, December 14, at 6 p.m., one hour before the council's regular meeting.

The session is intended to provide background and help establish a foundation for further discussion. Monday's vote did not approve a new shelter, additional campground, or funding for the Navigation Center expansion.

The council's tentative future agenda also includes a separate, unscheduled work study examining city-managed, operator-managed, and unmanaged urban campground options.

For now, the December meeting will give councilors an opportunity to review the work already completed, discuss outstanding questions, and identify information that may help guide homelessness-related decisions in the new year.