Roseburg Council Agenda Includes Disposal Rate Request, Stewart Park Plan And Homelessness Report

ROSEBURG, Ore. - The Roseburg City Council will consider a proposed garbage and recycling rate increase, a $279,370 contract to update the Stewart Park Master Plan and a report examining homelessness response efforts in Grants Pass during its meeting Monday evening, September 14 at 7 pm.

Councilors will begin the evening with a 6 p.m. tour of the Gary Leif Navigation Center. The regular meeting begins at 7 p.m. in the City Council Chambers at Roseburg City Hall, 900 SE Douglas Avenue.

Roseburg Disposal Requests Rate Increase

Roseburg Disposal Company is requesting approval of new garbage and recycling service rates that would take effect Jan. 1, 2027.

The company is seeking an approximately 8% adjustment to its garbage service rates. For residential customers inside Roseburg, the proposed monthly rates are:

• 40-gallon service would increase from $20 to $21.50.
• 60-gallon service would increase from $31.50 to $34.
• 90-gallon service would increase from $45.75 to $49.25.

The proposal also standardizes commercial and residential base rates as recycling becomes available to commercial customers. Because of that change, some commercial can-service rates would increase by more than 8%.

For example, once-a-week commercial service inside the city would change from $15.50 to $21.50 for a 40-gallon container, from $24.25 to $34 for a 60-gallon container and from $35 to $49.25 for a 90-gallon container.

Several service fees would also increase. Reconnection after a shutoff for nonpayment would rise from $20 to $25. The fee to return a city cart removed for nonpayment would increase from $40 to $45.

Roseburg Disposal said its last rate adjustment occurred more than two years ago and cited higher costs for wages, employee benefits, fuel, equipment maintenance, vehicle replacement, insurance and regulatory compliance.

According to the council packet, an independent audit placed the company’s current operating ratio for Roseburg services at 93.8. The target range under the company’s Douglas County franchise agreement is between 88 and 92. Roseburg Disposal estimates the proposed rates would bring that figure to approximately 90.

City staff recommends approving the increase. The council could approve the request, announce plans to conduct a more detailed review or take no action and allow the rates to take effect.

Stewart Park Master Plan Update

Councilors will also consider hiring Cameron McCarthy to prepare a new master plan for Stewart Park.

The existing plan is more than 25 years old. The updated document would guide improvements at the 236-acre park and surrounding riverfront areas over the next 20 years.

The project would cover Stewart Park, the natural area, golf course, Fir Grove, Riverfront Park, Gaddis Park, multiuse trail connections and nearby open space and waterfront areas.

The consultant would evaluate existing conditions, gather additional feedback from residents and community organizations, prepare design alternatives, develop preliminary cost estimates and produce the final plan.

An initial phase completed in December 2025 included site analysis and a community survey. The city received 1,382 responses about current conditions, desired uses and priorities for the park.

Four firms submitted proposals. Cameron McCarthy received the highest average score at 114 out of 125 points, followed by Moore Iacofano Goltsman at 102.8, Range Studio LLC at 102 and PORT at 86.5.

The proposed $279,370 contract would be funded through:

• $154,370 from the city’s Park Improvement Fund.
• A $125,000 Oregon Community Foundation grant connected to The Ford Family Foundation.

The adopted budget currently contains $150,000 for the project. The remaining $4,370 would come from reserves for future expenditures. A supplemental budget would be required to recognize the grant and additional reserve funding.

The Roseburg Parks Commission unanimously recommended awarding the contract. If approved, the planning process is expected to take approximately one year, with completion anticipated in fall 2027.

Council To Review Grants Pass Homelessness Response

The council will receive a detailed report examining how Grants Pass addresses homelessness through shelter capacity, enforcement, nonprofit partnerships and privately developed housing.

The report is part of Roseburg’s continuing review of homelessness programs in other Oregon communities. City staff cautioned that the two communities have different funding structures. Grants Pass receives a recurring federal Community Development Block Grant allocation directly from the federal government, while Roseburg must compete for those funds through the state.

Grants Pass awarded $1.179 million to Elk Island Trading Group to help develop Parker’s Place Village, a privately owned, low-barrier emergency sleeping facility with space for at least 150 people. The grant was funded equally through city land and building funds and opioid settlement money.

The city does not own or directly operate Parker’s Place. Private and nonprofit organizations operate the shelter and provide services, while Grants Pass focuses on public safety, management of public property, enforcement, land-use decisions and coordination with community providers.

The packet also describes a privately funded LifeSpace NextStep Bridge Community expected to open in Grants Pass by the end of 2026 with 176 beds. The development is designed to provide individual transitional units for people moving from emergency shelter toward permanent housing.

LifeSpace has indicated that Roseburg is the next community where it plans to pursue a similar privately funded development after completing the Grants Pass project. No Roseburg project or funding commitment is before the council Monday.

Before the regular meeting, councilors are scheduled to tour the Gary Leif Navigation Center and view LifeSpace shelters purchased for the facility. LifeSpace also donated two additional units valued at $25,000 each.

The units are expected to allow UCAN to move congregate sleeping beds from inside the Navigation Center into individual shelters within the secured outdoor area. That would free indoor space for supportive services, daytime use and a permanent heating and cooling location during extreme weather.

The council is not scheduled to take formal action on the Grants Pass report but may provide feedback or request more information.

Legislative Priorities And Saving Grace Presentation

Councilors will select Roseburg’s five highest priorities from 27 proposals developed by the League of Oregon Cities for the 2027-28 legislative sessions.

The proposals cover housing and homelessness funding, transportation, drinking water and wastewater infrastructure, emergency communications, cybersecurity, economic development, renewable energy, public meetings law and other municipal issues.

The city’s selections must be submitted to the League of Oregon Cities by Sept. 25. City staff has not recommended specific priorities.

Saving Grace Humane Society is also scheduled to give a special presentation during the meeting. The consent agenda includes minutes from the council’s Aug. 10 and Aug. 24 meetings.

Residents may attend the regular meeting in person or watch through the City of Roseburg’s council video page or the city’s Facebook page. Anyone wishing to participate virtually must contact the City Recorder’s Office by noon Monday.

The complete Sept. 14 City Council agenda packet is available online.