Redmond city councilors OK expansion of Safe Parking Program to two city-owned locations

(Update: Councilors approve Safe Parking expansion)

Safe parking lots to offer 12 additional vehicle spaces

REDMOND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- Advocates for the homeless will be adding two more locations to Redmond's Safe Parking Program.

The Redmond City Council, unanimously and without debate, approved the use of two more city-owned parcels near South Highway 97 and south of Veterans Way at Tuesday night's meeting, so the expansion could happen in about three weeks.

There were only a few questions regarding the details of plans by Mountain View Community Development that will provide Safe Parking sites for up to 12 individuals or households.

Pastor Rick Russell manages the program at Mountain View Fellowship Church and three other locations.

”There’s unauthorized camping happening here already, so I think the city wants to bring something safer than what’s happening already," Russell said earlier Tuesday.

City Housing Program Analyst Linda Cline told councilors in a staff report that the two parcels are reserved as right of way on Highway 97 for possible future extension of Quartz Avenue.

Russell said, “If the city approves it, we would come in and do some cleanup of what’s (there). We would add some gravel, we would put in porta-potties and garbage services, to make sure it’s safe and sanitary. We’d bring in security cameras, to make sure our participants are safe, as well as the neighboring businesses.”

Both locations off South Highway 97 are near businesses, but away from residential neighborhoods. 

The regional manager of Smile-A-Mile Painting, a neighboring business to the proposed Safe Parking locations, pointed out there are already unsanctioned campers in the area, and feels it's beneficial to have a program that helps those struggling to find stability.

“We feel like if the Redmond city officials and Mountain View Community Development thinks it’s a good location for the Safe Parking Program, then we want to support that," Winston Risser said.

Russell said individuals must go through an evaluation and make strides to obtain housing to participate in the program.

“Just last week, we had someone else secure their own apartment," Russell said. "(That was the) first time they’ve had a stable place to live in a couple of years. We had two of our participants land jobs in the last week -- one at a restaurant and another working for a contractor.” 

The other existing Safe Parking areas in Redmond are at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Hall, the Redmond Athletic Center and county-owned land on the east side of town.

Funding for each Safe Parking location costs about $10,000 and comes from various grants and private donations.

Redmond Mayor Ed Fitch told NewsChannel 21 he didn't expect much resistance to the expansion at the City Council meeting -- and there wasn't.

Russell assured councilors and the viewing public that there is an intake process for participants and that for example no unauthorized vehicles are allowed to be parked within 500 feet of the Safe Parking site.

When Councilor John Nielsen asked about “consequences for those who don’t meet expectations,” Russell noted that two participants had left the program for not living up to the agreement. Several councilors thanked Russell and others for the process they have established.

City councilors also approved an ordinance amendment to ban fireworks in the Dry Canyon Parks System. Councilors had decided not to ban private use of legal fireworks overall but requested the Dry Canyon ban due to the wild grasses and other fire fuels in the area.