City to provide a reasonable alternative overnight sleeping site

Dusk to Dawn Overnight Sleeping
 
CONTACT:
Joseph L. Lessard, City Manager
City of Ashland
541.552.2103
joe.lessard@ashland.or.us
 
Tighe O’Meara, Police Chief
City of Ashland
541.552.2142  
The City of Ashland is working to find appropriate ways to support the community’s residents that have become houseless while also assuring public spaces and facilities are available for their intended uses.  As part of this effort, the City will provide a reasonable alternative overnight sleeping site at the lawn area behind Council Chambers and the Police Station (“Dusk to Dawn” or “Night Lawn” site), at 1175 E Main St. The site will open on Friday, May 12, 2023.
 
The Dusk to Dawn site is one of the approaches being considered or developed to support Ashland’s houseless population. Individuals seeking a location for overnight use can access and use the Dusk to Dawn site since other public locations, including the Downtown Plaza, City parks and public rights-of-way are prohibited for overnight sleeping or camping use.  The City will take the next two weeks to inform Ashland’s houseless community of the Dusk to Dawn site’s availability before more firmly enforcing unauthorized camping prohibitions on public property.
 
Overnight sleeping is allowed in this newly designated Dusk to Dawn site between the hours of 7 p.m. and 7:30 a.m., under the following conditions/rules:

 Guests must vacate the site by 7:30 a.m. and may not return until 7 p.m. each day:

• Sleeping space is limited to a 10-feet by 10-feet area allocation for each individual user or companion users of this site
• The use of tents or similar temporary overnight cover is allowed within a sleeping space allocation
• All camping gear and personal belongings must be contained in a sleeping space allocation and removed from the area by 7:30 a.m. each day
• Any camping gear and/or personal belongings of value left on site after 7:30 a.m. will be removed and stored, campers will have 30 days to retrieve belongings
• Items determined to pose a health or safety risk to the users of this site are subject to immediate removal and/or disposal
• Children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian

   Pets:

• Pets are allowed on-site and must be under their owners control at all time
• Pets cannot be left unattended
• If a pet is aggressive to other guests or pets, the guest and their pet are subject to immediate removal
• Pet owners are required to pick-up after their pets and properly dispose of waste
• All dogs six months of age or older must have received a rabies vaccine according to Oregon Health Authority guidelines, 333-019-0017. Upon request of law enforcement, the owner is obligated to provide proof of the rabies vaccine

 Personal Behavior:

• Guests must treat other guests and members of the public with kindness, dignity, and respect
• Disrespectful, violent, disruptive, vulgar or combative behavior will not be tolerated, nor will racism or bullying
• Campers must respect the allowable space of each camper
• All guests must pick up after themselves and their pets and dispose of all refuse, including cigarette butts in the appropriate receptacles provided
• Guests must adhere to a noise curfew from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m.
• Guests must adhere to any posted speed limits and traffic rules while on the property

Unauthorized and Illegal Activities - Unlawful behavior or noncompliance with rules for this site is immediate grounds for removal and future exclusion from access and use of this site, including for the following:

• No visitors are allowed on this site, only overnight guests
• No unlawful weapons of any kind are allowed on this site
• No cooking, campfires or open flames are allowed on this site
• No illegal drug use, or legal recreational drug use including marijuana and/or alcohol use, is allowed on site

 
The rules for use and behavior at the Dusk to Dawn site will be posted at the site.  Police will monitor the site with drive by patrols each evening. Individuals needing assistance at the site can contact the Police for support by using the call box at the Police Station’s front entry or by calling 911. 
 
Persons found not following the rules are subject to immediate expulsion. Failure to remove personal belongings by 7:30 a.m. constitutes a breach of the rules and expulsion from the Dusk to Dawn sleeping location. An appeal for being expelled is to City Management – administration@ashland.or.us, 541.488.6002. The City will provide a portable toilet, a clean-up station, pet waste bag stand and trash waste receptacles at the Dusk to Dawn site.
 
Learn more about the City at ashland.or.us.