The Camping Ordinance Workgroup in Hillsboro, Oregon, is having a final session today to help advise the City Council and staff on crafting a new ordinance that must be passed very soon. As required by Oregon House Bill 3115, the new law will stipulate where, when, and how people who are homeless can camp on public land. This work is happening not only in Hillsboro but across the United States, resulting from the Martin VS Boise court decision. The US Court of Appeals for the 9th District ruled that homelessness was not a crime and that no city could deny people the right to sleep in public unless shelter beds were available.
Hillsboro has seen explosive growth of our houseless population in recent years, with a massive spike coming during the pandemic.  To meet the State law, our city is moving towards a new Ordinance that will be passed very soon.  Such an ordinance could be very divisive, but the workgroup is doing all it can to listen and consider all perspectives. Along with the City of Hillsboro staff and community leaders, the workgroup will send recommendations to the Council for consideration. That will lead to a vote and a new ordinance by July 1st.
Here is more information for you all and a link to the workgroup session going on today. We salute and appreciate the workgroup, hard-working staff, and community organizations leading this process. It is not an easy one.
House Bill 3115 requires cities to allow community members to sleep and rest on public property — with restrictions — when no shelter beds are accessible.
According to the new law, cities and counties in Oregon — including the City of Hillsboro — must review and update local ordinances, or rules, that regulate sitting, lying, sleeping, or keeping warm and dry outdoors on public property by July 1, 2023.
This means the City of Hillsboro needs to make changes to current municipal code, which bans all camping in public spaces.
A workgroup of diverse community advisors will weigh in on the time, place, and manner that community members without sufficient shelter may be able to camp on public property in Hillsboro during their final meeting TOMORROW, May 26, 10 am to 3pm.https://t.co/ZEjZovPQMt pic.twitter.com/tbFGxv4ghl
— City of Hillsboro OR (@CityofHillsboro) May 26, 2023
Next Steps & Past Meeting Information
Next Steps
Determining Place & Manner Restrictions
Guidelines for where and how camping may be allowed on public property will be outlined the Manager’s Administrative Rules.
Workgroup Session 3, May 26, 10 am to 3 pm
- The Workgroup will provide feedback on the Manager’s Administrative Rules. Stream Workgroup Session 3(External link).
City Council Work Session 3, June 6, following 7 pm City Council Meeting
- The City Council will provide feedback on the Manager’s Administrative Rules with the Workgroup’s recommendations.
- The proposed Manager’s Administrative Rules will be posted here on June 2.
Determining Time Restrictions: Ordinance Updates
City Council Meeting, June 6, 7 pm:
- First reading of updated camping ordinance
June 20 City Council Meeting
- Second reading & adoption of updated camping ordinance
Past City Council Meetings
May 2, City Council Work Session 1
- City Council reviewed community feedback and the drafted ordinance, which outlines time restrictions
- Read the May 2 Staff Report(External link)Â &Â view the May 2 PowerPoint(External link), including:
- First draft of ordinance updates
- The Workgroup’s feedback & how we responded
- How nearby cities and counties are updating their camping rules
- Summary of Camping Rules Survey Results
- Compliance & Enforcement Presentation
May 16, City Council Work Session 2
- City Council reviewed a second draft of the ordinance along with feedback from the Workgroup
- Read the May 16 Staff Report,(External link)including:
- Updated ordinance draft
