The city of Burns is considering implementing a new ordinance presented by the Time, Place, and Manner Committee regarding homeless camping. The Burns council will vote on the ordinance during its meeting on June 28 at 6 p.m.

Public comment will be allowed within time constraints. Copies of the ordinance will soon be available at Burns City Hall, the Burns Police Department, Harney County Courthouse, the Burns Post Office, the city’s website, and on social media.

The ordinance is the culmination of several months of discussion, including multiple committee meetings, public hearings, and valued public comment.

The first proposed ordinance presented by the committee stayed intact with some slight changes in verbiage. The biggest change is the location of the proposed camp site. The field between where the city stacks snow and the baseball field on North Foley Drive was originally considered. The committee then considered of a piece of property behind the cemetery. Now, the proposed location for tent camping is the fenced area at the Burns Public Works building along South Broadway. The location for vehicle camping is the parking lot at Burns City Hall. This will allow for better monitoring of the campsites, ensuring that campers follow the rules of the ordinance to maintain the health and safety of the city.

This ordinance stems from the passing of House Bill 3115, House Bill 3124, as well as the resulting Oregon Revised Statutes. These Oregon Laws are the results of the findings in federal case law regarding the treatment of those experiencing homelessness by municipalities.

The statute states that, “Any city or county law that regulates the acts of sitting, lying, sleeping, or keeping warm and dry outdoors on public property that is open to the public must be objectively reasonable as to time, place, and manner with regards to persons experiencing homelessness.”

The city ordinance regulates the accrual of garbage; the building of shacks, huts, or lean-tos; fires; and personal property left behind on city property. The city is also considering providing dumpsters and portable toilets to prevent unsanitary conditions.

Through meetings and public hearings, it was learned that many of the persons experiencing homelessness end up staying in the area because they run out of funds to move on. In addition to providing a place for temporary camping, the city is considering donating funds to Harney Hub to help individuals buy gas or get a bus ticket to move on. The city encourages citizens to consider making a donation to Harney Hub as well.

Harney Hub assists with everything from gas vouchers, bus tickets, food, housing, acquiring documentation for identification, obtaining birth certificates, and more.

The city feels that keeping available assistance in one location will ease the process for those seeking services.