Today, City Council will conduct a public hearing to consider Ordinance #2024-16, which would amend City Code to allow a limited number of microshelters at managed Safe Parking Program sites in Redmond. Council seeks public comment on Mountain View Community Development’s request to pilot the use of microshelters for a trial period ending May 31, 2026.
The proposal would not increase the current capacity of tenants permitted at each site — which is currently limited to eight.
Redmond’s Safe Parking Program was established in September 2021, allowing overnight camping and transitional overnight parking as a service to assist people with transitioning out of homelessness. The program provides emergency or transitional shelter for households who lack permanent or safe shelter and who cannot obtain other low-income housing. Another valuable component of the Safe Parking program is to provide participants with case management and other services that help participants lift themselves out of homelessness and into a more stable living situation.
Mountain View Community Development (MVCD), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, is the operator of the Safe Parking program in Redmond and has successfully grown the program to seven locations with 29 designated Safe Parking spaces. These sites are hosted on property owned by private businesses, churches, Deschutes County, and the City.
Residents are encouraged to provide Council with feedback in-person at each City Council Meetings held the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month at 6:00 p.m. Meetings are hosted in the City Council Chambers, 411 SW 9th Street in Redmond. Unable to attend in person? You can provide public comment virtually; pre-registration is required by 4:00 p.m. on the date of the meeting. To register email publictestimony@redmondoregon.gov or call 541-923-7755. Written comments may be submitted via email to PublicTestimony@RedmondOregon.gov.
Redmond City Council meetings are streamed live on the City website at redmondoregon.gov/CouncilLive and are broadcast live on COTV 11 – TDS Channel 11 beginning at 6pm on regular meeting nights.
