P2 The SpokeSman • TueSday, april 19, 2022
City council considers new homeless services
BY TIM TRAINOR
redmond Spokesman
The city of Redmond has
offered some services to the
growing number of homeless
residents in the city, but coun-
cilors indicated April 12 they
were ready to look for addi-
tional solutions.
Homelessness has become
a more serious problem in the
growing city over the last few
years, as housing prices have
skyrocketed and rent has in-
creased along with inflation.
Numerous people are now
living on public lands on the
edge of town, east of Antler
Ave., with limited services.
Camps have also popped
up on 17th and Greenwood
streets in east Redmond, near
the Redmond Athletic Club,
and sporadically on some
downtown sidewalks.
At the council’s meeting on
Tuesday, April 12, city attorney
Keith Leitz presented an up-
date on legal cases that could
help guide council decisions.
Most current case law argues
that cities cannot criminalize
homelessness, or sleeping in
public right of way, without of-
fering a shelter or other place
where people can go. For now,
there are few low-barrier, over-
night shelters in Redmond —
ryan Brennecke/Bulletin file photo
Campers park at the intersection of 17th Street and NE Greenwood Avenue in Redmond in September
2021.
and only in winter and when
there are enough volunteers to
staff them.
On Tuesday night, numer-
ous people spoke in favor of
offering more homeless ser-
vices, including Steve Cur-
ley of Redmond Economic
Development Inc. (REDI).
Curley asked for council to
come up with a “temporary
solution” where people could
park their RVs and vehicles
off city streets until more sta-
ble, long-term services can be
established.
He said the current situa-
tion is “posing an increasing
safety issue and impacting
current and future economic
development opportunities in
Redmond.” Curley also noted
there is also an opportunity
for the city: If those currently
struggling can find stable
housing, they could help fill
a number of open jobs in the
area.
A number of nongovern-
mental organizations are
working to provide home-
lessness services in the area.
Expansions of Jericho Road,
Shepherd’s House Ministries
and Bethlehem Inn, as well
as a safe parking program,
are expected in upcoming
years. Oasis Village, a desig-
nated campground and shel-
ter where people can stay with
their belongings and their
vehicles, will not open until
2023 at the earliest.
According to deputy city
manager John Roberts, the
city of Redmond has put a
$50,000 grant toward fund-
ing the safe parking program
and provided $30,000 to help
Shepherd’s House operate its
winter shelter.
Other actions taken by
council:
• Approved a contact
not to exceed $13 million to
RS&H, a national architecture
and engineering company, to
design and plan a multi-phase
expansion of the Redmond
Municipal Airport terminal.
The design work would begin
immediately and construction
could start in 2024.
• Indicated council would
reconsider the planning com-
mission’s April 11 decision to
approve an 89-unit complex
of cottages, slated to be built
in southwest Redmond off
Helmholtz Way.
The Redmond Urban Area
PET OF THE WEEK
Bend man dies in crash near Redmond
Another man injured in multi-vehicle crash
that closed Highway 97 for 4 hours
BY TIM TRAINOR
redmond Spokesman
A Bend man died and an-
other was injured Thursday,
April 14, in a multiple-car
crash on a snowy Highway 97
south of Redmond.
Christopher May, 44, of Bend
was killed when the driver of a
Toyota 4-Runner heading south
spun on ice into northbound
traffic, according to a release
from Oregon State Police.
Authorities responded at
approximately 6:51 a.m. to the
pile-up that closed the high-
way for approximately four
hours. The accident occurred
at milepost 125.5, about four
miles south of downtown
Redmond.
A police investigation re-
vealed that the driver of the
4-Runner, Amadeo Prono Soto
Inga, 32, of Redmond, lost con-
trol and struck May’s Scion XA
broadside. The northbound
driver of a Ford F150 also hit
Planning Commission ap-
proved the project on a 4-2
vote on April 11, despite more
than a dozen neighbors who
spoke against it. Area residents
argued the development was
too dense for the surround-
ing neighborhoods and infra-
structure.
The planning commission,
chaired by Teri Jansen, said
the development met city code
requirements and say there
was “an extreme need” in the
city for all kinds of housing.
On Tuesday night, councilor
Ed Fitch said city council
should reconsider the plan-
ning commission decision and
Mayor George Endicott said
they would do so.
• Approved a contract to
design the city’s third round-
about, this one planned for
the intersection of SW Air-
port Way and 19th Street. The
$610,00 contract was awarded
to Murraysmith. Construction
of the full-size roundabout is
planned for 2023 or 2024.
• Proclaimed April 14,
2022 “Rotary Club of Red-
mond Day.” The Redmond
Rotary Club is celebrating its
70th anniversary in the city.
• The city met in execu-
tive session to negotiate a land
swap for a future development.
May’s vehicle.
The pickup driver, William
Harsh, 46, of Bend, was not in-
jured. Inga had only minor in-
juries, according to police.
Highway 97 was closed for
roughly four hours as police
cleared the roadway and in-
vestigated the scene. OSP was
assisted by Deschutes County
Sheriff’s Office, Redmond
Fire and Rescue and ODOT.
Redmond man arrested after short chase
Deputies initially
responded to
disturbance report
Spokesman staff
A Redmond man was ar-
rested Tuesday, April 12, af-
ter leading sheriff ’s deputies
on a chase near Cline Falls,
off Highway 126.
Jonathan Burke, 32,
was charged with assault,
felony attempt to elude,
DUII, and misdemeanor
charges of reckless driving,
reckless endangering and
more.
Deschutes County Sher-
iff ’s deputies were dis-
patched about 9:30 p.m. to
Cline Falls Mobile Home
Park, off Southwest Mesa
Way, to a reported dispute.
When they arrived, depu-
ties were told an intoxicated
Burke had left the area and
CROSSWORD
was driving a green Jeep.
A deputy soon found the
Jeep nearby, attempting to
leave the mobile home park.
According to police, Burke
“drove past the deputy,
nearly striking him.”
Burke left the park and
headed west on Highway
126 toward Sisters. A pur-
suit was quickly discontin-
ued, according to police,
due to Burke’s high speeds.
Deputies continued
checking the area and even-
tually found Burke’s Jeep on
Holmes Road, near mile-
post 6. A deputy watched
the Jeep turn onto Lower
Bridge Road, where law en-
forcement was then able to
use a patrol vehicle to pre-
vent Burke from driving out
of the area.
Burke was taken into cus-
tody without incident and
lodged in the Deschutes
County Sheriff ’s Office Jail.
Submitted photo
Meet Toes & Pepe.
These sweet boys came to us as an owner surren-
der due to the owner unable to care for them. They
are pretty unique cats, they are both polydactyl —
which means they were born with 6 toes.
Since being at the shelter they have shown us how
loving they are.
They may take a while to warm up to new faces,
but once they are comfortable they love to have
their chin scratched and will say thank you with a
love bite.
Come down to Brightside to meet them!
SUDOKU
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EDITOR:
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