October 12, 2020 3:45 a.m.

Issues regarding the homeless are the focus of Monday night’s meeting of the Roseburg City Council.

Following an August 31st work session, staff complied the council’s top priority strategies in rank order. The strategy that got the most votes was the development of a city housing/homeless commission or committee. Councilors will decide which of those two options are favored, as each work under a different framework.

The council’s second highest ranked action item was termed the “Rogue Retreat” model. This looks to what is being done in the Rogue Valley where an organization has been focused on helping the homeless for over 14 years. The council will decide whether to direct staff to identify a non-profit organization that would be willing to put together a plan to help the homeless using the Rogue model.

The third highest ranked action item as determined by the council was the formation of a navigation center that would connect individuals and families with health services, permanent housing and public benefits. A limited version of this concept is currently operating one day a week and is called Connecting Point. It is currently at the new location of the Dream Center on Diamond Lake Boulevard.

The council will also give staff input and direction regarding code updates related to severe event shelters and car camping.

Councilors will have second reading of an ordinance that would prohibit smoking at community events in downtown Roseburg and on Roseburg park property.

They will also vote on a resolution authorizing supplemental budget revisions for the current fiscal year.

The meeting will begin at 7:00 p.m. and will be held via Zoom. Residents with comments on agenda items must submit them to City Recorder Amy Sowa by 4:00 p.m. Monday. The meeting can be viewed on the city’s website, its Facebook page, or on Charter cable channel 191.