What to do with the homeless at McMinnville's Cooperative Ministrires at 544 Northeast Second Street? That is a question the city of McMinnville and McMinnville Cooperative Ministries are trying to come to terms with. As of late last year, the ministry has allowed tents to be set up on their property to provide a place for the homelss to live and hopefully turn their lives around. December 11th, the city gave the ministry a letter stating the tents were structures, in violation of city ordinance, and police responses in dealing with nuisance calls were causing a drain on police resources. The ministry could face fines, and even the eventual total closure of the property if enforcement is escalated. Newly hired city manager Martha Meeker told KLYC News the city wants to work with the ministry in finding a solution, but that the problem would not be allowed to go on forever. , Cooperative Ministry Development Director Lauri Muller questions the city's sincerity in arriving at a solution. She says the ministry has come up with several options, but the city doesn't seem to be responding to those. Cooperative Ministries solutions so far have been putting lattice up around a porta potty and moving the tents farther from the street.McMinnville City Planning Director Doug Montgomery says the city is trying to work with Cooperative Ministries in a reasonable timeline. The Ministry has not been given a firm timetable on when the tents have to be removed. Montgomery says city officials realize the issue of homelessness is a long term problem that the city as a whole will have to deal with, but in the meantime there is a city ordinance that is being violated. He says the city simply can't ignore the violation, and without some kind of legislative action, the city is legally required to enforce the ordinance. As of today, the tents are still up. They have been moved farther back from the street, and a lattice has been erected to make a port a potty more aesthetically pleasing. The ministry board will be meeting later this week to further discuss the issue. City Planning Director Doug Montgomery says the city isn't trying to be heavy handed, but does have to follow the law.....and the dialogue between the two sides continues.

Ryan Howard is an outgoing member of the Newberg City council.  KLYC caught up with him during a farewell and welcome reception.   .   Councilor Stephen McKinney was re-elected.  otherwise, Tony Rourke will replace Bart Rierson and Scott Essin will replace Ryan Howard. The meeting was last night at the Newberg Police Station meeting room.

NEWBERG CITY COUNCIL WELCOME AND FAREWELL FOR COUNCILORS TONIGHTThere will be a welcoming and farewell reception tonight in Newberg for incoming and outgoing city councilors.  That will take the place of the usual 6pm working session which usually occurs before council meetings.   Councilor Stephen McKinney was re-elected.  otherwise, Tony Rourke will replace Bart Rierson and Scott Essin will replace Ryan Howard.  Council meeting starts tonight at 7pm in Newberg,  that will include the swearing in of new council, election of a council president,  Other business tonight in Newberg will icnlude approving a collective bargaining agreement between the city and the public works union.  Under new business the city will consider an ordinance relating to the disposal of city owned surplus property and other items found, stolen, abandoned or unclaimed.    The Newber city council meets tonight (monday, Jan 5) at 7pm in the public safety building training room on east Third Street.

COOP MINISTRIES WAITING FOR CITY RESPONSEMcMInnville, Dave Adams, KLYC NewsWhat to do with the homeless at McMinnville's Cooperative Ministrires at 544 Northeast Second Street?  That is a question the city of McMinnville and McMinnville Cooperative Ministries are trying to come to terms with.  As of late last year, the ministry has allowed tents to be set up on their property to provide a place for the homelss to live and hopefully turn their lives around.  December 11th, the city gave the ministry a letter stating the tents were structures, in violation of city ordinance,  and police responses in dealing with nuisance calls were causing a drain on police resources. The ministry could face fines, and even the eventual total closure of the property if enforcement is escalated.     Newly hired city manager Martha Meeker told KLYC News the city wants to work with the ministry in finding a solution, but that the problem would not be allowed to go on forever.   , Cooperative Ministry Development Director Lauri Muller questions the city's sincerity in arriving at a solution.McMinnville City Planning Director Doug Montgomery says the city is trying to worth with Cooperative Ministries in a reasonable timeline.   The Ministry has not been given a firm timetable on when the tents have to be removed.   Montgomery says city officials realize the issue of homelessness is a long term problem that the city as a whole will have to deal with, but in the meantime there is a city ordinance that is being violated.   He says the city simply can't ignore the violation, and without some kind of legislative action the city is legally required to enforce the ordinance.  As of today, the tents are still up.  They have been moved farther back from the street, and a lattice has been erected to make a port a potty more aesthetically pleasing.     The ministry board will be meeting later this week to further discuss the issue.   City Planning Director Doug Montgomery says the city isn't trying to be heavy handed, but does have to follow the law.....and the dialogue between the two sides continues.