Neighbors for a Better Pendleton issues its stance on a proposed settlement regarding the lawsuit against the city regarding homelessness
By Terry Murry on Saturday, June 27th, 2026 in Columbia Basin News Columbia Basin Top Stories
PENDLETON – The Pendleton City Council is holding a public hearing on a proposed settlement to the suit brought against the city by some members of the homeless population. It will be at 7 p.m. Monday at the Pendleton Convention Center. Neighbors for a Better Pendleton issued a call for residents to attend the hearing.
The group of private citizens and business owners is calling for the council to reject the proposed settlement and has spelled out its reasons why in the news release, which is below, saying the city deserves a solution, not a settlement:
Neighbors for a Better Pendleton (NFABP) is urging the Pendleton City Council to reject the proposed settlement agreement in Thornton et al. v. City of Pendleton and instead direct City staff and legal counsel to continue negotiations on a significantly revised proposal developed through meaningful public engagement.
“Our community deserves the opportunity to fully understand the long-term implications of this agreement before a final decision is made,” said Casey Hunt, spokesman for Neighbors for a Better Pendleton. “We believe Pendleton can develop a solution that complies with the law while also protecting public safety, preserving community spaces, and maintaining transparency throughout the decision-making process. The long-term livability of our community depends on getting this right.”
NFABP supports updating the City’s resting ordinance to comply with changes in Oregon law. However, the organization believes the proposed settlement reaches far beyond a routine ordinance update and would commit the City to significant legal, operational, and financial obligations before residents and Council members have had adequate time to evaluate its full impact.
Among other provisions, the settlement would:
• Replace the City’s existing resting ordinance with new sheltering and exclusion ordinances drafted in conjunction with the plaintiffs’ attorneys.
• Expand the allowable sheltering period on City property from eight hours to 24 hours. When combined with Oregon’s mandatory 72-hour notice requirement, individuals could remain in place for up to four days before enforcement action can be taken.
• Require the City to maintain at least two ADA-accessible sheltering locations within 1.5 miles of City Hall, without publicly identifying the locations or estimating the costs of creating and maintaining them.
• Provide $125,000 for sheltering and day center services, although questions remain regarding who is ultimately responsible for funding that commitment.
• Establish a new variance and appeals process that could create additional administrative responsibilities for the Police Department, City Attorney’s Office, and Municipal Court.
NFABP believes several critical questions remain unanswered, including:
• What will it cost to establish and maintain the required ADA-accessible sheltering locations?
• What are the full long-term financial and staffing impacts of implementing the settlement?
• Has any third party made a binding commitment to provide the $125,000 referenced in the settlement?
• How will the proposed variance and appeals process affect police operations and Municipal Court workloads?
NFABP believes the Council and the public deserve complete information about the long-term costs and operational impacts of this agreement before a vote of this consequence is cast. While the organization agrees the City’s ordinances should be updated to comply with state law, it believes those changes can be accomplished through the City’s normal legislative process with greater public participation. And while litigation carries financial risk, the long-term costs of the proposed settlement have not been fully disclosed, making it impossible for the Council or the public to fairly compare the options before them.
Choosing not to settle is more than a legal or financial decision. It is an investment in Pendleton’s long-term livability and a recognition that the laws governing our public spaces should be shaped by the people of Pendleton, not negotiated behind closed doors.
NFABP is asking the Council to reject the current agreement, continue negotiations, and return with a substantially revised proposal that satisfies the City’s legal obligations while reflecting community priorities.
The settlement documents were released publicly on June 25. The City Council will conduct a public hearing and vote on the proposed agreement on June 29 at the Pendleton Convention Center at 7:00 PM. NFABP will be present and will address the Council during the public comment period. Monday night is the community’s only opportunity to review, be heard, and make their voices count before the vote is cast. The organization urges all residents to attend.
About Neighbors for a Better Pendleton Neighbors for a Better Pendleton is a grassroots organization of local residents and business owners working together to address homelessness, enhance public safety, and protect the livability of our community.
The following is the staff report from Pendleton City Manager Robb Corbett on his recommendation to accept the offered settlement:
The Pendleton City Council will hold a special meeting on Monday, June 29, 2026 at the Pendleton Convention Center to conduct a public hearing on a proposed settlement agreement in the lawsuit filed against the City’s resting ordinance by the Oregon Law Center on behalf of individuals experiencing homelessness. The lawsuit alleges, among other things, that the City’s existing resting ordinance violates Oregon law.
The proposed settlement agreement has 4 primary components:
- The City will repeal and replace the current resting ordinance to bring it in line with state laws that were adopted after the City’s current ordinance was enacted.
- The City will ensure that outstanding fines from previous violations against the plaintiffs are waived.
- Outstanding fines levied against people violating the existing resting ordinance will also be waived.
- The City will make $120,000 available for enhanced sheltering or day center services in the community, minus the total amount of waived above.
The new proposed ordinance would increase the resting period from 8 hours to 24 hours. Current practice allows a citation after 8 hours, then state law requires a 72-hour notification period before the illegal shelter can be removed. Oregon case law indicates that a 24-hour initial resting period is determined to be reasonable, after which the state required 72-hour notification period is initiated, allowing the citation only if the shelter is not removed after the 72-hour period. If officers observe illegal activity, the shelter can be removed immediately.
Points of Consideration
- It is believed that the funds needed to meet the obligation of the agreement will come from partner organizations.
- No payments are being made for opposing legal fees or to plaintiffs
- City admits no wrongdoing.
- City insurance would not cover the cost of litigation.
Due to changes in state law, the City likely needs to amend its current ordinance.
