The new-look Redmond City Council gathered for the first time with Deschutes County Commissioners on March 7 and the two groups talked about fixes for unauthorized camping on two important pieces of property in east Redmond.

Most of the discussion was amicable, but there were some occasional sparks between commissioners and councilors as they discussed plans to move approximately 100 people living on property in east Redmond and roughly 40 others living in or near the Redmond Airport’s runway protection zone.

East Redmond property is part of a proposed land swap between Deschutes County and the Department of State Lands over a decade ago to make room for an expansion of the Deschutes County Fair & Expo Center and industrial land for Redmond’s booming manufacturing and fabrication industries.

The Department of State Lands has refused to continue with the swap unless the county removes the growing houseless population living on the two parcels.

The county estimates there are some 100 people living there. Deschutes County Commissioner Patti Adair said the number could “definitely be higher.”

Redmond city council aimed for actionable steps while commissioners seemed to take aim at the big picture.

Mayor Ed Fitch called the Department of State Land’s demands for the land swap “somewhat ridiculous” and didn’t know what they were trying to accomplish by removing those experiencing homelessness from property east of 17th Street.

Fitch questioned how DSL intends to keep people off the land.

“Are they going to fence it off?” Fitch said. “I would expect people to just go right back there.”

Commissioner Tony DeBone said the best solution would be to change the culture of how Redmond residents use the land. He said people for decades used the area for recreation, including riding horses and target shooting, and he wanted to find a way to bring that back.

Although councilors and commissioners discussed the timeline and need for the swap, there were no concrete dates for when it might happen.

Councilor John Nielsen said that if the proposed Oasis Village low-barrier shelter project is approved, funded and built, it wouldn’t have the capacity to take on the estimated 140 people from the airport and land-swap clearings.

All three commissioners were silent when Nielsen asked them how the county would support service providers in those locations.

Andrew Hoeksema, Redmond city director for Shepherd’s House Ministries, and Sierra Hopper, director of the Redmond Safe Parking Program, addressed the gathered boards.

“Our primary request is that service providers — particularly those with outreach experience in Redmond — be brought to the table now and regularly,” Hopper said. “Their input should be sought and considered seriously throughout the process.”

Redmond Airport property

According to Zach Bass, director of the Redmond Airport, there are three major homeless camps on airport property. All are roughly 1,000 to 1,200 feet away from active runways, with one located within the airport’s Runway Protection Zone. No people or buildings can be located in the RPZ, according to Federal Aviation Administration rules.

The camps are located just north of Highway 126 and pose a danger for planes and passengers, as well as for the people living in the zone. Vehicles and RVs, some abandoned, fill the camps. Pilots could be confused if they misinterpret campfires and outdoor lights as the lights of the runway.

In 2021, the Federal Aviation Administration visited and inspected the airport and concluded Redmond was in violation of federal obligations by failing to keep the runway protection zone clear. The FAA judged “the designation/establishment of homeless camps and/or shelters on airport property to be an incompatible land use and in violation of an airport sponsor’s federal obligations.”

In response, Redmond said it will clear the area and build an $800,000 fence around the 61 acres north of Highway 126.

Bass said the fence will be six-feet tall chain link and topped with barb wire. Crews will place signs to indicate the area is airport property and will build an interior road. Crews will inspect the fence multiple times per day.

According to Bass, the project has already been designed and should go out to bid soon. The current timeline calls for site prep to begin in June, a notice to relocate posted in July and construction to start in August. The city will officially close the camps in September or October, as construction nears completion.

Bass noted the importance of FAA funding — especially as the airport begins its $200 million terminal expansion.

Cline said they aim to assess every individual in the zone and try to provide support. Service providers have already started outreach efforts in the area.

“Some of these folks have been out there quite a while,” Cline said. “They’ve known for quite a while that this was possibly coming.”

Mayor Fitch said airport and city have little choice but take action.

“The die is kind of cast on this issue,” he said. “If we don’t do it, we’ll have issues with the FAA … but it will result in some displacement.”

Councilor DeBone said service providers aren’t going to the area as often as necessary and he committed to starting relationships with every individual currently living in the camps.

“We just need to get on top of it,” DeBone said.