This summary of the video was created by an AI. It might contain some inaccuracies.
00:00:00 – 01:23:42
The video captures a special meeting of the Grants Pass City Council to decide on upholding or overturning 30-day park exclusion orders for Helen Cruz and Justin Wallace at Morrison Park. The discussion navigates the procedural and legal aspects of park exclusions stemming from citations for ordinance violations, specifically around illegal camping and rubbish scattering. The council examines arguments from the appellants' attorneys, who seek to delay the exclusions until a circuit court reviews the citations, citing procedural fairness and due process issues. Testimonies from officers like Jason McGinnis and Artoff provide insight into enforcement practices, including notices, citations, and compliance requirements.
Central to this hearing are the legal complexities and enforcement of city codes versus state laws, particularly the contrasting 24-hour and 72-hour notice requirements for illegal camping enforcement, influenced by the Blake v. Grants Pass injunction. Officer interactions with the appellants and the scrutiny over the validity and documentation of citations are highlighted, revealing concerns over constitutional rights and fair treatment of the homeless. The council ultimately upholds the park exclusion orders based on the accumulated evidence, despite critiques over the clarity and enforcement of related regulations. The decision underscores the ongoing challenges and debates around managing public space use and addressing homelessness within legal constraints.
00:00:00
In this part of the video, a special meeting of the Grants Pass City Council is convened to hold a park exclusion order hearing for Helen Cruz and Justin Wallace. The council will determine whether to uphold or overturn their 30-day park exclusions at Morrison Park. The hearings will follow specific procedural rules, allowing both staff and appellants to present arguments and evidence. The council will deliberate and vote on the validity of the exclusions, and their decision will be final. An attorney representing Justin Wallace raises a question about the scope of the hearing, specifically whether the council will consider the validity of the citations leading to the exclusion orders. It is clarified that the council’s role is to decide solely on the park exclusion, not on the legality of the citations. The procedures, including opening statements, direct and cross-examinations, and closing arguments, are outlined, with specific time limits for each phase.
00:10:00
In this segment of the video, the council is presented with opening statements regarding park exclusions issued to Helen Cruz and Justin Wallace at Morrison Park. Both individuals received two citations within a one-year period, resulting in their exclusion from the park for 30 days. The discussion revolves around the city’s code and the injunction from Blake versus Grants Pass, which regulates the enforcement of camping ordinances. The city must give 24 hours notice before enforcing these ordinances, contrasting with a state law requiring 72 hours notice. The council’s task is to determine the validity of the park exclusions, not the citations themselves. The appellants’ attorneys argue for a delay in enforcing the park exclusions until the circuit court reviews the citations, emphasizing procedural fairness and due process. They highlight the potential conflicts between the city’s decision and the circuit court’s future rulings.
00:20:00
In this part of the video, Officer Jason McGinnis from the Grants Pass Police Department discusses his role and job duties. He is part of a specialty team focused on parks and homelessness. He explains that park exclusions are issued when individuals violate rules, either committing one state crime or two city ordinance violations, leading to a 30-day exclusion from one park. If someone violates this exclusion, it results in a Criminal Trespass 2 charge.
Regarding illegal camping, McGinnis highlights the required 24-hour notice before enforcement, and the 72-hour timeframe for item removal from camps. The enforcement involves issuing a violation notice if individuals do not comply within 24 hours. Camps must be broken down by 7:30 AM, though people are not forced to leave the park immediately. Citations for illegal camping can also be issued after 24 or 48 hours.
McGinnis also reviews specific incidents and related exhibits, detailing contacts made with individuals like Helen Cruz and Justin Wallace for illegal camping and other violations such as scattering rubbish. He confirms the proper documentation and process of issuing notices and citations, iterating the legal framework and precedents guiding these actions.
00:30:00
In this part of the video, the conversation focuses on the rules and enforcement regarding camping in a park, specifically related to an injunction that allows individuals to rest in the park from midnight to 6 a.m. Officers discuss their patrol practices, including whether they investigated Miss Cruz or Mr. Wallace’s presence in the park during a specific night. It is revealed that the officers typically post notices of illegal camping either by handing them directly to individuals or leaving them in visible spots if the individuals are not present.
Officer Artoff explains his duties and his encounters with Miss Cruz and Mr. Wallace, noting that they have been issued numerous notices for illegal camping. The procedures for posting these notices and later issuing citations are detailed, emphasizing the department’s practice of issuing warnings before citations. The officers mention specific instances and dates when notices and citations were issued, and the consequences of receiving multiple citations, such as a 30-day park exclusion.
The segment highlights a structured approach to enforcing camping regulations while trying to achieve compliance through warnings before resorting to citations.
00:40:00
In this part of the video, the discussion revolves around interactions and enforcement actions related to individuals named Justin and Cruz regarding illegal camping and rubbish scattering citations. It begins with questions about a conversation with Justin on May 31st, which the respondent doesn’t recall clearly. There is mention of rules against scattered rubbish and the issuance of notices and citations for illegal camping, including the requirements such notices must meet, such as time of day and contacting local shelters.
Further, there are details on the procedural aspect of these notices, specifying the timeline for property removal if not vacated, with a particular emphasis on a 72-hour state law requirement. The segment concludes with references to specific exhibits that contain records of citations issued to individuals for various infractions, including dates, reasons for the citations, and compliance or violations of park regulations.
00:50:00
In this part of the video, citations and park exclusion orders issued to Justin Wallace and Helen Cruz are discussed. Citations for park regulation violations, such as camping, were issued on specific dates, notably on 6-2-2022, at Morrison Park. The testimony examines the legality and validity of these citations, touching on previous interactions with Wallace and Cruz, including rubbish scattering incidents. The conversation highlights that some citations were dismissed and questions the evidence supporting others. Closing arguments stress the burden of proof on the city and critique the clarity and enforcement of park camping rules, suggesting that the evidence and testimony provided are insufficient to support the exclusions. The overarching theme is the difficulty in determining legal violations without clear evidence or context, emphasizing the need for fair and clear rules, especially concerning vulnerable populations like the homeless.
01:00:00
In this segment of the video, the discussion revolves around the unconstitutional treatment of homeless individuals by the city through various ordinances and policies. The city is accused of criminalizing life-sustaining activities like sleeping outside when no adequate shelters are available. Specific citations regarding illegal camping and the issue of exclusions are highlighted. Officer interactions, particularly with Mr. Wallace and Ms. Cruz, are scrutinized, emphasizing a citation given on 6/2 and referencing an exclusion order based on that citation, despite the apparent compliance deadlines given until 6/3. The segment stresses that the Eighth Amendment prohibits punitive actions against homeless individuals who have no shelter alternatives. The police department’s practices are argued to uphold ordinances in a manner consistent with court injunctions, but the discussion points out perceived injustices in handling these homeless cases within the legal framework.
01:10:00
In this segment of the video, the council is given a few minutes to review their notes and documents before starting a discussion. A 10-minute break is called to allow the council members to review the evidence, but they are instructed not to discuss anything with one another during this time. The mayor emphasizes the importance of the decision that needs to be made, which is whether to uphold a 30-day park exclusion pursuant to Municipal Code 6.46.350.
01:20:00
In this segment, the council discusses and decides on the issuance of a 30-day exclusion order from a city park for individuals who have received two or more citations within a one-year period. It is clarified that the exclusion order is specific to the park where the violations occurred. Members of the council unanimously agree to uphold the exclusion orders for Justin Wallace and Helen Cruz based on the evidence of multiple citations. The exclusion will take effect on Tuesday, July 12th. The public hearing concludes with a dismissal.