HomeMy WebLinkAbout103125 City to Proceed with Cleaning Up Encampment Near DSHS & Evans Vista
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: John Mauro, City Manager,
Steve King, Public Works Director
Friday, October 31, 2025 sking@cityofpt.us
CITY TO PROCEED WITH CLEANING UP ENCAMPMENT NEAR DSHS & EVANS VISTA
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PORT TOWNSEND In an October 31, 2025 Superior Court hearing presided over by Judge
Brandon Mack, a temporary restraining order was not granted to plaintiff Michele Goodwin
that would have prevented the City from cleaning an encampment near DSHS and Evans Vista
as planned. The City appreciates that the community is engaged and interested in the severity
of the situation at the encampment and the need to address issues faced by people
experiencing homelessness as well as the larger housing crisis here in East Jefferson County.
The Citys goal is to comply with our code, which is intended to ameliorate the inhumane
conditions at the encampment. We are thankful to our local service partners to help with
wraparound services. The City will continue to work with providers to encourage people to find
places where they can get out of the cold weather and into an environment that has running
water, sanitary sewer services, garbage services, and trained management staff to help connect
people with services they need.
On Wednesday, October 29, a permit application was submitted to expand an existing facility.
Emma Bolin, Director of Planning and Community Development, says, Thank you to Bayside
Housing and Services for submitting a permit to expand their facility at Pats Place to
accommodate several additional campers. As of this press release we are issuing this permit.
Along with the Police team, the City thanks Michael McCutcheon for daily communication with
people living in the encampment helping them plan for the November 3 camp closure with
compassion and respect. One of our values as a Police Department is compassion and we take
that really seriously and so we spend about 80% of our time community caretaking, says Police
Chief Tom Olson. Over the coming days the City will continue to post notices and the Police
team will be at the site alongside service providers with booths and tables set up, including the
LEAD Team, REAL Team, and Bayside Housing and Services who are prepared to provide
campsites, temporary hotel rooms, and other supportive services.
Public Works Director Steve King states, Governmental systems are systems that are less
focused on individuals and more about consistency of application of standards and codes.
Whether in a police arena or public works or planning, we have these systems. You can look at
government as the boundary setters for the minimum requirements supporting public health
and safety. That's why our partnerships are so very important, because the service providers
can leverage their skills attuned to what individuals need, really bringing it all together. We're
providing a core fundamental system which often looks cold but it's actually a valuable part of
reaching that outcome of public health and safety, and is a system made up of compassionate
individuals.
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For background see:
Access the City Council meeting from August 4, 2025 where background information is provided
and discussed.
City of Port Townsend Press Release of September 17, 2025
Brewocracy Now! conversation on KPTZ from October 30, 2025
On October 27, 2025 City Council amended Chapter 17.62 of the Port Townsend Municipal
Code relating to shelter and emergency housing performance standards enabling permitted
sanctioned camps for people living in tents and vehicles, subject to specific services provided
and stipulated in the ordinance.