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Salem City Council Pushes for More Frequent, Thorough ODOT Homeless Encampment Cleanups
City staff tasked with coordinating a plan and timeline with the state agency to address growing concerns over trash and public safety on state-owned properties.
Feb. 4, 2026 at 7:47pm
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The city of Salem is facing growing pressure to address the impacts of unsheltered homelessness, with many of the most visible encampments located on state-owned property under the jurisdiction of the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT). While the city and ODOT have been coordinating monthly on cleanup efforts, the frequency and quality of ODOT's cleanups have been inconsistent, leading the Salem City Council to unanimously approve a motion requesting a detailed plan and timeline from city staff to improve the process.
Why it matters
Jurisdictional issues between the city and state have made it difficult to address the growing homeless encampments, which can accumulate significant trash and raise public safety concerns. The city frequently receives complaints about the camps on ODOT properties, but lacks the authority to directly address them. This motion aims to increase coordination and accountability between the city and state to better manage the situation.
The details
ODOT is responsible for cleaning up homeless encampments on state-owned properties in Salem, but the agency faces staffing and funding challenges that have led to less frequent and thorough cleanups. City staff say ODOT historically scheduled cleanups every six weeks, but the frequency has decreased. ODOT requires the presence of law enforcement during cleanups, which can also be limited by other priorities. The city is not able to directly work on ODOT properties without a formal agreement, and ODOT is unlikely to commit to additional expenses ahead of the state legislative session, where they are seeking to address a $240 million budget shortfall.
- ODOT typically posts notices 10-19 days before scheduled cleanups on their properties.
- In areas with 'no trespassing' signs, the timeline is condensed to 24 hours to 7 days before a cleanup.
- ODOT crews usually spend 2-3 days per week conducting cleanups in the Salem area.
The players
Salem City Council
The local governing body that unanimously approved a motion requesting a detailed plan and timeline from city staff to improve coordination with ODOT on homeless encampment cleanups.
Mayor Julie Hoy
The Salem mayor who put forward the motion to increase the frequency and quality of ODOT's cleanups on state-owned properties within the city.
Krishna Namburi
The Salem city manager who stated that ODOT has indicated funding issues make any additional, expedited cleanup efforts at the city's request unlikely.
Gretchen Bennett
The Salem city employee who oversees community services and coordinates monthly meetings with ODOT's regional coordinators to discuss cleanup efforts and available sheltering resources.
Mindy McCartt
An ODOT spokesperson who explained the agency's cleanup process and challenges, including staffing limitations and the need for law enforcement presence.
What they’re saying
“ODOT has historically scheduled clean ups for its right-of-way within Salem approximately every six weeks, however more recently those clean ups occur less often. Even then many ODOT owned properties within the city may not be addressed when their crews are in town. Further, the quality of ODOT's cleaning is not consistent. In many instances, ODOT crews may leave substantial amounts of trash and junk behind.”
— Mayor Julie Hoy
“The people creating the need for cleanups are real people with real-life struggles. That does not go unnoticed. The people living in unmanaged camps need help. Whether they want the help or not is another matter.”
— Mayor Julie Hoy
“This is one of those many downstream effects that we see. And we all want to balance affordability with transportation funding. So I'm hopeful that the Legislature can address the challenges that we face.”
— Councilor Vanessa Nordyke
“I'm not convinced the state is going to be able to meet us halfway. I struggle with this being on our shoulders again, knowing that we don't have the funds to take care of it.”
— Councilor Irvin Brown
What’s next
The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.
The takeaway
This case highlights growing concerns in the community about repeat offenders released on bail, raising questions about bail reform, public safety on SF streets, and if any special laws to govern autonomous vehicles in residential and commercial areas.
