La Grande City Council Work Session Addresses Substance Abuse, Homelessness

La Grande City Hall staff presented hard numbers at a Feb. 23 work session that framed the city's discussion on substance abuse and homelessness. The City of La Grande work session packet lists "41 overdose calls reported to dispatch," "Methamphetamine seizures: 495 grams," and "Fentanyl powder seizures: 41.4 grams," figures the council discussed in Council Chambers, 1000 Adams Avenue, at 6:00 p.m.

The session was convened as a non‑decision forum with Chief Jason Hays listed as presenter and a panel that included Danielle Bechtel and Brooke Taylor (CHD), Frederick Kiel (NEON/Right Track Resource Center), Sheriff Cody Bowen (UCSO), and Chris Gianandrea (La Grande Parks Department). The packet reiterates the meeting's procedural role: "A work session serves as an informal setting for discussing topics of mutual interest and exchanging ideas with staff. It is not intended for making decisions or directing staff toward specific actions, except to identify additional information the Council may wish to review later."

The packet places the local numbers in broader context, stating that "La Grande, like many Oregon communities, faces ongoing challenges related to substance abuse, mental health crises, and homelessness. These are societal issues." It further warns that "Drug addiction continues to drive crime, instability, and health emergencies," language city staff used to frame why panel contributors from CHD, NEON/Right Track, UCSO, and Parks were invited to brief councilors.

City materials also list state-level barriers constraining local responses, including exact phrasing: "Oregon Legislation prioritizes civil rights before public safety," "Mental health treatment & drug treatment is largely voluntary," "High criteria for involuntary commitment," "Limited mental health bed space," and "Oregon ranks among the worst nationally for mental health access, suicide rates, and addiction rates involving fentanyl and methamphetamine." Those points anchored discussion about why treatment and housing options remain limited in Union County.

Under a section titled "System & Justice Limitations," the packet notes "Limited tools to address criminal behavior rooted in untreated mental illness" and ends a line with the truncated phrase "Civil Commitment Mapping Workshops have" without further detail in the excerpt provided to councilors.

A La Grande city social post visible alongside the meeting notice listed regular meeting and consent procedures and specific Consent Agenda items, including: A. "Approval of the January 26, 2026 Regular City Council Meeting Minutes"; B. "Resolution No. 206-008 Concurring with the Mayor’s Reappointments to the Urban Renewal Agency Budget Committee, Lawrence and Ercole"; C. "Award of Contract No. 2025-016 for the 2026 Sanitary Sewer CIPP Lining"; and D. "Approval of the Fourth Amendment to Airport Management Agreement." The post also reiterated audience participation rules: "Interested citizens are required to sign up in advance to be recognized. Up to three minutes per person will be allowed."

The work session packet directs viewers to the event stream with the line "You can view the Work Session at the following link: AGENDA" and provides public contact instructions "to the meeting by calling 541-962-1309, or emailing Stacey Stockhoff, City Recorder at sstockhoff@cityoflagrande.org." The packet also includes the accessibility statement: "The City of La Grande does not discriminate against individuals with disabilities."

Because work sessions do not result in votes, the packet notes that if a topic requires formal action it "will be added to a future Regular Session Agenda for voting." City staff and the named panel contributors are positioned to supply follow-up materials or data if councilors ask for additional information for potential future action.