Neighbors near St. Vincent de Paul’s Day Center, located on Pentland and W. Second Place, voiced concerns in 2023 that many people experiencing homelessness had been sleeping and storing their things there. The City of The Dalles eventually filed a nuisance lawsuit against the nonprofit, later announcing its dismissal.
Neighbors near St. Vincent de Paul’s Day Center, located on Pentland and W. Second Place, voiced concerns in 2023 that many people experiencing homelessness had been sleeping and storing their things there. The City of The Dalles eventually filed a nuisance lawsuit against the nonprofit, later announcing its dismissal.
THE DALLES — The Dalles City Council spent a long night Sept. 8 discussing an update to its food truck and transient merchant rules as many residents turned out to defend Bread and Blessings: a nonprofit that for decades has served hot meals to people living outside and was recently told it could no longer operate at Lewis and Clark Festival Park.
The proposed ordinance — a consolidation and rewrite of two chapters of the city’s code that date back to the 1990s — was scheduled as an action item, but the council converted it to a discussion only, pushing any vote to Sept. 22 so that a full council can be present and the public can weigh in again.
The meeting touched on a note that framed the night’s discussion: a proclamation recognizing September as Hunger Action Month, acknowledging the 14.9% of Wasco County residents struggling with hunger.
Mayor Richard Mays read the document encouraging “all citizens to increase their understanding and awareness of food insecurity.”
Leah Hall of Columbia Gorge Food Bank told the council pointedly, “Hunger starts with policy and it can end there too.”
Mayor Mays framed the proposed ordinance’s goals, saying this update “does not ban feeding the hungry or charitable giving,” but seeks to “address the sidewalk clogging, the ADA blockages and the trash, food waste and lack of restrooms that are prevalent in some areas on sidewalks.”
During the meetings’ public comment period, many residents expressed concern that the potential hurdles created by this ordinance might prevent Bread and Blessings from finding a place to operate.
Shelly Hansen of Bridges to Change
“These people aren't going away,” said Shelly Hansen of Bridges to Change. “They're human beings, and I think we need to find a spot for them.”
Teresa Yragui-Zeman, founder and operator of Bread and Blessings, told the council her team has followed directions to keep walkways clear.
“We were told by the police that we needed to make sure that there was room for people to walk, and we do that,” she said.
She asked the city to “remember we could be in the same situation sometime,” and thanked officials for considering the needs of people who are “unloved and unwanted.”
“I don’t think there’s anyone here on the council that doesn’t appreciate the work you do,” Mayor Mays told Yragui-Zeman.
Teresa Yragui-Zeman of Bread and Blessings
What the updated ordinance would do
City Attorney Jonathan Kara walked through the proposed ordinance’s draft, highlighting changes to the city code:
Combine the two existing code chapters and modernize definitions. “Mobile food vendors are people who distribute food on a temporary basis from a fixed location,” Kara said, noting that vendors would hold “licenses,” while merchants selling or distributing goods would have “permits.”
Keep food pods out of scope. “If you have a food truck in a food pod, you don’t need a mobile food vendor license. None of this will apply to you,” he said, noting 6th Street Station and The Landing.
Maintain long-standing restrictions in public rights-of-way. “Currently mobile food vendors and transient merchants are prohibited from operating in the public right of way,” Kara stated. “That’s not being proposed to change here.” The only right-of-way allowances remain festival closures and ice cream trucks.
Clarify exceptions for special events and low-impact activities. The city “has no interest” in regulating “the occasional distribution by a lemonade stand [or] Girl Scout cookies” by youth on private or permitted public property, Kara said.
Create two license categories tied to time on site.
○ A Type I license: $30 for seasonal activity 30 days or less with up to five $25 renewals for a total of six months of use.
○ A Type II license: $150 covers over six months and under a year.
○ Merchant license: $50 with a $50 renewal.
Draw a bright line at 12 months. Kara said, “If you’re operating at a site for more than 12 months, you’re no longer in the world of temporary use,” pushing applicants into the city’s land-use and development ordinance, commonly called the LUDO.
Bridge the gap for existing operators. Until a new LUDO path exists, the city would continue renewing Type II licenses for vendors who’ve been on the same parcel more than a year but don’t trigger site-plan requirements. Even after council adopts a LUDO change, Kara said the draft gives operators time to comply: originally “six months,” which several speakers asked to extend. Council approved an amendment to 12 months.
Remove background checks and a $20 investigation fee. Staff found the background check appears to be a historical relic and couldn’t identify any other Oregon city that required it for vendors.
Cut fees for healthy menus and waive fees for nonprofits. The reduction for vendors with at least two healthy food options jumps to 50%, and nonprofit corporations, community organizations, service clubs, charitable organizations and small Oregon produce sellers would be eligible to have license or permit fees waived if they request it.
Replace per-item fines. A stepped presumptive fine schedule would align with other city codes: $165 for a first violation, $265 for a second in a year, and $440 for a third, with higher maximums set by the municipal court.
Kara emphasized that the rewrite is intended to streamline the city staff’s ability to sign off on new temporary food vendors and distributors.
“Find a place for Bread and Blessings”
Public comment stretched well beyond an hour as business owners near West First Street described congestion and safety risks, while supporters and volunteers venerated Bread and Blessings as a lifeline that needs a stable home base.
“I know that the folks are doing great work,” said property owner Michael Leash, who testified he’d seen sidewalk blockages and even power cords run from his building from individuals camping near the meal line.
“Obviously that would be stealing power from my tenants that are there at the property,” Leash said, adding that his tenants have called and texted him saying they haven’t been able to access their rented spaces due to individuals on the sidewalk.
Alex Hattenauer, who operates commercial vehicles nearby on First Street, raised traffic concerns about individuals standing or walking in the right of way.
He added, “There needs to be a better spot than what’s currently being used.”
Others came to praise the program and ask the city to help the nonprofit find a permanent site.
“Teresa does a great job,” said Community Meals board member Chris Zukin, who urged a light-touch land-use track for the “very low impact food distribution that she does: two or three plastic tables… and a couple garbage cans… It all goes away after two hours.”
Hansen of Bridges to Change said the meal line allows her organization to provide other services, such as access to local safety net programs or identification cards. Also, the meal provides an opportunity for human connection.
“Think about what it’s like to share a warm meal with people who don’t cringe when you come near them. More than just food, it’s community,” Hansen said. “Teresa leaves it cleaner when she leaves than when she got there.”
Volunteer Bob Kenyon, who said he has worked off and on with Community Meals and with Bread and Blessings for many years, spoke of the organization’s broader community benefits.
“It’s a gift to the people that receive the food. It’s maybe a bigger gift to those of us that put it out,” he said.
Several residents referenced legal fights elsewhere over public food sharing.
Longtime former city attorney Gene Parker cautioned that “there’s been… a lawsuit with the city of Brookings, where they tried to regulate giving the food out to the homeless, and the city lost that lawsuit,” urging the council to “think it through carefully” and find a way for Bread and Blessings to be able to continue.
Resident Connie Krummrich asked the city to avoid “criminalizing kindness,” adding, “My hope is that the city will be supportive and work with relevant individuals and groups to help find a permanent place for [Bread and Blessings] that also supports other citizens, landowners, businesses.”
Potential return to the St. Vincent de Paul building
Volunteer Karen Murray suggested returning to the St. Vincent de Paul dining room on West Third: a building Yragui-Zeman and her husband helped raise money for and established when St. Vincent de Paul began operating there.
“Let’s use the building for what it was designed to do,” Murray said.
Kara responded that the city is not a barrier to that option.
“The city has never, and really ever told St. Vincent de Paul who or what they can do with their building,” he said. “We dismissed our lawsuit… If St. Vincent de Paul would like to have you there, that is up to St. Vincent de Paul. The city has no influence over whether St. Vincent de Paul opens the doors to you or to anyone.”
Yragui-Zeman told Columbia Gorge News she has been in talks with the board of St. Vincent de Paul about re-introducing use of the building, but she has not yet received a firm response.
She said some board members expressed concern the city may bring another public nuisance suit against St. Vincent de Paul if the meal line were to return.
Why can’t Bread and Blessings operate at the park?
Yragui-Zeman told Columbia Gorge News she was asked to leave the Lewis and Clark Festival Park in April, and has been operating on the sidewalk near First and Union since then.
At the meeting, the city justified the decision to exclude Bread and Blessings from the park by pointing to a new “recreational immunity” ordinance passed in June.
Kara explained the city’s rationale: “As distribution of food is not a recreational activity, you’d have to get a permit to distribute food at the Lewis and Clark Park,” he said, adding that Bread and Blessings can still acquire permits.
However, Yragui-Zeman said Bread and Blessings can’t afford daily permit fees or the expense of a potentially-lengthy LUDO process.
City Manager Matthew Klebes said staff met last week with One Community Health, MCCAC, Bread and Blessings and Community Meals to discuss the ordinance and brainstorm locations.
He said the city’s aim is to keep the process “as business friendly as we can be,” and floated the idea of a “site plan review light” in the land-use code for low-impact, long-term vendors.
“When you take care of the people of The Dalles, all citizens and you will flourish. You will prosper,” Yragui-Zeman said.
As for Bread and Blessings, Yragui-Zeman said she and her volunteers will serve hot meals every weekday morning on the sidewalk until the proposed ordinance comes into effect.
“We're going to continue to feed people. That's all there is to it,” she said. “We're not stopping because how can you stop something that God has called you to do?”
The city council will discuss the ordinance again at the Sept. 22 meeting.
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