City of Pendleton

06/19/2026

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DATE: June 19, 2026, 3:30 pm
City Manager Robb Corbett 541-966-0201

Special City Council Meeting On Lawsuit Announced

Pendleton, Ore. — The Pendleton City Council will hold a special meeting on Monday, June 29, 2026, at the Pendleton Convention Center at 7:00 PM to conduct a public hearing on a proposed settlement agreement in the lawsuit filed against the City’s resting ordinance by the Oregon Law Center on behalf of individuals experiencing homelessness. The lawsuit alleges, among other things, that the City’s existing resting ordinance violates Oregon law.

The proposed settlement agreement has 4 primary components:

1. The City will repeal and replace the current resting ordinance to bring it in line with state laws that were adopted after the City’s current ordinance was enacted.
2. The City will ensure that outstanding fines from previous violations against the plaintiffs are waived.
3. Outstanding fines levied against people violating the existing resting ordinance will also be waived.
4. The City will make $120,000 available for enhanced sheltering or day center services in the community, minus the total amount of waived above.
The new proposed ordinance would increase the resting period from 8 hours to 24 hours. Current practice allows a citation after 8 hours, then state law requires a 72-hour notification period before the illegal shelter can be removed. Oregon case law indicates that a 24-hour initial resting period is determined to be reasonable, after which the state-required 72-hour notification period is initiated, allowing the citation only if the shelter is not removed after the 72-hour period. If officers observe illegal activity, the shelter can be removed immediately.

Points of Consideration
• It is believed that the funds needed to meet the obligation of the agreement will come from partner organizations.
• No payments are being made for opposing legal fees or to plaintiffs
• City admits no wrongdoing.
• City insurance would not cover the cost of litigation.
• Due to changes in state law, the City likely needs to amend its current ordinance.
All documents will be made available to the public at least 3 days before the public hearing on the City of Pendleton website.

06/18/2026

Here is the visual recap of last night's Pendleton City Council meeting.

Prefer to listen to the recap? Hear City Manager Robb Corbett discuss the meeting on this morning's KUMA Coffee Hour at https://omny.fm/shows/coffee-hour-podcast/june-17-city-of-pendleton

The recap is also available in PDF format at https://www.pendletonor.gov/media/21221

A video recording will also be available on the City's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sxoQY-6gDPo&list=PLCVp3Dcq-EVlTcYLPKWWuJywgmBnYofAT

06/17/2026

Welcome back 50m pool!

The 50m pool is open today and we WILL have night lessons tonight! The Dive Pool needs some cleaning but should also be open again soon! Ginormous shout out to the city facilities and maintenance crews for all the overtime they worked to get us up and running again!!!

And our churros are restocked today too!

06/17/2026

Mayor McKennon McDonald gave the oath of office to newly promoted Fire Lieutenant Jordan Tyer during tonight's Pendleton City Council meeting.

06/16/2026

While the 50m and Dive Pools are closed for maintenance, the leisure pools and slides are open at Pendleton Aquatic Center. The Til Taylor Splash Pad is also up and running for the summer!

We appreciate your continued patience while our maintenance crew diligently works their magic.

06/16/2026

As our heat wave continues, Pendleton Police Department and Pendleton Animal Welfare Shelter (PAWS) / Pioneer Humane Society are asking the community to take care of pets accordingly.

Make sure pets have access to shade and water, and remember the 5 second rule for walking pets:. If the sidewalk or asphalt is too hot for you to hold your hand on it for 5 seconds, it is too hot for your pets' feet.

If you see an animal in danger in Umatilla County, please report it to Dispatch at 541-966-3651.

06/15/2026

Pendleton City Council meets at 7 p.m. tomorrow, June 16, at Pendleton City Hall. The agenda is available at:
https://cityofpendletonor.civicweb.net/Portal/MeetingInformation.aspx?Org=Cal&Id=8325

Pendleton Development Commission will also meet at 6 p.m.

06/13/2026

Important information if you are visiting the airport later this month

🚧AIRPORT PARKING & ACCESS NOTICE🚧

Please be advised that slurry seal work will be taking place at the Pendleton Airport and areas of the Airport Industrial Park between June 18-30, 2026. During this period, portions of the terminal parking lot and surrounding areas will be temporarily closed while crews complete maintenance work.

Important:
• Vehicles parked in designated work areas (highlighted in pink) during slurry seal operations will be towed at the owner's expense.
• Access to the terminal parking lot will be restricted during active work.
• Exact work dates at the airport terminal parking lot have not yet been confirmed and may change based on contractor scheduling.
• Additional signage, detours, personnel, and equipment will be present when work is underway.

Alternate Parking Options:
•Gravel area west of the terminal near the former water reservoir site adjacent to the Radisson.
• Gravel area east of the terminal parking lot near the former pilot house location.
• Limited parking is also available in the concrete lot used by Boutique Air staff and rental vehicles.

Please help us spread the word by sharing this information with your network. We will provide updates as additional scheduling information becomes available.

Thank you for your patience as we complete these important improvements to airport facilities.

06/12/2026

Due to seasonal weather conditions and increasing fire danger, the open burning season for the City of Pendleton, Rieth Water District, Lower McKay, McKay Dam, and Riverside Fire Districts is closed effective immediately.

Open burning is expected to reopen on October 1, 2026, weather permitting. During the closed burning season, the outdoor burning of yard debris, stumps, field burns, and bonfires is prohibited.

Read more: https://www.pendletonor.gov/fire/page/open-burning-season-closed

06/10/2026

The 2025 Water Quality report is now available online at https://www.pendletonor.gov/media/21096

Previous water quality reports are also available on the Public Works Documents page.