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Workshop clarifies park rules, overnight camping limits and sign restrictions
Summary
Councilors reviewed park rules and an overnight-camping ban in public places, debated exceptions for private properties and short visitor stays, and asked staff to add explicit prohibitions against defacing city signs and to clarify swim/curfew language.
At the July 11 workshop, participants devoted substantial time to park-related rules in the nuisance ordinance, including overnight camping, signage, swimming and park hours.
Overnight camping: Workshop discussion centered on whether to bar sleeping in vehicles and tents in public rights-of-way, parks and waterfronts while allowing limited short-term stays on private property. Speakers debated whether private parking lots and driveways should be treated differently and whether short visitor stays (three days) should remain permissible. One participant described the local housing situation as context for the debate: Speaker 3 said, “we have to acknowledge the fact that housing around here is hell, and people are struggling for places to live,” a point others cited to urge caution about enforcement that would displace people without housing alternatives.
RV parking and permitted sites: The group noted existing zoning allows recreational-vehicle parking areas in certain zones (R-2) and identified an existing permitted site, Paradise Cove. Staff was asked to confirm where temporary RV stays are allowed and whether hookups (water/sewer) should be required for longer stays on private lots.
Signs, kiosks and defacement: Participants asked for clearer sign restrictions in parks, including an explicit ban on modifying or defacing city signs and a statement that decorations or personal art require city manager or park-committee permission. Speakers said a recent unauthorized change to a historical kiosk prompted the proposed addition.
Swimming and park hours: Councilors debated an absolute swimming ban vs. a ‘swim at your own risk’ approach and discussed whether to use fixed curfew hours (10 p.m. vs. 11 p.m.) or a dawn-to-dusk rule to simplify enforcement. Liability and motorboat traffic were cited as reasons to keep liability language and post signage where appropriate.
Next steps: Staff will draft tightened sign-defacement language, confirm permitted RV locations and hookups, and propose park-hour language (dawn-to-dusk or a specific curfew) for council review. No formal ordinance vote was taken at the workshop.
