Residents press council to amend trailer-and-boat parking rules; council seeks study and temporary fee moratorium

Several Battleground residents used the meetings citizens-communication period to urge the City Council to amend or suspend enforcement of an ordinance that restricts trailers and boats from being parked in front yards and driveways. Jim Dryhorst read the municipal code section (BMCBGMC17.1350.150) related to trailer and boat storage and asked the council to draft an amendment to allow one trailer when side or rear access is unavailable.

Other speakers said compliance notices were recent and widespread: one speaker said the city sent about 400 letters, and multiple residents described receiving a compliance letter with a Jan. 13 deadline and a potential $250 fine. Residents said many houses in older parts of town lack side access and that moving trailers would be impractical without major changes to property, creating what they described as financial and practical hardship.

In council communications several members responded: they asked staff for data from code enforcement about complaint volumes, proposed a study session to compare other municipalities approaches, and discussed options for an urgent response. One council member said, "I think a fee holiday would be in order," and the mayor suggested placing a moratorium on enforcement retroactive to recent weeks while the matter is reviewed. Staff confirmed enforcement remains complaint-driven and that some residents reported repeated reports had been filed. Council directed staff to try to put the matter on an upcoming agenda and signaled support for a study session and a short moratorium while the code is reviewed.