Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Ordinance topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council directs staff to update taxi, camping and public‑safety parking ordinances
Summary
The council reviewed proposed ordinance changes to repeal the town’s outdated taxi permit rules, clarify camping/shelter language for sleeping‑in‑public enforcement, and create visitor and staff parking rules at the police/court and Fire Station 1 facilities; staff will return draft ordinance language at the next council meeting.
Police Chief Chris Friess briefed the council on three proposed ordinance actions intended to modernize enforcement and manage town properties.
1) Taxi ordinance: The existing taxi permit ordinance is roughly 40 years old and staff recommended repeal. Chief Friess said ride‑share apps have largely supplanted taxi operations and the town has issued very few taxi permits in recent years; repealing the ordinance would remove a seldom‑used regulatory layer.
2) Sleeping/camping ordinance: Staff proposed revised language to define "camp" and "shelter" (including tents, lean‑tos, sleeping bags, and use of a vehicle as a residence). The draft would prohibit camping on town‑owned property (parks, parking lots, buildings, airport property and right of way) and would prohibit camping on private property without the property owner’s permission. Council members asked about enforcement options, hammocks in parks and the handling of persistent encampments; staff said enforcement would be case‑by‑case and that the updated language would allow ordinance enforcement (rather than require trespass actions) where appropriate.
3) Police/Fire facility parking: Staff proposed a labeled two‑hour visitor parking designation and reserved staff parking at the police/court building and Fire Station 1 to keep those lots available for court attendees and public safety business. Council asked for specifics on the number and location of reserved spots; staff said the ordinance would allow a mix of labeled two‑hour visitor spots and reserved staff spaces and would be brought back with specific signage and enforcement language.
Council members asked how changes would be enforced and whether the town would create clearer guidance for business owners who find people sleeping inside their premises; staff said the new camping language would allow municipal ordinance enforcement and that staff will return a draft ordinance for council consideration at the next meeting.
