Resident asks West Linn to limit how long dumpsters and storage pods may sit on public streets

During public comment on March 17, West Linn resident Elizabeth Miller asked the council to consider an ordinance that would limit how long commercial dumpsters and portable storage containers may be placed on public streets. Miller said she reported a storage container that had been on Clubhouse Circle since April 2024 and that police told her there was no ordinance to enforce a time limit, which left the city unable to remove it as a public‑safety hazard.

"For me, it's a safety issue," Miller said, describing motorists, bicyclists and children walking near pools and tennis courts who must pass in the street around the unit. City Manager John said staff and the city attorney will research ordinances and options and return recommendations to the council; the mayor thanked Miller for bringing the issue forward and asked staff to follow up. The council indicated it had not previously considered a time‑limit ordinance for street storage and directed staff to evaluate regulatory options and enforcement mechanisms.