Council denies request to store trash cans in East Whitley right‑of‑way

The council voted to deny an encroachment permit request to store private trash receptacles in the public right‑of‑way behind a fire hydrant near 261 East Whitley. Planning and public‑works staff recommended denial, citing Avalon Municipal Code criteria and safety concerns: the proposed area lies within the planned guardrail footprint, is adjacent to utilities, and could obstruct fire‑access and maintenance.

Property owner Beatrice (Bea) Van Every told the council the wooden platform for the cans predated their ownership and that the platform had been used for decades: "I'm Bea Van Every, and yes, I'm the owner of, 261 East Whitley," she said, describing prior city staff guidance and the practical difficulty of moving cans to on‑site locations. Former public works director Bob Greenlaw warned about the planned guardrail and lifting cans over it on trash day: "You would have to lift the trash cans on trash day over the guardrail... And so that's not the way we wanna design something to normally operate."

Council members cited precedent concerns and the city's effort to bring encroachments into compliance as reasons to deny the request. Council moved and seconded the denial; the clerk recorded the outcome as 3 ayes, 1 no (Council member Schickling), 1 absent (Mayor Pro Tem Lavelle). Staff said they will continue to work with the applicants to identify an alternative on‑site location or shared solution.