Aldermen took up the issue of long-term camping on private property at Monday’s council meeting passing Ord. 2326 that limits the number of days allowed to seven a year with a $50 fee per day after. Aldermen Harry Meyer and Melissa Greene mentioned receiving complaints from members of the public about individuals camping on private property for extending periods of time, with Meyer saying that neighbors had taken issue with loud music coming from vehicles and excessive trash buildup.
Alderman Terry McClung questioned if there was nothing in city code preventing homesteading and City Attorney Forrest Jacobi explained that current code prevented such camping only on public property. McClung and alderman Bill Ott worried how the ordinance may affect children setting up a tent for a night in a backyard and Jacobi answered that if neighbors didn’t take issue with it, it wouldn’t be a problem. He also said that it would most likely fall under the noise ordinance with the day limit, and the reason for calling likely to be due to excessive noise.
Alderman Autumn Slane raised concern about if a property owner is constructing a residence and camping on the property if the ordinance would be infringing on their rights to personal property. McClung said that in subdivision development that it is typically disallowed to have any kind of temporary lodging on the property as a building is being constructed and cities often disallow it within their limits. Slane said she felt rushed to decide and wanted to look more into the issue.
The ordinance passed first reading with Slane being the only dissenting vote.
Other Items
- Council agreed to Res. 821 to lease city property behind 54 South Main to Kolin Paulk for the purpose of a grease storage container for 5 years.
- Council agreed to follow Police Chief Brian Young’s suggestion to remove the parking meters from city lots on Main Street and use the working meters to replace broken meters on other streets. The lots on Main Street will continue to use the Passport mobile parking app until the end of the year when council will decide whether to put in new meters.