Almost every week this is the "What's on the city council's plate this week" review. I don't cover everything, so if you want the full rundown, read the packet and agenda yourself.

The most interesting reading in the packet this week is the update on the RV ordinance. The council is reviewing two options from staff, one that bans RVs 24 hours and one for only a few hours each night.

Staff report run down:

1. Two versions of a draft ordinance are attached for City Council’s consideration. Both versions will have similar outcomes of prohibiting long-term parking of recreational vehicles on city streets. The prohibition would apply city-wide to prevent trailers currently parked primarily in the downtown area to move elsewhere in the city.
2. The primary difference between the two versions is in the method of enforcement. The 24-hour version (Attachment 1) can be enforced both by the Parking Services staff as well as the Police Department. The 3:00 a.m.-6:00 a.m. version (Attachment 2) would have to be enforced solely by the Police Department.
3. Exceptions to the parking prohibition would be made through permits issued to the registered owner or operator of a vehicle. Staff envisions the permit process to be a simple over-the-phone, no-charge permit valid for up to 10 business days per year. The permits would be issued if one of the conditions is met:
a. The registered owner or operator of a recreational vehicle is a non-resident visitor to the city who is sponsored by a resident of the city with a physical address adjacent to where the vehicle is parked, or
b. The registered owner or operator is participating as a vendor or sponsor of a special event for which a special event permit has been obtained from the city, or
c. The registered owner or operator of a recreational vehicle is a resident of the city with a physical address adjacent to where the vehicle is parked.
4. Citations will be issued for parking in violations of the proposed code. After three citations are issued, and if the vehicle is still present, the vehicle would be towed.
5. Penalty for violation will be $75.00, and after the third offense the trailer may be impounded. However, an impounded vehicle would be immediately released upon payment of impound, tow, and other charges.
6. Recreational Vehicles will be defined according to State Law as follows:
"Recreational vehicle" is defined as a vehicular-type unit primarily designed for recreational camping or travel use that has its own motive power or is mounted on or towed by another vehicle. The units include travel trailers, fifth-wheel trailers, folding camping trailers, truck campers, and motor homes.

But, the most interesting piece is the three witness statements the council/city staff bothered to bring together.

Here's my general problem with these statements: In my short experience with city government, I have never seen anything like this. It may be typical in topics like this for a city government to try to argue for something being a problem, but this just seems weird.

Not that I automatically think the RV ordinance is the wrong thing to do, but the statements seem like reaching to me.