RVs parked for extended periods of time on Centralia streets have been a growing issue over the past year.
During its regular meeting on Tuesday, the Centralia City Council approved a new RV parking and camping ordinance to address the issue.
The council voted 6-1 with only Councilor Elizabeth Cameron opposing the measure.
Amending Centralia Municipal Code, the ordinance adds two new parking enforcement sections. The first prohibits camping on city streets and the second restricts the amount of time an RV can be parked on city streets.
The changes were recommended by the city’s legal department following numerous complaints from Centralia residents concerned about RVs camped out on residential streets. Residents have complained about trespassing, safety hazards to both those camping on the streets and those driving, and garbage and waste being illegally dumped.
Before, people camping in RVs could just move to another neighborhood when contacted by law enforcement, as the code had no enforceable actions police could take.
Now, camping is prohibited and RVs can only remain parked on any street, alley or public parking lot for 16 hours or less. Moving an RV within a 48-hour period will not reset the time limit, either. Additionally, unlawfully parked RVs can now be towed and impounded. RVs include both campers and motorhomes, according to the new municipal code.
Penalties for violations are fines ranging from $20 to $500, depending on the area the offense occurs in and the number of infractions accrued. Interim Centralia City Attorney Kyle Manley told the council fines won’t be handed out first.
“If an RV is found to be parked longer than is permitted, then the police department would issue a citation,” Manley said. “Generally, my guess is they would start with a warning first, to let the person know, ‘Hey, we have time limits on how long you can park your RV, this is what they are, you need to move along.’ And if they don’t comply then, they will issue citations and ramp it up from there.”
While she saw the need for changing the municipal code to address the issues, Cameron still opposed the ordinance.
“I think the ordinance is a little bit ahead of things right now while we’re try to find a safe RV overnight parking situation, to get that established,” Cameron said.
She asked her fellow councilors to consider the needs of those living on the streets in RVs and camping. Cameron also asked the council to look further into the proposals made at the previous city council meeting by the Centralia Homeless Committee, which included creating a safe parking location for those living in RVs or cars to camp overnight.
Councilor Max Vogt believed the ordinance, while necessary, was only the first step toward fixing a very complicated issue.
“I’ve thought a lot about this, and I do favor thinking that we have to think of the entire community when we make a decision like this … We have to consider all the citizens of Centralia, businesses, residents, people that pay taxes,” Vogt said. “So I’m going to support this resolution, but I do think it’s a first step and I do think there can be some changes made.”
Centralia Mayor Kelly Smith Johnston echoed the same sentiments, saying while she still wants to increase services to those in need, the city still needs to think about the safety of all residents.
She added the city is still working with Lewis County officials to build the new night-by-night shelter and create a coordinated entry program.
“We have to balance that along with protecting the community’s interest and the community's good, and right now we are seeing some significant problems,” Smith Johnston said, later adding, “I’ll remind council, you’re probably already thinking about it, but this is a first reading. So there is an opportunity in between this reading and the second reading, if there are things you like to see tweaked or adjusted.”
The ordinance should get its second reading at the next Centralia City Council meeting, scheduled for July 25.
To read the ordinance and the amendments, go to page 28 of the Centralia City Council’s agenda at https://tinyurl.com/bdeh7mt2.
For more information on the Centralia Homeless Committee’s recommendations, read The Chronicle’s previous coverage at https://tinyurl.com/yx3zz5w8.