The Eugene City Council on Monday, April 26, unanimously approved a plan and strategies to address vehicle camping through parking restrictions in commercial/industrial areas.
In response to previous City Council direction, staff proposed a focused plan that would prioritize areas with known camping complaints in commercial/industrial areas in west Eugene. Staff also proposed working with adjacent businesses to determine on-street parking needs before making any changes with signs. This work is expected to cost about $50,000, with sign installation taking several months.
The Eugene City Council also voted to schedule a public hearing for code amendments that would change on-street parking regulations. The updated suggested code language is as follows (changes include strikethrough for potential omissions and bold for additions):
- 5.010 – The
part of one area encompassing both sides of a street lying between the two nearest cross streets. - 5.010 (2) – The vehicle
bears the name of a business either imprinted on the vehicle or on a commercially made sign measuring no less than 12 inches in height by 12 inches in width and is displayed at least on the driver’s side is registered to a corporation or other commercial entity and the registered name is clearly visible from 100 feet or more of a vehicle. - 5.135 – No person shall store or permit to be stored a vehicle or personal property on a street or other public property for a period in excess of 72 hours. It shall constitute prima facie evidence of storage of a motor vehicle if the same is not moved for a period of 72 hours. For the continuity of the time
shall not to be deemed broken by movement of the vehicle elsewhere on the block unless the movement removes the vehicle from the block where it was located before it is returned the vehicle must move at least two blocks from the original parking location and, unless the vehicle has a valid City issued on-street parking permit, must remain removed for at least 72 hours prior to returning anywhere within two blocks of the original parking location. - 5.225 (e) - On either side of the street in front of or adjacent to a residence, motel, apartment house, hotel or other place with sleeping accommodations between the hours of 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. of the following day if the vehicle is a motorbus or motor truck as defined in ORS 801.355, a recreational vehicle as defined in ORS 801.409, or a trailer bearing a PUC license;
- 5.265 – Maximum parking time limits designated by sign for a block shall apply to parking in the block, not merely to parking in one or more particular parking spaces in the block.
No person in charge of a vehicle may extend the permissible time for parking the vehicle in the block by causing the vehicle to be moved from one parking space to another in the block without being removed from the block. Once a vehicle has been parked for the designated maximum parking time limit the vehicle must be moved at least two blocks from the original parking location. The operator of the vehicle or its registered owner shall be regarded as prima facie in charge of it.
Code changes require scheduling a public hearing with Council taking action. Any changes would take effect 30 days later. Watch Monday's Work Session.
These suggested changes are part of a much larger plan to address urban camping. The Eugene City Council held a separate public hearing at its Council meeting on April 26, 2021 on a potential ordinance change to create safe places for people stay, whether in a vehicle on a tent. Councilors could vote on the ordinance change at the April 28 Work Session.