ITEM TITLE:
#25-04 - Amending Chapter 10.20 of the Valdez Municipal Code Titled Recreational Vehicle Parks and Tent Camping. Second Reading. Adoption.
SUBMITTED BY: Jake Staser, City Attorney/ Sheri Pierce, MMC, City Clerk
FISCAL NOTES:
Expenditure Required: n/a
Unencumbered Balance: n/a
Funding Source: n/a
RECOMMENDATION:
Approve Ordinance 25-04 in second reading for adoption.
SUMMARY STATEMENT:
Ordinance 25-04 is attached for review.
This ordinance amends, Chapter 10.20 of the Valdez Municipal Code relating Recreational Vehicle and Tent Camping. This section of code has not been updated since 1996. Ordinance 25-04 seeks to outline rules for limited camping and RV parking in areas not designated as RV Parks & Campgrounds under Title 17 and to clarify the process for issuing permits and designating areas. The ordinance brings alignment with the recently adopted Title 17, which now includes more detailed standards for RV Parks & Campgrounds.
In currently adopted code, Section 10.20.030 calls for a permit for RV Parking in designated areas of the city by permit from the City Manager’s office. Although RV camping has become more and more popular in recent years, the permit program was not implemented until last summer. Due to concerns about RVs parked in areas that are not appropriate within the City, the Chief of Police/Assistant City Manager formed a committee of department heads to explore solutions to the issue. During the summer of 2024, under the recommendation of the group, City Administration began issuing permits for a handful of designated areas as a temporary solution.
The group, which also includes the Capital Facilities Director, Community Development Director, Parks & Rec Director, Public Works Director, City Clerk, City Attorney, and Lt. Kalin King has developed the draft ordinance.