HomeMy WebLinkAboutOrd. 20650
20650
THAN
4.
ADOPTED:281
SIGNED:April30,2021
PASSED:8:0
REJECTED:
OPPOSED:
ABSENT:
EFFECTIVE:April30
ORDINANCE NO. 20650
AN ORDINANCE ALLOWING FOR THE TEMPORARY ESTABLISHMENT OF
“SAFE PARKING” AND “SAFE TENT” SITES THAT ARE LARGER THAN
ALLOWED UNDER SECTION 4.816 OF THE EUGENE CODE, 1971;
DECLARING AN EMERGENCY; PROVIDING FOR AN IMMEDIATE EFFECTIVE
DATE; AND PROVIDING A SUNSET DATE.
The City Council of the City of Eugene finds as follows:
A. Section 4.816 of the Eugene Code, 1971 (EC) sets forth various types of overnight
sleeping arrangements that are permitted throughout the City when certain conditions are met.
Some of the permitted overnight sleeping arrangements are permitted outright and others require
the City Council to approve the location. Whether outrighted permitted or approved by the City
Council, the permitted overnight sleeping authorized by EC 4.816 is capped at the number of
allowed vehicles (which includes RVs, tents, and Conestoga huts) ranging from 1 to 20.
B. The City is experiencing an increase in the number of individuals living in campers,
trailers, cars, and tents in locations that are not intended for that purpose. This often results in
unsanitary and unsafe conditions for unhoused residents and for the surrounding community,
particularly the nearby businesses and residences. Additional options are needed for these
individuals to lawfully park their vehicles or set up their tents.
C. The City’s car camping and rest stop programs, which limit the number of allowed
vehicles/huts to six and twenty, respectively, are proven successes and are essential options for
the unhoused. However, to effectively address the large number of vehicles and tents that are
an immediate health and safety concern, there is a need for temporary sites that can
accommodate more vehicles and tents/huts than currently allowed by EC 4.816. The need for
these larger sites where people can temporarily sleep overnight in parked vehicles and erected
tents, is acute and immediate.
D. Temporarily allowing for the establishment of sites that will accommodate a larger
number of vehicles or tents than currently allowed by EC 4.816, should be immediately
established and remain in effect until May 1, 2023.
NOW, THEREFORE,
THE CITY OF EUGENE DOES ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. The following provisions are adopted to temporarily allow the establishment
of Safe Parking sites and Safe Tent sites.
Safe Parking Sites. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Eugene Code, 1971, a
group of up to 60 vehicles being used for overnight sleeping may temporarily park on
property authorized by motion of the City Council for that use. For purposes of this
provision, the term “vehicle” includes a car, camper, or trailer. Depending on the size of
the property, the City Council may authorize the co-location of multiple groups. In addition
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to any conditions imposed by the City Council at the time of site approval to address site-
specific issues, all Safe Parking sites authorized and established pursuant to this
Ordinance shall have adequate garbage collection, toilets, handwashing stations, and
potable water, with a goal of providing renewable power at all sanctioned sites.
Safe Tent Sites. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Eugene Code, 1971, a group
of up to 40tents,or approved hut-structures,being used for overnight sleeping may be
temporarily erected on property authorized by motion of the City Council for that use.
Depending on the size of the property, the City Council may authorize the co-location of
multiple groups. In addition to any conditions imposed by the City Council at the time of
site approval to address site-specific issues, all Safe Tent sites authorized and established
pursuant to this Ordinance shall have adequate garbage collection, toilets, handwashing
stations, and potable water, with a goal of providing renewable power at all sanctioned
sites.
Section 2. When a Safe Parking site is authorized and established pursuant to this
Ordinance, those vehicles unlawfully parked on City right-of-way in West Eugene shall be
prioritized for occupying spaces at the Safe Parking site. When a Safe Tent site is authorized
and established pursuant to this Ordinance, those tent campers at 13th and Chambers and in
Washington-Jefferson Park shall be prioritized for occupying spaces at the Safe Tent site.
Section 3. The City Manager may adopt rules pursuant to EC 2.019 to regulate the Safe
Parking sites and Safe Tent sites established pursuant to this Ordinance.
Section 4. This Ordinance shall sunset and be repealed on May 1, 2023, unless
extended or made permanent by future Council action.
Section 5. Due to the immediate need to address the significant increase in vehicular
living and unsanctioned erection of tent camps occurring throughout the communityby
establishing lawful sites to park vehicles or erect tents, an emergency is declared to exist that
cannot be addressed by the ordinance adoption procedures in Section 28(1) of the Eugene
Charter of 2002. Prior to the adoption of this Ordinance, the City Council unanimously agreed to
proceed with consideration of this Ordinance with an abbreviated notice of the public hearing date.
Section 6. As this matter has been declared an emergency, pursuant to the provisions of
Section 32(2) of the Eugene Charter of 2002, with the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the
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