HomeMy WebLinkAboutOrdinance No. 20124ORDINANCE NO. 20124
AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING OVERNIGHT SLEEPING IN SPECIFIED
AREAS; PROVIDING EFFECTIVE AND EXPIRATION DATES; AND
DECLARING AN EMERGENCY.
The City Council of the City of Eugene finds that:
A, ordinance No. 20097, authorizing overnight sleeping in specified areas, was passed
by the Council and approved by the Mayor on November 17,1997. Pursuant to the provisions of
Section 5, the ordinance will remain in effect until June 3 0,1995.
B. Prior to the passage of ordinance No. 20097 homeless camping issues were
addressed in part through the City's operation of the Centennial Car Camp in the spring of 1993,
and during the 1993-94 and 1994-95 winters. At the time the car camp was initiated, adjoining
property owners were assured that the City would attempt to relocate to a different site. However,
no paved site with sewer access and appropriate zoning was available., In addition, the car camp cost
over $10,000 per month to operate, and neither the State of Oregon, Lane County, nor the City of
Springfield were willing to continue any financial support. Established service providers such as
white Bird and Lane ShelterCare were also unwilling to provide future staffing for a program that
only operated on a partial year basis, and 24 hour staffing by skilled staff was critical fox the safety
of the campers.
C. The Council finds it is in the public interest to continue to authorize overnight
sleeping in specif ed areas as hereinafter provided.
Now, THEREFORE,
THE CITY OF EUGENE DOES ORDAIN AS F4LLOwS:
Section 1. Notwithstanding any provision of the Eugene Code,1971, persons incompliance
with other applicable regulations may sleep overnight in a registered motor vehicle parked on a
public street for no more than 24 hours, where both sides of the street abut an industrial zoning
district.
Section 2. Notwithstanding any provision of the Eugene Cade, 1971, persons may sleep
overnight in a vehicle in a parking lot of a church, synagogue, or other religious institution that owns
ar leases property on which a parking lot and structure containing a place of warship are located,
with permission of the religious institution. The religious institution may not grant permission for
more than three vehicles for any one night.
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Section 3. Notwithstanding any provision of the Eugene Code,1971, persons may sleep
overnight in the back yard of a single family residence in a residential zoning district, with
permission of the owner and tenant of the residence. Not more than one family may sleep in any
back yard, and not more than one tent or camping shelter may be used for sleeping in the back yard.
As an alternative, but not in addition to sleeping overnight in the back yard, not more than one
family may sleep in a vehicle parked in the driveway of a single family residence in a residential
zoning district, with permission of the owner and tenant of the residence. For purposes of this
section, "family" means persons related by blood or marriage, or no more than three unrelated adults.
Section 4. A church, synagogue or religious institution that allows a person or persons to
sleep overnight in its- parking lot pursuant to Section 2 of this ordinance:
~a} Shall provide or make available sanitary facilities for the use of the persons
sleeping in the parking lot;
fib} Shall not require payment of any fee, rent or other charge for the privilege of
using the parking lot as authorized by this ordinance; and
~c} May revoke permission to sleep in the parking lot at any time and for any
reason,
Any person who receives permission to sleep in a vehicle in a parking lot of a church, synagogue
or other religious institution as provided in this Ordinance shall leave the property immediately after
permission has been revoked.
Section 5. An owner or tenant that allows a person or persons to sleep overnight in a back
yard or driveway pursuant to Section 3 of this ordinance:
~a} Shall provide or make available sanitary facilities for the use of the persons
sleeping in the back yard or driveway;
fib} Shall not require payment of any fee, rent or other charge far the privilege of
using the back yard or driveway as authorized by this ordinance; and
~c} May revoke permission to sleep in the back yard or driveway at any time and
for any reason.
Any person who receives permission to sleep in a vehicle in the back yard or driveway of a residence
as provided in this ordinance shall leave the property immediately after permission has been
revoked.
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Section ~. Any campsite used for overnight sleeping in a manner not authorized by this
Ordinance or by the Eugene Code,1971, shall constitute a nuisance and maybe abated as such. In
addition, any person who violates this Ordinance or permits a violation to occur on the person's
property shall be subject to a civil a ' 'strative penalty in an amount not to exceed $100 for each
day the violation continues. As used in this section, "campsite" has the meaning given in Section
4,815 of the Eugene Cade,1971.
Section 7, With authorization from the City Manager or designee in connection with a
specific recreational event, persons may sleep overnight on public property which has a community
center, swimming pool, or other city-operated athletic facility located thereon at which the
recreational event is being held. The authorization shall be limited to no more than eight days in any
two-wee perio .
Section 8. That the matters contained herein concern the public health, welfare and safety
and therefore, an emergency is hereby declared to exist, and this Ordinance shall become effective
at 12:01 a.m. on July 1,1995, and shall remain in effect until midnight, August 31,1998 with respect
to the authorization set forth in Section 1, and until midnight, June 30, X000 as to all other
provisions.
Passed by the City Council this
8th day of June, 1998
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Ci Recorde~
iY
Approved by the Mayor this
8th day of June,1998
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Mayor
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