Official wants to delay RV law

"I'm asking that the ordinance not become effective for a couple more months just to give us some time," Councilwoman Rhenda Strub said.

Strub convened a group of leaders from the county, Tumwater and some social service agencies to find homes for the RVs.

"We're looking at partnering with churches and social service agencies to take one or two of these RVs," she said.

Owen would be the coordinator.

The council moved last month to ban RV parking on city streets after getting complaints about seven RVs and motorhomes that have been parked for months near the Olympia Transit Center on State Avenue — taking up parking spaces, dumping sewage and running generators.

The law would ban RV parking between 3 and 6 a.m., or for any 24-hour period, including weekends and holidays. People could obtain a permit for parking for up to seven days within a quarter of each year.

Violators would be charged $75 for each offense, and after the third offense the vehicle could be impounded.

Assistant City Manager Subir Mukerjee said parking staff members and police would enforce the law. If passed tonight, the law could go into effect in 30 days.

Homeless RV residents said they have nowhere else to go. Other jurisdictions ban RV parking. In interviews earlier, some RV residents said they would move to another space if provided.

"The sense I get from most of them … they'll actually be probably happier than where they are," Owen said.

Formerly a part-time worker for the Family Support Center, Owen last week began receiving $5,000 emergency funding from United Way to work full time on finding homes for the RV campers. That funding will last for up to two months. Read more...