RV rethink is parked

A last-minute compromise quelled the anger of RV users who filled a usually empty City Hall on Monday to protest changes to the city’s parking restrictions.

Police Chief Kenneth Small had proposed changing the parking-limit ordinance for recreational vehicles, passed by the city last year, to help residents who complained of RV owners parking their unused RVs in front of their homes for long periods of time.

City rules allow an RV owner to park for a maximum of eight consecutive days at a time and no more than 16 days in a month with a special permit. The city was planning to restrict the time allowed to park an RV on the street from eight days to three days at a time, and no more than 12 days in a month.

Small suggested those changes after getting several complaints from residents whose view is blocked by RVs parked on the street, and on safety concerns.

The compromise is expected to keep both sides happy and stop residents from abusing parking rules. It would establish a cap on the maximum number of days owners can park their RVs on the street in a year rather than reducing the number of days per month and in a row.

“We worked out the problems in a fair and equitable manner with the City Council and everyone was happy,” said Sander Gelfland, a longtime resident.

The new ordinance will allow residents 100 days in a year instead of 120 days to park their RV, motorhome or trailers on the street while following the other monthly restrictions.

Other residents complained it still was a “whittling down effect,” pointing out that there are few RV storage areas in Huntington Beach.

Most in attendance were in favor of keeping the ordinance as it is, and were comfortable with the cap measure.

Small described the RV permit process adopted last year by the City Council as “an overwhelming success.” Since then, 1,290 residents have registered for permits, according to the police department. So far, 7,156 special permits have been issued, alongside 22,900 daily permits.

Councilwoman Cathy Green asked Small if the number of complaints was significant enough to change the restrictions. The council voted six to one for the compromise, with Council Don Hansen dissenting.

“If it works fine, leave it be,” Hansen said.

Changing the rules will not change the behavior of scofflaws, he said. hbi.20-rv-kt-BPhotoInfoEO1Q3F7P20060420ixy5a2ncKENT TREPTOW / INDEPENDENT(LA)The city of Huntington Beach has struck a compromise with critics and supporters on the time limit for parking large recreational vehicles, such as this one on Hamilton Avenue, on public streets.