PRIEST RIVER — Recreational vehicles once again dominated the conversation at City Council last week as the city looks to implement restrictions via a proposed ordinance.

The main thing the city is trying to address with the ordinance is “permanent” living situations in RVs within city limits, said Priest River Mayor Jim Martin.

“The longer we put it off, the more trailers we see moving in,” said Councilwoman Candy Turner, adding she has seen two more move in recently.

During the city’s Nov. 5 meeting, a draft ordinance was presented to City Council that would put two main restrictions on occupied recreational vehicles.

The first restriction would make it unlawful for any landowner to have an occupied RV on their property for more than three consecutive days. Under the second restriction, occupied RVs are not allowed on city right of way for any length of time. An occupied RV is defined under the proposed ordinance as a recreational vehicle being utilized in any manner other than storage.

One exception would allow landowners of a parcel that does not have a dwelling to have an occupied RV on the property from May 15 through Sept. 15. The RV, however, must be connected to city water and be currently registered. The latter conditions apply to the second exception as well. Also, a temporary occupancy exception would allow landowners to have an occupied RV on their property for one year after the first issuance of a building permit for a single-family residence.

A final decision on the proposed ordinance is scheduled to go before council during the Dec. 3 meeting. If passed, the ordinance will go into effect as soon as Dec. 12, said city clerk and treasurer Laurel Thomas. Martin said a uniform letter will be drafted to all residents, who may or may not be in violation, to inform them of the restrictions, which could result in a misdemeanor for those who are in violation after the ordinance goes into effect.

Another topic during last week’s meeting was round two of the strategic initiatives funding, administered through the Local Highway Technical Assistance Council. City officials applied for the first round last year to help fund the downtown revitalization project. While they were denied that funding earlier this year, Matt Gillis with Welch Comer Engineering said they have been working with LHTAC officials to improve the application. Also, he said, there are more funds available, with $25 million this year compared to last year’s $11 million, improving the city’s odds of being selected for their $1 million request.

The initial concept for downtown focuses on a four-block area stretching north to south between Highway 2 and Montgomery on Main Street, and Cedar to Wisconsin from east to west on High Street. Some of the improvements include colorful foliage and updated lighting, and expanding the sidewalks. The project was originally slated to begin last spring, but was rescheduled for spring of 2019 due to a lack of funding for the project.

Also during the Nov. 19 meeting, a citizen request to waive a $50 fine for not licensing her dogs after she was given a warning was denied.

“I don’t think $50 is a lot ... and she was notified so many times,” Turner said. “I think if we don’t sometimes say enough is enough, people are just going to keep doing it.”

Another citizen request by Excess Portable Service, for permission to use the city’s wastewater site for portable toilet waste dumping, was tabled to allow city officials time to write up an agreement.

Mary Malone can be reached by email at [email protected] and follow her on Twitter @MaryDailyBee.