The following are the unapproved minutes from the Hines Common Council and Budget Committee meeting held Dec. 13. These minutes were edited for clarity and length.

City Administrator Kirby Letham discussed Ordinance 333 (the RV ordinance).

He said current city regulations do very little to address modern RVs and campers. This ordinance would set basic rules for the city to respond to RV use and storage. The ordinance would also proactively limit the use of RVs as a residential dwelling. Under the ordinance, RVs could only be used as a residential dwelling temporarily or in specifically designated areas.

Letham provided a sample ordinance from Nyssa, which states that you cannot live in your RV/motorhome/camper, etc. within city limits unless it is in a mobile home/RV park, and you can only be there 14 days within a 365-day period.

Letham explained that Hines’ ordinance has three basic provisions. The first provision is a temporary 14-day permit within a 30-day period.

The second is a six-month permit. This would allow someone to live in their RV while they are building or remodeling a house. They would have to appear before the Planning Commission to request a Conditional Use Permit. At the same time, they would have to show they have a building permit, and they are starting the building process.

The third provision pertains to parking and storage. There would be no parking of an RV/motorhome/camper within city limits for more than 48 hours.

Nothing shall prevent the parking of an unoccupied RV (not in daily use) on the owner’s property. However, the vehicle must be licensed and registered with the state of Oregon. Alternately, an annual fee of $55 must be paid to the city of Hines for a storage permit, which must be displayed on the vehicle. Residents will not need to pay a fee on top of DMV registration.

Mayor Nikki Morgan said someone parked a trailer in a vacant lot, and the city ended up with squatters. This ordinance would prevent folks from parking and/or living in RVs on vacant lots.

Councilor Robert Beers said he’s tired of unnecessary fees, and he asked what the $55 would be used for. He added that police would notice if someone parked a vehicle on an empty lot.

However, Beers said he doesn’t have an issue with requiring a permit to stay in an RV for 14 days or live in an RV while a house is being built.

Councilor Misty Shepherd asked about RVs that are used for business purposes, such as offices.

Morgan replied that the purpose of this ordinance is to prevent people from squatting in RVs. She added that law enforcement is extremely busy, and if a crime is not occurring, they may not notice an RV/camper.

She then asked Beers if he would be against a $5 fee for registering RVs/campers with the city, explaining that it will cost the city to track lawful RVs/campers.

Beers said it should be free for citizens to register their RVs/campers with City Hall. He added that he hasn’t seen any other city require citizens to register to park vehicles on their own property.

A lengthy discussion ensued in which numerous citizens and councilors shared their thoughts and concerns regarding the proposed ordinance.

Letham said he will use these comments to revise and refine the draft ordinance.

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Letham also reported that:

• he is working with Harney County School District No. 3 Superintendent Robert Medley and others on the Safe Route to Schools Grant. Public meetings will be held this spring to garner community input;

• the city will be testing the Neptune 360 billing system at the end of the month;

• he is working with Anderson Perry to wrap-up plans and projects. The Water Conservation Master Plan should be complete in February, and the Wastewater Facilities Plan should be complete in February or March. He added that research and design for the Influent Lift Station is pretty much complete;

• he will contact the League of Cities to continue developing a partnership to solve statewide homelessness;

• the 2021/2022 fiscal year audit is complete. The auditor will attend the Jan. 24 meeting.

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In other business:

• Oregon Recreation and Parks Department’s Parks Planning Grant Contract will create a new master plan to rehabilitate the aged, existing park and define future development of currently unused city-owned land in Hines.

The city received a grant for $32,000. The city will supply $8,000 in matching funds for a total of $40,000.

The State Parks Department will put the city in touch with a consultant who will study city parks and lands. A series of public meetings will be held to gather input from residents regarding park improvements. That input will be used to create a 5-10 year park-improvement plan, which will help the city apply for additional grants to improve the park system;

• Public Works Superintendent Jerry Lewellen said Public Works has been busy plowing snow. He noted that 4-wheelers have been pushing snow into the road.

Morgan suggested using the TextMyGov app to inform people about snow removal.

Councilor Dean Brizendine suggested reminding people not to bury fire hydrants.

Lewellen said Fire Chief Bob Spence informs him when snow is getting too deep around the hydrants, noting that some residents clear around the hydrants near their homes.

Beers asked whether the state can help clear sidewalks. He was informed that the city, residents, and business owners are responsible for removing snow on sidewalks;

• the council approved a business license for Andrew Paul with Paul Surveying and Planning. Paul is a surveyor out of Klamath Falls;

• the council approved business license applications for the following vacation rentals: Robinsons Millhouse Air BnB, the Fort Hines Air BnB, and the Hanley Farmhouse Air BnB;

•Victoria Barker applied for a livestock permit to allow four ducks, five chickens, a rooster, and bees. Beers made a motion to approve the livestock permit, excluding the rooster and bees. Brizendine seconded the motion, and it carried.