An ordinance regarding recreational vehicles was approved by the Snowflake Town Council March 15.
The proposed ordinance had been discussed at two previous meetings, with council members providing their input.
The second reading was held last week. Dale Call of Planning and Zoning/Building Safety explained that on Feb. 22 the council requested a change to paragraph five and that it be moved to the end of the ordinance, as modified in a motion made by the council. He also deleted the paragraph regarding fees.
Call recommended approval, but Councilman Larry Matyas said he had received “a lot of calls on this from residents in town that had RVs and they were vehemently against this ordinance.” Matyas stated he was called because of coverage in the newspaper showing his opposition to the ordinance.
Matyas said he invited the callers to the council meeting to express their opposition, but no one was present to do so.
“I did get specific objections to leaving the fee schedule in, because they said anybody could come in after this council is changed and make it where they have permits and fees,” said Matyas.
Call explained that he had taken that portion out of the ordinance. He further explained that a council can make changes to any ordinance at any time.
“I know that there are people who do complain, but I know there are a lot more people that would have to make an adjustment, and this would cost them money,” said Matyas, noting because RVs are not allowed on their property, residents would be required to put RVs in storage. “I don’t see a problem with people keeping them on their own property,” said Matyas. “I would like to have Snowflake be a town that is RV friendly rather than anti-RVs in town.”
“I think when we first started this, we were trying to get RVs off the roads, and I still agree with them not being on the road for a long time. In fact, with this ordinance they can be (on the road for a short period of time),” said Vice Mayor Kerry Ballard. “That was my idea with wanting to go through with this.” He stated that RVs would be OK where they are now, noting, “Most RVs would be in town even with this ordinance.”
“In my reading of this ordinance, and in my most humble opinion, it’s not going to affect, if any, very, very few people in town,” said Call. “The only limitation is the RV has to be within the setbacks of the home.
“The way I read it…it really does nothing more than limit the occupancy of recreational vehicles, it puts a restriction on how long Uncle Joe can come from the Valley and occupy that RV. It puts a limit on how they can attach a sewer connection,” said Call.
“From what I’ve just heard, and what I’ve heard from calls and complaints, I think it was misinformation,” said Town Manager Paul Watson.
Matyas had suggested screening the RV from sight and Watson said he liked that idea, but Call pointed out that would require a very high fence.
Watson went on to say, “The other is on utility hook ups, we do allow them to come in for a 14-day permit.”
After further discussion, Mayor Kelly Willis called for a motion.
Matyas moved to “put this back and think a little bit about the recommendations we’ve discussed,” noting, “I don’t really see there’s an incredible amount of time we need to have this done and I think we can rethink this.” The motion died for a lack of a second.
Ballard moved to hold the second reading and adopt Ordinance 11-333, adding the word “permanent” before utilities. There would be no permanent utilities allowed. The motion was seconded and passed with Matyas opposing it.
“We want to be perfectly clear that we want to be as accommodating as we possibly can, but also have something in place that has to do with safety and welfare of our people; fire and everything else that goes along with it,” said Mayor Willis.
The council also canvassed the votes from the town’s March 8 primary election and approved Resolution No. 11-552, declaring the results.
Town Clerk Barbara Flake gave the following results: out of 2,838 registered voters, 699 ballots were cast and counted for candidates for mayor, including Kerry Leslie Ballard, who received 258 votes, and Kelly S. Willis, 424; and for two council seats, Julius Aubin, 23, Cristina Chugg, 118, Lorri Davis, 349, Blaine Jarvis, 251, Bev Kay, 462, and Gregory Kroeger, 79.
Willis and Kay were declared elected. Davis and Jarvis will be on the ballot for a council seat in the May 17 general election.
The Alternative Expenditure Limitation, or Home Rule Option, passed with 514-107.
