Rainier city councilors discuss America250 plans

Members of the Rainier City Council met on Tuesday, March 10, for their regular monthly meeting at Rainier City Hall.

Dominating most of the discussion was city code for storage and parking of vehicles, campers and RVs along city streets, specifically on city right-of-ways along streets in the South Thurston County community.

Before that, though, Rainier City Councilor Amy Baker asked for help in planning the city’s America250 event this summer.

America250 is a collaborative effort where communities nationwide can choose to take part in planning special celebratory events marking the country’s upcoming 250th birthday on July 4. Some communities in the region have opted out of participating due to scheduling conflicts and unavailability of organizers, while others have opted to incorporate the America250 theme into existing annual Independence Day events already scheduled.

“We were talking about adding this as an add-on to the (Rainier) Round-Up Days. Since we already have Round-Up Days, we already have a date and funds allotted,” Baker said.

Rainier Round-Up Days is held on the fourth weekend of August and features live Bluegrass musicians performances, local vendors and a parade.

Baker asked her fellow councilors how they felt about that idea, or if they had other proposals. Suggestions included putting a special float in the parade, a giveaway of a ceremonial U.S. flag, a pie-eating contest and a beer garden.

“We don’t have to decide right this minute, but, start thinking about it, how we can make it stand out a little bit,” Baker added.

As for the discussion on vehicles and RVs in right-of-ways, the talk was led by Rainier City Attorney William Cameron.

Rainier Public Works staff are finding many meters they need to read blocked by the parked vehicles. City staff are also being prevented from doing routine maintenance to the right-of-ways being blocked, or the associated utilities located within them.

“There’s also a zoning ordinance that we have maybe an issue with,” Cameron said. “For outdoor storage of recreational vehicles — which includes house-trailers, RVs, motorhomes, what have you — they’re supposed to be screened from view for surrounding neighbors … That really isn’t happening around town at all.”

Concerning that specific ordinance, though, he wanted to consult more with the Rainier Planning Commission.

Rainier Building Inspector Brian von Clück reiterated the main issue was still just the vehicles being parked in right-of-ways, as did Rainier Public Works Supervisor Theon Perry, who helped author some of the proposed amendments in order to give his employees more authority to get their jobs done.

An existing ordinance dictates that vehicles may be stored in right-of-ways for no longer than 72 hours, but currently, city staff have no way of enforcing it.

“It gives me some teeth, as I don’t have any right now,” von Clück added.

Thurston County Sheriff’s Office (TCSO) Lieutenant Malcolm McIver explained that, currently, the TCSO would only get involved in moving a vehicle from a right-of-way if a public safety hazard was being posed by it.

“The main thing that we would concern ourselves with, as far as the city goes, are things that are gonna be problematic for the ingress and egress of emergency vehicles to the area,” McIver said. “Whether or not it’s causing a hindrance for people coming in and out of intersections, or right-of-ways to be able to see clearly down the road, those types of things.”

McIver added the TCSO just recently created a new designated traffic enforcement division with two deputies currently staffing it and plans to add more deputies to it.

Some of the amendments included more specific regulations and definitions as to what an RV or motor home is, along granting code enforcement authority.

Cameron stressed the council was just being asked for further guidance on the proposed amendments, and no motion to adopt or reject the proposed amendments was made by the council.

The next regular Rainier City Council meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, April 14, at 5 p.m. inside Rainier City Hall. For more information, including previous meeting agendas, minutes.