CP council to discuss regulating public camping, downtown parking

By Dan Thesman on Tuesday, April 2nd, 2024 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories

COLLEGE PLACE – The College Place City Council will hold a workshop tonight (Tuesday) at 5:30 p.m. Discussion topics on the agenda include regulating public camping and downtown public parking.

While many local governments, including the city of Walla Walla, regulate sitting, lying, camping or storage of public property on city property, the city of College Place does not have an anti-camping ordinance.

According to City Attorney and City Prosecutor Rea Culwell, the use of city property for camping, living, and storing personal property has steadily increased over the past year. Police officers have also seen an uptick in evidence of illegal drug use on public property and right of ways.

Direction of staff is needed on whether to draft a proposed local ordinance regulating camping and storage of personal property for council and public consideration.

As for downtown public parking, city staff are drafting a proposed lease agreement with Walla Walla University to provide downtown public parking. This comes as a city effort to obtain land from owners of other property has not resulted in viable options for a downtown parking facility.

Tonight’s workshop will be held at College Place City Hall, 625 S. College Ave. and will be streamed on the city’s YouTube channel.