Hermiston council considers camping ordinance changes
By Terry Murry on Monday, October 23rd, 2023 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
HERMISTON – The Hermiston City Council will consider amending its camping ordinance at its meeting today at 7 p.m. At the Sept. 11 meeting some amendments were suggested, and this proposed ordinance would clarify the existing ordinance, according to staff.
First, camping would never be allowed in any cemetery. It would require those camping in vehicles to move the vehicles at least one block or 600 feet every 24 hours. Further vehicles could not park within 60 feet of a residence and are barred from parking within 750 feet of schools that are primarily attended by minors. It would also ban camping in parking lots that are connected to dwellings.
The council will also consider awarding a contract for constructing Southeast Ninth Street from East Penney Avenue to Feedville Road. The project will also create an extension of Penney from Southeast Ninth to about 1,200 feet to the west. The project will also install a new sewer lift station and a new water main and extend a gravity sewer. The improvements are required for development of an Amazon Web Services Data Center campus that is proposed on the west side of the new road and utility infrastructure. AWS will reimburse the city for the cost of the improvements. The low bidder is Culbert Construction, Inc. of Pasco for $2,496,117.07.
Prior to the council meeting the group will continue its work sessions learning about the budgeting needs of city departments. This 6 p.m. session is devoted to the Hermiston Municipal Court. The meeting is in council chambers of Hermiston City Hall and streamed on the city’s YouTube channel.
