HomeMy WebLinkAboutD-2430-18 Prohibits Camping in a Vehicle on Public PropertySPONSOR: Councilor Worrell
ORDINANCE NO. D-2430-18
VERSION B
AN ORDINANCE OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CARMEL, INDIANA,
ADDING SECTION 6-83 TO CHAPTER 6, ARTICLE 4 OF THE CARMEL CITY CODE
Synopsis: Prohibits camping in a vehicle on public property in the City of Carmel.
WHEREAS, the City of Carmel, Indiana ("City"), pursuant to Indiana Code § 36-8-2-4 and its
general police powers, has the power and authority to regulate conduct, use, and possession of
property that might endanger the public health, safety, or welfare;
WHEREAS, camping in a vehicle on public property increases the potential for damage to
public property as well as the danger to public health, safety, and welfare ; and
WHEREAS, prohibiting camping in a vehicle on public property is necessary and appropriate in
order to protect the public health, safety, and welfare.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED, by the Common Council of the City of Carmel,
Indiana, as follows:
Section 1. The foregoing Recitals are fully incorporated herein by this reference.
Section 2. The Following should be and the same is hereby adopted and shall be codified as
Chapter 6, Article 4, Section 6-83 of the Carmel City Code, to wit:
11§6-83 Restrictions on camping in a vehicle on public property
(a) Definitions.
1. "Vehicle" shall mean a device in, upon, or by which a person or property is, or
may be, transported or drawn upon a highway or street.
2. "Public Property" shall not include Central Park, Founders Park, Hazel
Landing Park, Lawrence W. Inlow Park, Meadowlark Park, River Heritage
Park, Vera J. Hinshaw Nature Preserve and Park, and West Park, as long as
these parks are under the permitting control of Carmel Clay Parks and
Recreation.
D-2430-18 — Version B — Land Use Committee
Page One of Five
This Ordinance was jointly prepared by Benjamin J. Legge, Assistant City Attorney, and Douglas C. Haney,
Corporation Counsel, on September 17, 2018 at 10:30 a.m. No subsequent revision to this Ordinance has been
reviewed or approved by Messrs. Legge and Haney for legal sufficiency or otherwise.
SPONSOR: Councilor Worrell
3. "Vehicular Camping" shall mean the use of a Vehicle as a residence or
dwelling for the purpose of living therein, as evidenced by, but not limited to:
sleeping, eating food, storing personal belongings and/or changing clothes in
the vehicle and/or by the length of time an individual occupies the vehicle
when it is stationary, excluding time spent in a vehicle as a condition of an
individual's employment or in order to perform repairs or maintenance tasks
on the vehicle. Any determination of Vehicular Camping must be made by
assessing the totality of the circumstances.
(b) Prohibition.
1. Vehicular Camping, as defined in subsection (a), at the Center for the
Performing Arts without a valid permit issued by the Center for the
Performing Arts Board of Directors ("Arts Board") is prohibited.
2. Vehicular Camping, as defined in subsection (a), in the public right-of-way
that borders a residential property without a valid permit issued by the
Department of Engineering ("Department") is prohibited.
3. Vehicular Camping, as defined in subsection (a), on any other Public Property
located within the City's corporate limits without a valid permit issued by the
Carmel Board of Public Works (`BPW") is prohibited.
4. If a valid permit is obtained, Vehicular Camping shall not be conducted within
the City's corporate limits in a location or manner that interferes with or
impedes the regular flow of vehicular or pedestrian traffic.
(c) Permits.
1. Any person may petition the Arts Board for a permit to conduct Vehicular
Camping at the Center for the Performing Arts.
i. The Arts Board may issue a permit only when the permit furthers the
mission of the Center for the Performing Arts.
ii. Any permit issued by the Arts Board under this Section shall expire
after a specific period of time, not to exceed ten (10) calendar days.
The Arts Board may grant one (1) permit extension, not to exceed ten
(10) calendar days in length.
iii. The Arts Board may, in its sole discretion, place such lawful terms and
conditions upon the use of any permit issued by the Arts Board under
this Section as it deems appropriate.
D-2430-18 — Version B — Land Use Committee
Page Two of Five
This Ordinance was jointly prepared by Benjamin J. Legge, Assistant City Attorney, and Douglas C. Haney,
Corporation Counsel, on September 17, 2018 at 10:30 a.m. No subsequent revision to this Ordinance has been
reviewed or approved by Messrs. Legge and Haney for legal sufficiency or otherwise.
SPONSOR: Councilor Worrell
iv. The Arts Board may revoke any permit issued by the Arts Board under
this Section at any time if it determines, in its sole discretion, that the
need for the permit has ended or the permit holder fails to comply with
any of the terms or conditions of the permit.
2. A resident of the City may petition the Department for a permit to allow
Vehicular Camping in the public right-of-way that borders the property where
the resident lawfully resides.
i. The permit may not be obtained for the purpose of monetary gain.
ii. Any permit issued by the Department under this Section does not
supersede any limitations or restrictions as prescribed by a
Homeowners Association's restrictions and covenants and shall expire
after a specific period of time, not to exceed seven (7) calendar days.
The Department may grant one (1) permit extension, not to exceed
seven (7) calendar days in length.
iii. The Department may, in its sole discretion, place such lawful terms
and conditions upon the use of any permit issued by the Department
under this Section as it deems appropriate.
iv. The Department may revoke any permit issued by the Department
under this Section at any time if it determines, in its sole discretion,
that the need for the permit has ended or the permit holder fails to
comply with any of the terms or conditions of the permit.
3. A resident of the City may petition the BPW and the BPW may issue a permit
allowing Vehicular Camping on Public Property when a specified emergency
creates the need for such an accommodation.
i. A permit may be issued by the BPW when the emergency creating the
need results from an act of nature, a technological failure or
malfunction, a terrorist incident, a public health emergency, an
industrial accident, a hazardous material accident, or destruction
caused by a civil disturbance.
ii. Any permit issued by the BPW under this Section shall expire after a
specific period of time, not to exceed thirty (30) calendar days. The
BPW may grant one (1) permit extension, not to exceed thirty (30)
calendar days in length.
D-2430-18 — Version B — Land Use Committee
Page Three of Five
This Ordinance was jointly prepared by Benjamin J. Legge, Assistant City Attorney, and Douglas C. Haney,
Corporation Counsel, on September 17, 2018 at 10:30 a.m. No subsequent revision to this Ordinance has been
reviewed or approved by Messrs. Legge and Haney for legal sufficiency or otherwise.
SPONSOR: Councilor Worrell
iii. The BPW may, in its sole discretion, place such lawful terms and
conditions upon the use of any permit issued by the BPW under this
Section as it deems appropriate.
iv. The BPW may revoke any permit issued by the BPW under this
Section at any time if it determines, in its sole discretion, that the need
for the permit has ended or the permit holder fails to comply with any
of the terms or conditions of the permit.
(d) Fine. Any person who violates provision (b) of this Section shall be guilty of an
ordinance violation punishable by a fine of Fifty Dollars ($50.00) for each violation,
each day constituting a new offense."
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D-2430-18 — Version B— Land Use Committee
Page Four of Five
This Ordinance was jointly prepared by Benjamin J. Legge, Assistant City Attorney, and Douglas C. Haney,
Corporation Counsel, on September 17, 2018 at 10:30 a.m. No subsequent revision to this Ordinance has been
reviewed or approved by Messrs. Legge and Haney for legal sufficiency or otherwise.
SPONSOR: Councilor Worrell
� ORDAINED AND APPROVED by the Common ouncil of the City of Carmel, Indiana
this j ( day of 5�nT/� 2018, by a vote of .�f ayes and (f) nays.
OR THE CIT CARMEL
Sue Cipkdm
'Anthonyo �- 4tS-e/l i --i
Green
H. Bruce Kimball
47
P esen ed by me to the Mayor of the City of C e , iana this d of
2018, at 0(!Y5
_ _ A
Pauley, C,Yerk-Treasurer
Appr ved y me, Mayor of the City of Carmel, Indiana, this LL day of
2018, at 1�5' NI.
1 J es rainard, Mayor
ATTEST ,�
D-2430-18 — Version B — Land Use Committee
Page Five of Five
This Ordinance was jointly prepared by Benjamin J. Legge, Assistant City Attorney, and Douglas C. Haney,
Corporation Counsel, on September 17, 2018 at 10:30 a.m. No subsequent revision to this Ordinance has been
reviewed or approved by Messrs. Legge and Haney for legal sufficiency or otherwise.