Safety, Wellness, and Youth Committee Memorandum
TO: SAFETY, WELLNESS, AND YOUTH DATE: MAY 21, 2025
COMMITTEE
FROM: CITY ATTORNEY’S OFFICE WARDS: ALL
SUBJECT: ORDINANCE AMENDING RIVERSIDE MUNICIPAL CODE SECTION 9.08.165, “PARKING OF RECREATIONAL VEHICLES IN CITY PARKS” ISSUE:
To ensure that individuals and families are able to enjoy the use of their recreational vehicles at City Park’s during operational/daylight hours, while still preventing said recreational vehicles from being parked at City Parks overnight, it is necessary to amend Section 9.08.165.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
That the Safety, Wellness, and Youth Committee:
Receive the following report and presentation proposing an amendment to Riverside Municipal Code Section 9.08.165, “Parking of recreational vehicles in City parks”; and Make a motion to refer the following report and presentation to the City Council to adopt an ordinance amending Riverside Municipal Code Section 9.08.165, “Parking of recreational vehicles in City parks.” BACKGROUND:
Riverside Municipal Code (“RMC”) Section 10.04.132 defines a “recreational vehicle” as “any house car, motor home, travel trailer, trailer coach, camp trailer, boat, or boat trailer, water craft, or similar self-propelled or non-self-propelled vehicle or device.” “Recreational vehicles” are commonly referred to as “RVs.” Currently under RMC Section 9.08.165, no individual, group, or entity is allowed to park a recreational vehicle within any park or recreation area owned or controlled by the City of Riverside. Under Section 9.08.165, the only way a recreational vehicle can park within a City Park at any time of the day is either (1) obtaining a permit from the Parks, Recreation and Community Services Director pursuant to the permit process laid out in RMC Section 9.08.120, or (2) otherwise obtaining some form of permission from the Parks, Recreation and Community Services Director.
Additionally, RMC Section 9.08.110(A) states, “all parks owned by the City of Riverside or to be hereafter owned by the City of Riverside, shall be closed from 10:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. for developed parks, and closed from a half hour after sunset to a half hour before sunrise for undeveloped parks…” For context purposes, RMC Section 9.08.110(A)(1) defines a “developed park” as “park acreage that has been improved with typical park amenities such as turf, trees, irrigation, children’s play equipment, and picnic areas.” RMC Section 9.08.110(A)(2) defines an “undeveloped park” as “park acreage established for the protection and stewardship of wildlife, habitat, and other natural systems support functions with minimal infrastructure which may include trails, signage, staging areas, parking, restrooms, picnic tables, and other support facilities.” DISCUSSION:
Under RMC Section 9.08.165 as it currently stands, no recreational vehicles are allowed to park at City Parks unless they obtain an approved permit or obtain specific permission from the City. While recreational vehicles should not be allowed to stay overnight at City Parks when said parks are closed and non-operational, individuals and families should be allowed to make use of their recreational vehicles in order to enhance their sense of enjoyment, community, and recreation during a City Park’s operational hours.
An amendment to RMC Section 9.08.165 is necessary in order to allow individuals and families the ability to make use of and enjoy their recreational vehicles at City Parks during the day, while still preventing the parking of said recreational vehicles overnight at City Parks.
The proposed amendment to RMC Section 9.10.165 would remove all language regarding obtaining a permit or permission, and would instead say the following: “No person, group or entity shall park a recreational vehicle as defined in Section 10.04.132 within a park or recreation area owned or controlled by the City during said park or recreation area’s non-operational hours as set forth in Section 9.08.110(A).” This refers to the operational hours for developed and undeveloped parks as they are defined in Section 9.08.110(A).
In practice, the proposed amendment would allow individuals and families the opportunity to park their recreational vehicles at City Parks during operational hours in order to enhance their time spent outdoors and in community with one another. At the same time, the proposed amendment would also make it unlawful to park a recreational vehicle at a City Park from 10:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. at a “developed park,” or from a half hour after sunset to a half hour before sunrise at “undeveloped parks.” The proposed amendment would also not prevent law enforcement from enforcing against improperly parked recreational vehicles during a City Park’s operational hours. For example, RMC Section 10.60.060 states that “in any municipal parking facility or City-owned or controlled parking facility, it is unlawful to park or leave standing any vehicle in any driveway, aisle, walk, or area other than in a designated parking space…no person shall park a vehicle in any such designated parking space so that any part of such vehicle occupies more than one such space or protrudes beyond the markings designating such space.” Since RMC Section 10.60.010(A) defines a “municipal parking facility” as any “lot, garage or parcel of land owned, purchased or leased by the City, or in which the City has the possessory right or interest, and which is designated as a municipal parking lot or garage for the off-street parking of vehicles,” it is evident this includes off-street parking lots at City Parks.
Thus, under the proposed amendment, individuals and families would be allowed to park recreational vehicles within City Parks during operational/daylight hours. However, if those recreational vehicles are parked improperly and/or taking up multiple parking spaces, then law enforcement is still able to enforce the law against those violations.
STRATEGIC PLAN ALIGNMENT:
The activity within the staff report aligns with Strategic Priority 2 – Community Well-Being, Goal 2.4 to support programs and innovations that enhance community safety, encourage neighborhood engagement, and build public trust.
This item aligns with each of the five Cross-Cutting Threads as follows:
Community Trust – This ordinance is being proposed to the Safety, Wellness, and Youth Committee so that individuals and families can enjoy the use of their recreational vehicles at City Parks during the day. At the same time, it protects the community by preventing overnight recreational vehicle parking in City Parks.
Equity – The proposed ordinance will help to ensure that individuals and families are allowed to park their recreational vehicles at City Parks during operational hours, while still allowing law enforcement the ability to enforce against parking violations.
Fiscal Responsibility – No additional funding is required due to the proposed ordinance.
Innovation – The City continually analyzes timely and reliable information in order to develop informed polices and implement new programs in order to meet the community’s changing needs.
Sustainability & Resiliency – The proposed ordinance will enhance the City’s preparedness for the future.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact associated with this report.
Prepared by: Jacob Castrejon, Deputy City Attorney
Approved as to form: Rebecca McKee-Reimbold, Interim City Attorney Attachments:
Exhibit “A” – Proposed Ordinance and Municipal Code Section 9.08.165 Presentation
Peace, Safety and Morals—Use of Public Parks—Parking of Recreational Vehicles in City Parks ● Page 2