City updates parking regulations including adding prohibition for camping on streets

Whitefish City Council last week approve a suite of changes to its parking regulations.

The city contracted with Dixon Resources Unlimited to review its parking conditions and create a parking management plan that was adopted last year for the downtown area. The plan made several recommendations for updating the city’s parking regulations.

One of the changes prohibits camping on city streets by prohibiting any vehicle being parked on a street to be used as a place of residence.

Police Chief Bill Dial says numerous people have attempted camping on the street especially amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

“There’s been incidents of people pulling up, putting their jacks and generator out and a bucket,” he said. “It’s a health issue.”

Campers, recreational vehicles or boat trailers also can’t be stored on streets. Any motor vehicle or trailer that is not used at least once every 24 hours is deemed as being stored on the street.

The updates also give the City Manager authority to designate parking signage and creates a public process related to limited parking zones. Previously the City Council was involved in most parking modifications, but as the city continues to grow that becomes more onerous, city staff notes.

The changes adopt a no re-parking provision that prohibits drivers from shuffling their vehicles slightly to avoid time restrictions. Cars have to be moved to a different block or parking lot.

The regulations now include a requirement for a new temporary on-street parking permit for contractors, moving companies and service vendors to park on-street beyond the two-hour limit if needed to complete a job or service.

Changes also remove outdated language regarding pushcarts, hacks and ice cream stands. Updates add definitions regarding transportation companies such as Uber and Lyft.