Missoula County Commissioners to Hold Public Meeting Regarding Proposed Resolution Related to County Property

P R E S S R E L E A S E
December 29, 2011
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Dale Bickell
Chief Administrative Officer, Missoula County
Phone: 258-4229, dbickell@co.missoula.mt.us

MISSOULA COUNTY COMMISSIONERS TO HOLD PUBLIC MEETING
REGARDING PROPOSED RESOLUTION RELATED TO COUNTY
PROPERTY

Missoula County Commissioners will hold a public meeting on
Wednesday, January 4th, 2012 in room 201 of the Missoula County
Courthouse Annex at 1:30 p.m. The meeting will provide the public an
opportunity to comment on a proposed resolution that would prohibit
camping and structures on County property. The proposed resolution is
available on the County’s website.

Interested members of the public are encouraged to attend. Citizens can
also submit comments on the proposed resolution by calling or emailing
the Commissioners’ Office – 258-4877 or bcc@co.missoula.mt.us

Text of Resolution after the jump.

RESOLUTION NO. 2012 – _____

PROHIBITING CAMPING AND STRUCTURES ON COUNTY PROPERTY WITHOUT A PERMIT

WHEREAS, pursuant to §7-5-2101 MCA and §7-8-2201 MCA, the Board of County Commissioners has jurisdiction and power to preserve, take care of, manage and control County property; and

WHEREAS, pursuant to §7-5-2102 MCA, the Board of County Commissioners has jurisdiction and power to make and enforce such rules for its government, the preservation of order and the transaction of business as may be necessary; and WHEREAS, Missoula County property lacks the necessary infrastructure and capacity to support camping; and

WHEREAS, camping on Missoula County property may cause public health and safety hazards for the public and County staff, resulting in the expenditure of public funds to mitigate; and

WHEREAS, camping on County property may result in violations of state law, the Missoula Municipal Code and the Missoula City-County Health Code; and

WHEREAS, the erection and maintenance of structures on certain County property may cause damage to County property or create a public nuisance; and

WHEREAS, unattended personal property on Missoula County property may cause safety hazards for the public and County staff, cause damage to County property or create a public nuisance.

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that under this resolution, camping is defined as sleeping overnight, with or without temporary shelters.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that camping is prohibited on Missoula County property and shall be considered a criminal trespass, unless the Board of County Commissioners has issued a permit for the proposed activity and site in advance. Camping may be allowed, subject to a permit, when the proposed site is furnished by the applicant with adequate sanitary facilities, including toilets, water supply and waste disposal, for the duration of the event, and other conditions as may be appropriate.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the placement, erection, modification or removal of structures, temporary or permanent, is prohibited on any County property unless the Board of County Commissioners has issued a permit for the proposed activity in advance. “Structures” includes, but is not limited to, tents, yurts, canopies, awnings, trailers or recreational vehicles. Unpermitted structures may be removed from County property by the Missoula County Facilities Manager.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, unattended personal property on Missoula County property maybe removed from County property by the Missoula County Facilities Manager.

ADOPTED THIS ______ DAY OF __________________, 20___
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
MISSOULA COUNTY, MONTANA

Bill Carey, Chair
Michele Landquist, Commissioner
Jean Curtiss, Commissioner
ATTEST: Vickie Zeier, Clerk & Recorder