Mossyrock residents raise concerns over proposed changes to city code on living in RVs, owning livestock, and more

May 1-With over 40 residents in attendance, members of the Mossyrock City Council held an open public workshop at the Mossyrock Community Center on Monday, April 27, to discuss a number of proposed ordinances which, if approved, would amend city codes.

The workshop was purely informational and meant only to gather input from residents about the proposed amendments.

Four ordinances were discussed throughout the four hour workshop included:

-Ordinance No. 514, which would amend existing code pertaining to living in motor homes or RVs on properties, requiring them to be hooked up to water and sewage

-Ordinance No. 518, which has proposed rules and regulations for conditional use permits for Mossyrock residents with shipping containers on their properties

-Ordinance No. 520, which updates existing codes revolving around licensing and keeping dogs, along with adding a chapter to the code pertaining to owning livestock, poultry and exotic animals in city limits

-Ordinance No. 523, which updates and consolidates the city's fee schedules spread out though different codes into one code

For those who missed Monday's workshop, another workshop pertaining to the dog and livestock ordinance will be held at the Mossyrock Planning Commission meeting on Monday, May 11, starting at 5:30 p.m. at the Mossyrock Community Center. Then, at 6 p.m. the same day, public hearings pertaining to the dog and livestock ordinance along with a Mossyrock Growth Management Act climate elements update will be held at the community center.

Much of the afternoon and evening's discussion was dominated by discussions of concerns of most residents in the room on two of the ordinances, with the most contested being the one about dogs and keeping livestock in town.

Using the existing city code for dog licensing as a base, city staff looked at livestock laws in other small cities like Mossyrock and used the language from their codes as a "footprint" in order to start drafting Mossyrock's new code, Mossyrock Mayor Randall Sasser explained.

Requirements for having the proper amount of land for livestock were included along with many new definitions which were outlined in the draft ordinance.

"We all know that this is a farming community. There's chickens, there's hay, there's dogs and cats, cows, there's a lot of different areas here," Sasser said. "We looked at this, and we tried to put something together that would be acceptable to all parties."

Many questioned Sasser and the council about various sections and definitions, with questions ranging from would a resident still be able to continue riding their horse to the bar in town to how long a dog's leash actually has to be to how many chickens will be allowed per property.

While discussions weren't as contentious, many also had questions and concerns about the ordinance pertaining to living in motor homes and RVs.

Mossyrock's existing city codes can be found online at https://tinyurl.com/4rm7c9y9.

Those wanting to obtain a copy of any of the draft ordinances can visit Mossyrock City Hall to find them. City hall is located at 231 E. State St. in Mossyrock, and normal work hours are Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with the office being closed daily for lunch from noon to 1 p.m.

For digital copies of the drafts, email Mossyrock City Clerk Amy Edgington at clerk@cityofmossyrock.com.

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