MOORPARK : City Takes Steps to End Overcrowding

The Moorpark City Council has agreed on some preliminary steps to address ongoing overcrowding problems in the city, particularly in the downtown area.

After about an hour of discussion and occasionally contentious debate Wednesday, the council decided to draft a new parking enforcement ordinance, begin a bilingual effort to inform residents of the problems associated with overcrowding and monitor efforts in other cities to address the problem.

A council subcommittee composed of Councilmen John Wozniak and Patrick Hunter was directed to draft a new parking ordinance that would either make it necessary to have a permit to park on the city streets or would ban overnight street parking altogether.

But the council stopped short of actually beginning work on an overcrowding ordinance that would limit the number of people allowed in a dwelling.

Councilman Scott Montgomery suggested that the council immediately begin work on such an ordinance. “This is a bit of a minefield,” Montgomery said. “But there is always a path through a minefield, and I’d like to try.”

But other council members declined to support the suggestion, and City Atty. Cheryl Kane said no such law has ever been upheld by the California courts. Wozniak said the council should give the preliminary steps a chance to work.

Councilman Bernardo Perez said after the meeting that the push to inform residents--including Spanish speakers--of the council’s intentions is critical.

“We’re going to be potentially making some serious impact in some people’s lives, and I think it would serve us well to get the word out as thoroughly and as quickly as we can,” Perez said.