Board endorses ordinance amendment clarifying 60-day warning applies only to recreational vehicles

The Hialeah Planning and Zoning Board recommended approval of an amendment clarifying that the 60-day warning period included in a recently adopted parking ordinance applies only to recreational vehicles and not to commercial vehicles, correcting what staff described as a drafting error.

Assistant City Attorney Samantha Knapp and staff explained that the original ordinance’s placement of the warning language made it apply broadly to commercial vehicles, boats and recreational vehicles when the intention was to limit the 60-day warning to RVs because commercial vehicles have always been an immediate violation. The amendment moves the warning provision under the subsection specifically governing recreational vehicles so that commercial vehicles (for example, box trucks or tow trucks) remain subject to immediate enforcement.

Staff confirmed the registration process for RVs is already in effect and that code enforcement has issued citations where owners failed to register or comply after the 60-day window. Board members asked clarifying questions about what constitutes a “commercial vehicle” for enforcement purposes; staff said large box trucks and tow trucks are examples and that typical pickup trucks with toolboxes are often not treated as commercial vehicles for this purpose. The board voted to approve the technical amendment (motion by Missus Enriquez; second by mister Ilesia).