Moses Lake sit-sleep-lie ordinance approved

Key points: 

• Ordinance prohibits sitting, sleeping or laying on sidewalks within a designated zone from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. 
• Fees for shopping cart retrieval deferred for 90 days. 

MOSES LAKE — New regulations in Moses Lake for sleeping, lying or sitting on sidewalks within a designated zone during specific times of day were approved Tuesday by the Moses Lake City Council. New rules governing shopping carts taken from businesses also were approved, but any fines levied against businesses that own shopping carts will be deferred for 90 days.  

Council member Deanna Martinez asked for additional time to look at alternatives for dealing with shopping carts once they’re abandoned. 

“I understand there are some businesses probably could do a better job rounding up their shopping carts, but there are also businesses that do the best they can; but can’t afford the expensive security systems or hiring an extra person to go round up their shopping carts,” Martinez said.  

Martinez learned about a program in Everett, she said, that allowed businesses to work with volunteer and nonprofit organizations to help gather errant shopping carts. She wanted to find out more about that program, she said, adding she preferred a program like that to levying a fine against businesses.  

Council member Victor Lombardi said he talked to a lot of business owners while the ordinance was in preparation. He asked about their interest in a shopping cart retrieval program that charged a small fee. 

“They didn’t respond very well. And that kind of shocked me, considering the cost (of a cart),” he said. 

The ordinance designates abandoned shopping carts as a public nuisance. When city employees pick them up, they’re impounded, and owners will be required to come get them within two weeks. Owners will be charged a per-cart fee, which depends on how long the carts have been impounded. That fee has been waived for 90 days. 

The ordinance governing sitting and lying on public sidewalks establishes a zone where those activities are prohibited between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m. The zone includes West Broadway Avenue from the intersection with West Third Avenue to State Route 17. It also includes West Third Avenue from the West Broadway intersection to the intersection with East Broadway Avenue. 

The zone also extends along Pioneer Way to East Olive Avenue, and along North Stratford Road to the intersection with SR 17, including the off-ramp and on-ramp. All alleys within the zone are included. So are some adjoining residential neighborhoods, including South Beech, South Ash, South Alder and South Balsam streets, among others.  

Mayor Dustin Swartz said the prohibitions do not apply to people in city parks, where sitting, lying and sleeping is allowed when the parks are open. People can also use public benches within the zone.  

People found in violation are subject to a civil penalty.