RVs have been parked on Tampa north of Rinaldi in Porter Ranch for many years, with six or more often found on one side of the street or another. It seems this stretch of road has been a good location for RV owners to store their vehicles, or possibly even to live in them.

With the repaving of Tampa at the beginning of the year and parking eliminated from the east side of the street, the RVs have been concentrated on the west side of Tampa. If a vehicle is not moved within 72 hours, it may be ticketed. Attempts to report the vehicles to LAPD parking enforcement have been ineffective, as owners may move their vehicle just a few inches before the 72 hour deadline, and avoid ticketing. This effort has been further complicated by the fact that each side of the road is under the jurisdiction of a different Senior Lead Officer at the LAPD.

Porter Ranch residents have complained for years about the blighted look this creates for the community and their concerns reached a crescendo this summer at the Porter Ranch Neighborhood Council meetings. The issue was brought to Council Member Mitchell Englander’s office who took it on. John Lee, Chief of Staff for Englander, reported at the Porter Ranch Neighborhood Council meeting on October 14 that they have collaborated with the neighboring home owner’s association and the Department of Transportation in search of an agreeable solution. Englander will be introducing a motion at City Council in the coming weeks to eliminate oversized vehicle parking from 10pm to 6am. Look for a new RV-free Tampa in the near future.

The Porter Ranch Neighborhood Council invites you to their next meeting on Wednesday, November 4, 6pm at the Porter Ranch Community School, where City Attorney Mike Feuer will be the guest speaker.