Shreveport city councilman John Nickelson has introduced a much needed emergency ordinance necessitated by the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency declared by Gov. John Bel Edwards.
The ordinance will suspend the provision of Shreveport's Unifed Development Code that prohibits recreational vehicles (RVs) to be used for living or sleeping in residential driveways.
Many medical personnel working in close contact with COVID-19 patients have sought alternative places to live and sleep in an effort to keep their families and others safe.
One option utilised by medical personnel is to live and sleep in RVs parked in their driveways.
RVs allow them to stay in close contact with their home and family without putting more people in harm's way.
Additionally, it allows them to "reside" at little extra cost and at the same distance from their place of work.
Many RV owners have donated the use of their vehicles to medical personnel to assist in the effort to fight COVID. A facebook group "RVs for MDs" has helped connect people in the medical community with RV owners wanting to volunteer their vehicles.
An emergency ordinance can be adopted as a "one reader". This means it can be adopted without "laying over" from one council meeting to a second meeting.
Emergency ordinances are those that are needed for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health or safety. To be adopted as an "emergency" it must be approved by two-thirds vote of the council members.
This RV ordinance becomes effective upon adoption. It is expected to be approved by a unanimous vote at the Tues. May 12 council meeting.
John came to Shreveport in January of 1977 when he was transferred to Barksdale AFB.
He’s been active in Shreveport politics since deciding to make Shreveport his home.
John practiced law for 40 years and he now monitors local politics. He regularly attends Shreveport City Council and Caddo Parish Commission meetings.
John is published weekly in The Inquisitor, bi-monthly in The Forum News, and frequently in the Shreveport Times.
He enjoys addressing civic groups on local government issues and elections.