Residents in the market for a new motor home will need to consider the cost of storing it if the City Council passes a proposed ordinance next week.

"Public streets are not intended for long-term storage," said Public Works Director Mark Watkins.

Owners of oversized vehicles would no longer get away with moving their motor homes or large trucks from street to street to circumvent the current 72-hour parking rule.

At this time, if someone parks a vehicle on a city street for more than 72 hours and a citizen complains, the police will go out and tag the vehicle. That's when the 72 hours starts. Then the owner will move the vehicle to a new place, where it will sit until someone else complains and the process is repeated, according to Jay Spurgin, city public works department staff member.

"The new ordinance is a tool police need. The city has gotten 2,765 complaints from residents on oversized vehicles over the last two years," Spurgin said.

The proposed ordinance would apply to commercial trucks, recreational vehicles and other vehicles larger than 25 feet long or 6 feet 8 inches wide or 6 feet 10 inches tall.

Pickup trucks, emergency vehicles and public service vehicles would be exempted.

Parking of the oversized vehicles would be prohibited on public streets Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., holidays excluded, in all areas of the city unless a temporary fiveday permit is obtained from the Thousand Oaks Police Department. No more than 10 days will be allowed in any 90-day period.

Parking on private property is not addressed in the ordinance.

Exceptions to the ordinance would be allowed for loading, unloading, deliveries, emergency repairs, active construction or maintenance work at an adjacent property and vehicles with disabled license plates.

Violators will be subject to a $100 fine, and vehicles would be towed away after five unpaid citations.

If approved, the ordinance would go into effect Jan. 1, 2010.

Residents have come to City Council meetings in the past and expressed concerns about large vehicles on public streets making it difficult to maneuver in and out of their driveways.

They also said they have worries about not being able to see children running out from behind the parked vehicles into the path of moving cars.

Residents also said they want to avoid the devaluation of their homes due to oversized vehicles parked in their neighborhood.

"The existing 72-hour rule for abandoned vehicles is being abused, making it difficult to mitigate the safety and aesthetic concerns caused by large vehicles parked on our streets," Watkins said.

Those who would like to provide input but are unable to attend the meeting at 6 p.m. Tues., July 14 can send comments to the Public Works Department, City of Thousand Oaks, 2100 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks, California 91362, or visit the city website at www.toaks.org and click on Request City Assistance.

The complete ordinance can be viewed on the city's website.