Bill Clevenger and his dog Sadie live in a woebegone RV along Laguna Canyon Road, moving every so often to avoid the law.
Like many during COVID, he was renting a house that was sold by owners eager to capitalize on a hot market.
He then had a moderate stroke that left him with a gimpy right arm – not good for a drywall hanger. For 25 years, he’s been helping out at the Sawdust building booths and providing some security.
Now, at 63 with few prospects, Clevenger mostly tries to keep his RV running and, of course, avoid Laguna Beach police.
“The cops were cool about it at first,” he said. “I showed them the letter from the Sawdust.”
Clevenger recedes into the RV and emerges after a few minutes with a crumpled letter dated Dec. 20, 2020, with a Sawdust logo. It’s signed by John Bullard, Sawdust general manager.
“To the City of Laguna Beach Police Department,” it starts. “Please allow Bill Clevenger’s white Suburban and 24’ motor home out front of the Sawdust Festival grounds parking area as he and his watch dog are our night security for the entire area.
“Bill has been a loyal contractor for the Sawdust Festival for over 20 years and have found him very trustworthy and aware of his surroundings.”
Serving as a type of get out of jail free card, the letter seemed to work – until recently.
Clevenger said about six months ago the “meter maid” started giving him tickets while the “regular police” still left him alone.
“I don’t think she likes me very much,” he said, referring to a parking enforcer. He has shown her the letter to no effect. She warned him that they will tow the RV, he said.
He’s gotten five tickets in the last few months and knows he will get more.
“I move it all the time but it’s not enough,” he said. He knows the parking rules and tries to abide by them, but strictly speaking, it’s almost impossible.
RVs have to move every five hours at least 100 feet. Not only that, you can’t move 101 feet away and restart the clock. According to the city’s municipal code, an RV “shall not be permitted to park up to five hours in one location and then move and park five hours in another location within a 24 consecutive hour period.”
To help with parking, Clevenger was offered a spot on private property once, but the police said it still broke the law because the RV wasn’t enclosed.
Perhaps the only loophole for Clevenger is his construction work at the Sawdust. Again, according to the code: “Any commercial vehicle parked … for the purpose of actively delivering materials to be used in the bona fide repair, alteration, remodeling or construction of any building or structure for which a valid and current building permit has been issued.”
Despite the ongoing hassles, Clevenger tries to show his value to the police, hoping that maybe it will provide good karma. Because he frequently parks near the Sawdust, he often sees homeless people sneak into the back of the Boys and Girls Club.
“I’ve told the police about it but I guess it doesn’t matter,” he said.
Meanwhile, other RVers come to him for advice.
“Ever since COVID, everyone is losing their houses and getting RVs,” he said. “Right now there are about four or five other RVs, and all of them say they rented, but the owners sold the house.”
On the one hand, Clevenger knows he is in a tight situation, but he feels he has a legitimate exception because of his past work with the Sawdust. Plus, he feels Laguna is his home.
“The city said, ‘if one person did it, then they all would,’” he said. “But I said, ‘tell them the truth.’
“This is where my work is. I’ve got to stay. I’ve got to.”
