Parking Crackdown OKd

The City Council drew a mixed reaction from residents when they voted unanimously to adopt a more aggressive policy for parking enforcement.

The council’s action recently was a vote of confidence for the city’s Police Department, which has been criticized in recent months for the ticketing 324 vehicles in a targeted 52-street area since January.

The parking crackdown is part of the city’s Neighborhood Pride Program initiated two years ago and aimed at improving the appearance of certain blighted neighborhoods.

Among the violations being cited are abandoned vehicles, illegally parked cars, working on cars in the street and parked vehicles that block sidewalks.

Many residents complained that some of the regulations are unreasonable because the city has an abundance of narrow streets and short driveways. Marlene Elliot said she owns two large trucks that don’t fit in her garage so she is forced to park both vehicles on her driveway.

“There will be 16 cars on my block alone that will be looking for parking spaces that don’t exist,” Elliot said. “We don’t have a lot of off-street parking like some other places do. We’re feeling real targeted. We’re not slum people.”

But others said stricter enforcement will cut down on neighborhood blight and make it safer for children to walk on sidewalks.

“The overriding issue is the safety of the children,” said Larry Culbertson. “It’s unconscionable to put children at risk and make them walk into the street because cars are blocking the sidewalk.”

Although they favor stricter enforcement, council members agreed that there must be some flexibility on the part of officers in neighborhoods where there are “impossible situations” with parking.

“I think we need to be compassionate and realize that this is a city that is 60 years old,” said Councilman Scott Diehl. “We need to be more tolerant and creative in working out our problems. I think it’s important to work with neighbors instead of pitting the Police Department against neighbors.”