March 29, 2024

Crime-free program funding fails to get vote

Council eliminates downtown parking meters

After being part of the discussion for the past several months as an aspect of the Crime-Free Multi-Housing program, the city council failed to move forward on a resolution to help fund the program, not getting support to bring it to a motion at its Monday meeting.

The proposed $10 per permit increase would have generated approximately $20,000 to cover the increase of the administrative costs to support the program.

Strong opposition was expressed by area landlords for the increase in fees at several council meetings and at the two workshops about the program. Many discussed how difficult it would be to pass on the increase and the hardship it would put on already struggling tenants.

With the failure of the resolution, the city will now have to find other resources to fund the new program which is set to start in October.

The council did choose to suspend the rules and waive the second and third readings for two ordinance changes. The first was agreement with the Jasper County Animal Rescue League to sell city animal licenses and not allow an animal to be retrieved until the license and rabies vaccinations have been administered and purchased.

The review was made in response to several incidents in which animals were picked up by JCARL but were not licensed, City Administrator Bob Knabel said in his council report. The animal owners would retrieve their animal and be advised of the need to license it, but many of the animals were subsequently never licensed and their proof of rabies shots never verified.

Following the adoption of the ordinance, the animals will not be allowed to leave without proof of licensing and a rabies shot or having those purchased and administered. A local veterinarian has agreed to provide the vaccinations on site.

The cost of the license, vaccination and impound fees will be the responsibility of the animal owner.

“This was a recommendation of the committee that reviewed the animal ordinances. I am very excited that we were able to get people to agree, the veterinarian and the animal rescue league to agree to do this. This has been a gap in the process,” said council member Evelyn George.

Also adopted through waiving the second and third readings was an ordinance to eliminate parking meters in downtown Newton. Currently, the city has five metered parking lots that contain 248 meters with an additional 12 meters situated around the square.

In a survey conducted in July, 80 percent of the respondents said they were in favor of removing the meters from all five city owned parking lots and making the lots free for public parking with a 72-hour limit.

It is hoped with the removal of the meters, the downtown area will become more inviting to businesses customers and visitors to the community and allow for a better parking alternatives for downtown business owners and employees.

Presently, 60 of the parking meters in use are malfunctioning or are broken beyond repair, Knabel said. Estimates to repair or replace the existing inoperable meters would cost approximately $27,000.

A May usage audit of the metered lots showed that on average only 28 percent of the available capacity was used.

With the removal of the meters, it eliminates the need for parking permits and lease fees for private businesses who lease portions of the lots. The city will refund all current parking permits, a total of $3,000, and begin removal and selling of old meters.

As a result of the elimination of the meters, lease fees and permits, the city will have an estimated annual revenue loss of $25,000.

Also affected is the parking enforcement attendant’s position. The position will be retained and continue the duties of enforcing the three hour parking ordinance. New responsibilities may include assisting with enforcing the animal ordinance, filing, data entry, selling and processing of animal licenses, city-wide parking enforcement, picking up found bikes, traffic direction, motorist assists, department tours, community policing activities and other similar duties.

“This is an issue I have heard about a lot, in my household there are a lot of concerns about parking downtown and I know a lot of the local business owners get frustrated with the parking situation,” council member Noreen Otto said. “I hope that eliminating the parking meters encourages employees in the downtown area to make room for folks who are coming in and out and patronizing these businesses.”

In other business:

• Two outdoor warning sirens were approved for purchase from Radio Communication Systems of Waterloo for $38,200.

• The Newton Police Department was approved to purchase a new copy machine from Premier Officer Equipment in Marshalltown for $7,200.

Contact Jamee A. Pierson at 641-792-3121 ext. 6534 or jpierson@newtondailynews.com