City continues efforts to address parking

The city is continuing to address parking issues throughout the community, including assessing downtown parking usage. City council recently passed an ordinance amendment to restrict parking in the 400 through 900 blocks of East 16th Street North on the east side of the street and lift restrictions in the 700 block of East Fourth Street South.

“The city received safety concerns from citizens regarding street parking along the section of street in the 400 through 900 blocks of East 16th Street North,” interim city administrator Jarrod Wellik said. “This is caused by vehicles being parked on both sides of the street, a street that is too narrow to allow this parking capacity and still allow vehicles free passage.”

The primary concern voiced by citizens was the restricted access emergency vehicles may have the in area when called. Also, there is a heightened risk of motor vehicle and pedestrian accidents with the current parking arrangement.

Both sides of East 16th Street North are 25 feet wide, which the city has found is not wide enough to safely accommodate parking on both sides of the street. After reviewing the situation, the Newton Traffic Safety Committee recommended restricted parking on the east side of street.

A request was also made and granted to lift the special parking restriction on East Fourth Street South from South Seventh Avenue to South Eighth Avenue.

“The current ordinance restricts parking from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday when school is in session,” Wellik said. “Due to parking lot expansion at the Newton Community School District, this roadway is no longer used for school parking.”

Newton Police Chief Rob Burdess also presented a report assessing parking in the downtown business district during the past three months. The department partnered with Newton Main Street to discuss the issue of parking with local businesses along with surveying area lots and three hour parking areas for usage.

“The police department’s community service attendant has noticed an increase in the availability of on-street parking, three hour, since the implementation of the new parking fines,” Burdess said. “There have also been fewer three hour parking violations written since Sept. 1.”

After speaking with local business owners, representatives from Main Street received no clear direction and recommended no changes to parking at this time. With the feedback, Burdess recommended no changes to the current parking ordinance or policy in the downtown area.

Burdess did note that during the assessment period, some of the downtown business parking spots and two of the city’s free lots were closed due to construction. He said the department will continue to monitor the downtown parking configuration and will assess the situation further once construction has been completed and available parking returns to normal.

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