Street parking spots removed, stop signs added near splash pad park

Two street parking stalls near the splash pad will be removed and two stop signs will be added in an effort to improve safety when food trucks are parked.

Members of the Newton City Council approved both items separately during their Sept. 15 meeting. The stop signs were approved in a 6-0 vote while the parking stall removals were approved in a 5-1 vote, with council member Melissa Dalton voting no. Dalton argued that removing two stalls was unnecessary.

For each reading of the ordinance change, Dalton proposed amendments that kept the parking stall along the south side of North Third Avenue West. However, each amendment failed. Dalton defended her position, saying it did not make sense to permanently remove the spot for the occasional food truck use.

“I don’t think it makes sense to remove a parking spot permanently for something that’s going to happen two to maybe five times a year,” Dalton said. “…While I’m certainly not going to throw a fit when it gets done and I don’t get my way, I’m still not going to vote for something that does not make sense to me.”

According to city documents, one parking stall will be eliminated on the east side of West Third Street North and another will be eliminated on the south side of North Third Avenue West. The stop signs will be added to the northbound and southbound lanes at the intersection of the two streets.

Mayor Evelyn George clarified to council at the meeting that she was the person who requested these changes because of concerns that were raised by council members Stacy Simbro and Joel Mills, who worried about the safety of children when food trucks are present at the splash pad.

“I hope all of you had time now to really go to the intersection (and) study it,” George said, asking Simbro and Mills if they were satisfied with the changes.

Both Simbro and Mills agreed with the removal of the parking stalls and the additional stop signs to slow traffic in that area.