SPRINGDALE -- Aldermen created more parking restrictions in the city Tuesday.
The City Council approved two amendments to the city's code at the council meeting.
Council Action
Springdale’s City Council met Tuesday and approved:
• Ordinances concerning the disposition of pawned property.
• Ordinances concerning filing referendum petitions.
• Waiving competitive bidding for the Police Department to purchase mobile data terminals.
• Authorizing the Fire Department to add a captain position.
• Amending the Fire Department’s 2015 budget to repair a vehicle.
• Transferring property from the city to the Springdale Water and Sewer Commission.
• Waiving competitive bidding to purchase trash compactors for a few parks.
• Annexing property from Tontitown. Tontitown will have to hold a public meeting regarding this within 60 days. Tontitown still needs to vote on the property.
• Razing a structure at 512 Caudle Ave.
Source: Staff Report
One change to the code changes the section labeled "Street parking and emergency access routes." It would limit vehicle owners who are parking on the street in residential areas to only parking vehicles adjacent to their property. They can also do so if they don't own the property but have permission from the owner.
The change evolved from an issue between residents on Westwood Avenue. Multiple people from the street attended a committee meeting July 6 and complained about Michael Grindstaff, owner of Hellanback Tow & Recovery, parking his vehicles in front of other peoples' houses on the street. Grindstaff was also present.
Grindstaff explained what he has to do to get all of the vehicles at his home to fit on the street.
"I don't like to have to walk two houses down to get to my vehicles," He said at the time. He also said he has no choice.
The change also states it doesn't apply to someone parking a vehicle temporarily, such as for a party. Those vehicles could temporarily be parked for a maximum of three hours.
Alderman Jeff Watson said watching a football game on a Sunday afternoon would take longer than three hours. He made a motion for the maximum time to be increased from three to five hours, but the motion didn't receive a second.
Ernest Cate, city attorney, said the restriction only applies to streets where parking is already allowed. He said there are some streets where parking on the street isn't allowed.
The restriction will be enforced by first speaking with people who don't comply and giving them warnings, said Mike Peters, acting police chief. He said that works most of the time. They could cite people into court if they continue to not comply. Enforcement will be complaint driven.
Mayor Doug Sprouse said he doesn't think there's any reason someone should have to park in front of someone else's house.
Aldermen approved an emergency clause along with the change. This means the change goes into effect immediately, Sprouse said.
Aldermen also approved an amendment concerning box trucks. The change classifies box trucks as commercial vehicles, which can't be parked or stored in residential areas.
The item has been discussed three to four times at committee meetings, Cate said. It has also been before the City Council once before.
Sprouse said he thinks the change will make neighborhoods look better. He also said it will be a hardship for people who normally park those vehicles at their homes. There is no emergency clause with the change, giving those people 30 days to find a solution, he said.
NW News on 07/15/2015