Council amends East Bolivar parking ordinance to end at Kansas Avenue, keeps two-hour limit

The City of St. Francis Common Council introduced and adopted an ordinance establishing two-hour parking limits on a segment of East Bolivar Avenue, and members amended the ordinance so the restriction ends at Kansas Avenue.

Councilmembers discussed whether to set a one-hour limit, no-parking, or two-hour limits. One member said two-hour parking would allow customers to use retail parking while another expressed concern that one-hour enforcement would increase police workload because staff would need to check more frequently. The council ultimately agreed to keep a two-hour limit and amend the ordinance so the regulated segment ends at Kansas Avenue.

Captain Blunt said the police department had not previously identified parking there as a notable enforcement issue and expected enforcement activity would be complaint-driven rather than daily chalking and ticketing. The council noted the ordinance responded to past staff direction and a recommendation from the city engineer.

Why this matters: the change helps preserve short-term customer parking near retail businesses while addressing loading and safety concerns on more industrial stretches of Bolivar Avenue. The amendment narrows the restricted zone to avoid unduly affecting businesses with private parking lots.

Ending: The ordinance was adopted with the amendment; council members directed staff to post signage and proceed with implementation.