Council directs removal of non‑enforceable child‑safety signs on Varner Avenue; wider parking review planned

Orting — After discussion at Wednesday’s study session, the City Council directed staff to remove a set of small “children at play/driver awareness” signs that had been placed on Varner Avenue near the school because the signs lack enforceable language and cannot be the basis for citations.

Public safety committee members said the signs were installed decades ago and that current Orting Municipal Code (OMC) does not contain enforceable language tied to the signs. “They’re not enforceable,” the committee report said; councilors also reported conversations with the U.S. Postal Service indicating the post office has no rule prohibiting delivery where mailboxes are blocked, which complicated enforcement options.

Council members discussed the broader parking pressures around downtown, the elementary school and event days, and several members asked staff to take a city‑wide approach to parking policy rather than carve out small, enforceable exceptions in a few places. Council member Moore urged a broader look at parking, including partnering with the school district to address pick‑up and drop‑off locations and considering whether a moratorium on parking enforcement rules should continue while the city studies larger reforms.

Action taken: Staff was directed to remove the non‑enforceable Varner Avenue signs, and councilors asked staff to continue the ongoing parking review and bring city‑wide recommendations back to committee. No citation or ordinance was passed at the study session; the removal direction was implemented as a staff instruction.

Why it matters: The decision affects a small group of nearby residents but signals a council preference for consistent, enforceable parking rules rather than ad‑hoc signage. Parking is a recurring topic in Orting, with impacts on business access, school circulation and event management.

Next step: Staff will remove the signs and continue a city‑wide review of parking policy and enforcement; councilors asked for options that avoid creating new permit zones unless necessary and that preserve business and school access.