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Resident urges enforcement after blocked emergency access on Grasmere during school hours
Summary
A University Park resident told the council during public comment that parked vehicles on Grasmere and Westchester impede fire apparatus and ambulances during school hours and asked the council to press the fire department for enforcement.
During public comment at the March 18 University Park City Council meeting, resident Harold Stein described repeated problems with parked cars blocking the first two parking spaces on Grasmere near Westchester during school hours, which he said has impeded fire engines and ambulances.
"I'm more concerned about it because I'm recovering from open heart surgery 3 years ago and I might need to be calling an ambulance," Stein said. He described instances when engines attempting to turn from Westchester onto Grasmere got "hung up" because of vehicles obstructing the street and said the issue creates a safety risk for residents.
Stein said he had raised the problem directly with the fire chief and the assistant fire marshal and that the fire chief had sent someone to inspect the area more than a year ago, but he saw no lasting enforcement action. "I hope the city council could help us with that issue," he told the council.
Council did not take formal action during the meeting; the mayor affirmed the public comment rules under the Texas Open Meetings Act and said individual council members and staff are available to follow up with speakers after the meeting. The record shows Stein asked council to bring his concern to the attention of the fire chief and to pursue enforcement to keep apparatus access clear during school hours.
