Commission narrows proposed no‑parking ordinance to Riley Street between Washington and Second

The Atchison City Commission amended a previously tabled no‑parking ordinance and approved a prohibition on parking on Riley Street between Washington and Second Street. Commissioners removed language that would have applied no‑parking to the 1200–1300 blocks of South Ninth Street.

City staff explained the rationale: streets that are 15 feet wide can be unsafe for on‑street parking because a parked vehicle can block an entire travel lane. Staff said that, without a no‑parking sign, enforcing parked cars that obstruct travel is difficult because there is no posted prohibition. The proposed ordinance had targeted two narrow street segments; after public comment and commissioner discussion, the commission opted to enact the Riley Street prohibition now and consider broader guidance on narrow streets later.

Residents of South Ninth Street spoke during public comment. Dr. Patrick Hurrell and Denise Hurrell of 1221 South Ninth urged caution about applying a piecemeal approach; they said if narrow streets present a safety issue the city should inventory and address them citywide rather than targeting individual blocks. The commissioners and staff agreed to evaluate street widths across the city and return with broader recommendations. The amended ordinance (identified in the meeting as Ordinance No. 6720) as revised covers only Riley Street between Washington and Second.

A motion to adopt the amended ordinance passed on a voice vote. Commissioners said staff will assess other narrow streets and report back.

Why it matters: The decision affects on‑street parking availability and reflects a balance between traffic safety and neighborhood parking needs; the city will evaluate whether to apply similar restrictions more broadly based on a street‑width review.

Key quotes and vote information below are taken from the meeting transcript.