The Board of Public Works and Safety on March 27 denied a request to change parking along Tapper Street in front of Zion Church after a review showed emergency vehicles could pass the block.

Dean Button reported that a recent drive-through with the fire department found that the department’s vehicles — including an ambulance, tower, truck and engine — were able to travel northbound past the church through parked cars on both sides of the street without incident. "So the condition that was brought forward to this board is not, mission critical," Button said.

Button recommended the board consider input from the fire department. Board members said that if the fire department had a concern they would bring it forward; after hearing Button’s report they concluded no parking changes were necessary and moved to deny the requested change.

A motion to deny the request passed by voice vote. The board recorded no further direction or schedule for follow-up engineering work.