Council to review conflicting inoperable-vehicle ordinances; residents raise pole hazards and request bike racks

During the July 14 work session and council meeting, members raised several neighborhood-quality issues that staff said they will review and bring ordinance or operational recommendations back to council.

A councilmember said the city currently has two ordinances that conflict on the number of nonoperable vehicles permitted on private property and asked staff to prepare a consolidated draft ordinance to increase enforceability. "We actually have, 2 places, 2 ordinances on it that somewhat conflicts . . . In one of the ordinances, you can have up to 2 non inoperable vehicles and the other one says 1," the councilmember said, and asked staff to bring recommendations to the next meeting that would give enforcement more "teeth." The councilmember said the city will balance residentswish to work on vehicles with public health and nuisance concerns.

Separately, a resident raised a public-safety concern about a damaged telephone/communication pole near Pleasant Street and Domino's that has low-hanging wires and the potential to be pulled down if struck by a vehicle. Residents described the pole as having been damaged for years and urged the city to follow up with the utilities or communications provider to secure the lines.

In the citizens portion of the meeting, attendees praised student-made bike racks installed by a local technical program and asked whether the city would partner to place additional racks at the rec center and in front of businesses. A resident said the racks at Memorial Field were "gorgeous" and encouraged extension of the program.

(Ending) Staff said they will compile the conflicting vehicle ordinances and return with a proposed consolidation and enforcement options at the next council meeting; staff will also follow up with utilities regarding the damaged pole and review opportunities to expand bike-rack placement.