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Council votes 4‑1 to make 15‑minute parking on Military north of Michigan permanent after yearlong trial
Summary
After a yearlong trial, Dearborn police and DPW recommended making 15‑minute parking permanent on Military north of Michigan; council approved the traffic rule change 4‑1, with Councilman Perez dissenting and requests for additional safety measures (stanchions, buffer) from members and residents.
The City Council voted 4‑1 on June 10 to make permanent the temporary 15‑minute parking on the east side of Military Street north of Michigan Avenue, a trial the police department said had shown few problems since April 2024.
Chief of Police Lisa Shaheen described the trial and data collected: “we have had 3 complaints that we received when they were first put up,” she said, and reported two minor collisions in the period since the signs were installed. Shaheen told council the administration and Department of Public Works had coordinated the trial and that staff would consider added physical buffers or stanchions to prevent parking in a striped area that has caused visibility concerns.
Council discussion focused on safety, traffic flow and business access. Some council members and staff said the short‑term parking has provided business patron access and functioned as a traffic‑calming buffer; others raised concerns about sight lines and driver behavior. Councilman Perez said he would vote no, telling colleagues: “I will just respectfully say that this portion of this I will be voting against,” citing continuing safety worries and a preference for broader traffic‑commission review for future changes.
The council and chief clarified operational details at the meeting: the on‑street configuration includes roughly 10–11 parking spaces, with five posted 15‑minute signs observed by staff, and the parking signs were installed under the chief’s authority as permitted by section 18‑150 of the city code. Chief Shaheen said the city would publish the precise list of spaces if requested and that DPW would work with police to install stanchions or other measures to preserve visibility and pedestrian safety.
A resident representing the Morley Area Residents Association told council the association initially disliked the change but appreciated seeing the data. The item passed on a roll call vote, with Enos, Hamoud, Abraham and Herrick voting yes and Perez voting no.
Next steps: DPW will evaluate and install physical buffers as appropriate and provide follow‑up information requested by council; police will continue to monitor enforcement and collision data.
