Council adopts ordinance amending no-parking zones, residents raise spillover concerns

The Lathrop City Council held a public hearing and adopted an amendment to Title 10, Chapter 10.24, Section 10.2403 of the Lathrop Municipal Code to designate new no-parking areas across several recently developed streets.

Brad Taylor, city engineer, said the changes respond to California Vehicle Code Section 22507, which requires cities to adopt ordinances for no-parking zones. Staff proposed prohibiting parking at several River Islands collector-entry streets (including Bosch Avenue, Anakin Drive, Norbeck Street, Oberlin Avenue, Sidwell Drive, Huilera Drive, Wyland Boulevard and others) where narrow cross-sections and medians create unsafe conditions when vehicles park near entryways. Taylor also proposed new restrictions on Riverbend Drive and a prohibition on McKee Boulevard where code previously lacked an express restriction.

Resident Shalita Jefferson, who lives on a nearby street, asked whether the restrictions would simply push parked cars onto her street, Garden Farm. "I would love to see no parking there, but then it also concerns me about is all the parking gonna be piled up on my street on Garden Farms as well," she said. Staff acknowledged the concern and said the changes are targeted to entryways and collector routes where parked cars create safety issues; staff recommended adoption.

Council voted to adopt the ordinance after a brief public hearing and a roll-call vote. Staff said the amendments will be codified and enforced under the city's parking regulations.

The ordinance reflects updates driven by new development and is intended to reduce potential hazards at narrow entryways and around parks.