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Waterville council passes emergency ordinance to ban parking on part of South Third Street
Summary
The council voted to suspend rules and adopt Ordinance 0225 as an emergency measure to prohibit parking on South Third Street near Locust, citing safety concerns where parked cars could block emergency vehicles; the ordinance amends Part 3, Schedule V of the city's codified traffic schedules.
The Waterville City Council voted on April 28 to pass Ordinance 0225 as an emergency measure to prohibit parking on a portion of South Third Street near Locust, citing public-safety concerns about blocked travel lanes for emergency vehicles.
Staff and public-safety officials told council they had simulated parked vehicles and measured a mirror-to-mirror width of 8 feet 9 inches in the bottleneck area, which they said would prevent ambulances and fire apparatus from passing. Municipal staff said temporary signs had been placed and covered while the council considered formal action.
The ordinance amends Part 3, Schedule V of the codified ordinances to extend the restricted/no-parking zone. Council moved to suspend the rules to allow first, second and third readings in a single meeting and then voted to adopt the ordinance that night as an emergency measure; the motion carried. Council indicated the city would issue warnings initially rather than immediate citations while the public was informed of the change.
Why it matters: Council said the restriction is intended to preserve emergency access on a narrow block where parked vehicles have impeded response; members framed the action as a safety measure that should reduce the risk of blocked emergency access.
Procedure and enforcement: Council discussed following the three-reading ordinance process and used the suspension-of-rules procedure to pass Ordinance 0225 immediately on an emergency basis. Staff said the initial enforcement period would emphasize warnings (60–90 days) before issuing citations.
Ending: Council approved the emergency ordinance to make the change effective immediately; staff will post and maintain signage and provide public notice to residents in the affected area.
