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Council approves temporary Sunday parking exemption for Zion Lutheran Church
Summary
The International Falls City Council voted to temporarily suspend calendar parking on portions of the blocks adjacent to Zion Lutheran Church on Sunday mornings for 120 days, subject to fire marshal review.
The International Falls City Council on Feb. 3 approved a temporary suspension of calendar parking on portions of the blocks directly adjacent to Zion Lutheran Church on Sunday mornings.
Len Peterson, speaking on behalf of Zion Lutheran Church, asked the council to reduce an earlier, broader request and limit exemptions to the west and south sides of the church, saying the change would ease winter walking for elderly and handicapped congregants. "It's a real inconvenience to have to walk a long ways in cold weather and icy conditions, when a lot of your people are handicapped," Peterson said.
Council discussion focused on three ways to proceed: a short-term temporary change; removing streets from the parking ordinance via resolution for a permanent exemption; or rewriting the ordinance to create a permanent carve‑out for the specified blocks. "If you're just looking at a truly temporary change, you can just simply make that decision, publish it, and say temporarily street parking won't be enforced," said Chief Kostrick, describing administrative and ordinance-based options.
After discussion about a 90‑day trial versus a longer test period, the council approved a 120‑day temporary suspension, with language that the exemption be revocable pending a fire marshal review. The motion carried on a voice vote; members recorded multiple affirmatives and the mayor declared the motion carried.
The council and the church asked the public works committee to review the trial during the suspension and return to the council if problems arise. Councilors noted the potential for similar requests from other organizations and said any permanent change should be considered on its merits.
The council did not change parking enforcement policy citywide; the action applies only to the limited area near Zion Lutheran Church and is explicitly temporary and revocable.
The council did not provide an exact written map in the meeting minutes beyond Peterson's redlined revision; he said the request covers the west and south sides of the church and excludes funerals, weddings and evening services.
