Council toggles parking on Third Avenue near Kennedy High after close vote and reconsideration

Bloomington City Council on Monday resolved an appeal over new parking restrictions on Third Avenue, near Kennedy High School, ultimately directing staff to post a 24‑hour no‑parking restriction on the west (school) side of the block between East 90th Street and East 90th (sixth/eighth block area) after a closely contested sequence of motions and a successful motion to reconsider.

The change stems from a staff‑initiated review under the city's on‑street parking policy after staff received complaints about heavy event parking near the stadium and the narrow 32‑foot roadway segment. Staff said a survey of 26 affected properties produced a close result; staff had initially recommended posting no parking on the east (residential) side based on survey returns but the one appellant asked council to place the restriction on the west side (near the school) because it would be closer to the sidewalk and thus safer for event attendees.

Council members debated competing priorities: resident access and convenience, neighborhood concerns about event overflow parking, and pedestrian safety near the stadium. Several council members said both sides presented valid points; one council member suggested a compromise such as time‑limited or event‑specific restrictions, which staff said would complicate enforcement. After a first motion to post the restriction on the east side failed 3–2, a separate motion to post on the west side initially did not meet the four‑vote threshold the council discussed as necessary for this change. The council then voted to reconsider and adopted the west‑side, 24‑hour no‑parking restriction in a later 4–1 procedural vote.

Staff noted that the city’s policy typically defers to affected‑property surveys when there is not a clear safety reason to prefer one side. Because the survey was close and an appeal was filed, the council made the final determination. City staff will post signs noting the new restriction and will continue to monitor parking and neighborhood impacts during events at the stadium.

Ending — Enforcement and review Staff said they will implement signage and enforcement consistent with the updated restriction and will monitor how event parking patterns evolve; council members encouraged neighbors to continue dialogue with staff and with the school on event management and wayfinding.