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Council reviews parking ordinance updates: sign spacing, new no-parking zones and 24/7 15-minute spaces
Summary
City staff proposed multiple parking-code cleanups including clarifying 'no parking at any time' signage, allowing up to 125-foot spacing for parking signs, adding defined no-parking zones near City Hall and Scenic Drive, prohibiting more than 24-hour parking in public lots without owner permission, and making 15-minute stalls enforceable 24/7.
City parking staff presented proposed cleanups and updates to the parking ordinance at the Oct. 27 workshop, saying the changes mainly align code text with current practice and improve enforceability.
Key proposed changes
- Sign spacing and wording: Add missing word "at" to the phrase "no parking at any time" for clarity. Allow sign spacing up to 125 feet (currently much closer) and require sign designs meet Texas Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices (TMUTCD) standards. Staff said this will allow signs to be placed where they are visible without blocking private property views.
- New no-parking zones: Add designated no-parking corridors including Scenic Drive (from the beginning to Leander Road/2243) and defined segments around City Hall, Municipal Court and adjacent streets to improve public-safety access and protect sight lines.
- Public lot time limits and distribution prohibitions: Prohibit parking in public or publicly operated lots for more than 24 hours without permission from the lot owner. Also prohibit distribution of food or materials in publicly owned or operated parking lots unless expressly allowed by law.
- Downtown enforcement and 15-minute stalls: Add areas previously authorized by council to the written ordinance, remove an unused "hospitality" zone, and change current 15-minute stall rules so they are enforceable 24 hours per day.
- Permits: Change a visitor/temporary residential permit provision from "shall issue" to "may issue" to give staff discretion when appropriate.
Staff said some sign spacing changes were requested so downtown signs would not be placed directly in front of houses. Councilmembers also asked staff to audit the condition of veteran (Purple Heart) parking signs and reported a few faded signs in need of replacement.
Next steps
Staff will amend the ordinance text to reflect these clarifications and return it for formal adoption. Council members asked staff to ensure parking-lot rules are clear for enforcement and to repair or replace outdated signs.
