Council approves first reading of parking changes on West Jewel amid school-safety debate
Summary
An ordinance allowing parking on the south side of West Jewel (500-block) passed first reading after council discussion about neighborhood safety, student parking and enforcement; several members said the measure might be tweaked later.
The Kirkwood City Council gave first-reading approval Sept. 18 to an ordinance amending limited parking on West Jewel, allowing parking on the south side in the 50600 blocks.
Council discussion focused on competing priorities: residents’ need for street access and parking, and school-related safety concerns during drop-off and pick-up. One council member said she would not support the measure in its current form but acknowledged the ordinance addresses an identified problem; others said the school district had cooperated with signage and education efforts.
Council members said enforcement and public-education would be key to success, and some urged a revisit of the ordinance in six months if problems persist. The ordinance passed first reading; council members said possible future tweaks could be considered after monitoring implementation.
Because the change was approved only on first reading, it is subject to further council review before final adoption.
