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Council sends Phillips Avenue oversized-vehicle parking ordinance to second reading after public input
Summary
City council advanced an ordinance that would limit parking by vehicle length on four downtown blocks of Phillips Avenue to create more driving space. Council set the ordinance for second reading on Dec. 3 after public comment and engineering Q&A; enforcement would begin May 1 with a $15 fine under existing rules.
The Sioux Falls City Council voted Nov. 19 to send a proposed ordinance restricting parking by vehicle length on four blocks of Phillips Avenue to a second reading on Dec. 3, setting the stage for further debate and final approval.
Councilor Sighetty presented the ordinance at first reading, saying the measure targets a set of four blocks where diagonal parking and narrower lane widths allow large vehicles to stick into driving lanes. He said the change would affect 142 parking stalls, that the goal is to maintain at least 10 feet of driving space between the painted enforcement line and the diagonal parking line, and that public works will paint a white enforcement line. The proposed penalty would use the city’s existing prohibited-parking fine structure (a $15 fine with escalation for nonpayment) and enforcement would be 24/7, not limited to metered hours.
Traffic engineer Troy Miller answered technical questions during the hearing: the affected stretches are 60-degree angle stalls with 9-foot stall widths; changing angle to 45 degrees could reduce available stalls and create narrower stall widths. Miller said the exact placement of the enforcement paint line would be coordinated with public parking and police, and the effective date the council discussed was May 1 to allow public works painting and public messaging.
Public commenters were split. David Sokaitis and downtown residents urged approval for safety and pedestrian benefits and recommended additional signage for very short or special-case stalls. Other residents expressed frustration that repeated redesigns of Phillips Avenue created the problem and warned the ordinance could inadvertently burden downtown residents and business patrons who own larger vehicles.
Council members asked about enforcement for marked city work vehicles and about the process for changing stall angle. Council voted 8–0 to move the ordinance to a second reading on Dec. 3.
What happens next: engineering will finalize the painted enforcement line placement, public works will plan painting for spring, and the council will consider merits at second reading with possible amendments.
