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Council tables final reading of South 18th Street parking ordinance after business and resident objections
Summary
After residents and business owners raised access and safety concerns about one-sided parking on South 18th Street, the Keokuk City Council voted to table the ordinance's third reading to allow staff to meet with impacted stakeholders and re-evaluate options.
Keokuk City Council on June 5 voted to table the third and final reading of an ordinance that would change parking regulations on the north side of South 18th Street from Main Street to Carol Street, after residents and business owners said the plan would reduce access and create safety problems for mobility-impaired customers.
Resident Lamont Walker told the council the sidewalk regrading associated with the 18th Street project removed roughly three feet of his lawn and increased the number of steps up to his house, and he said the narrowing and parking removal will reduce his property value. Walker asked the city to show design plans and to inspect the site; staff and the mayor agreed to meet him on site the next morning to review the plans.
Dr. Jennifer Lawler, owner of Lawler Family Chiropractic at 18th and Johnson, said about half her clientele are Medicare-age or mobility-impaired and that one-sided parking will make access difficult for patients who use canes, walkers or wheelchairs. She requested consideration of handicap-designated spaces, signage reserving spots in front of her clinic, or two-sided parking if feasible, and said she would pay to have signs installed if necessary.
Director Carroll (city staff) said project designs were adjusted during the planning phase to meet ADA ramp alignment requirements, and that the city kept work within the right of way; he also said the council had previously considered three design options and selected the narrower roadway to reduce material costs. Staff offered to review the site and plans with business owners to identify possible mitigations such as a marked handicap stall or targeted parking signage.
Council member (speaker 2) moved to table the ordinance to give staff time to meet with businesses and analyze the impacts from Main Street to Johnson Street; the motion to table carried. The council did not enact the parking regulation change and left the item for further study at the request of the moving council member.
The issue will return to the council after staff completes the site visits and presents findings and options.
