Chester council advances four parking and tax ordinances on first reading

Chester — The Chester City Council moved four ordinances forward on first reading Wednesday, advancing measures that would tighten parking enforcement and create new revenue rules.

At the meeting the clerk read Bill 2, a proposed addition to the city code establishing Article 5‑21 on booting and vehicle immobilization to regulate removal and penalties for unpaid parking fines. The motion to advance Bill 2 on its first reading passed on a recorded roll call after a brief procedural exchange.

The council also advanced Bill 3, which amends Title 3 to update parking‑tax definitions, reduce certain penalty rates and create an amnesty program for delinquencies; Bill 4, which would update the traffic code to create a stadium‑district meter zone and authorize dynamic pricing for meters; and Bill 5, which would enact an amusement tax under the Local Tax Enabling Act. All three were moved, seconded and advanced on first reading with recorded council support.

Clerk (reading the ordinances) summarized the scope of the measures: “to establish procedures and regulations for the immobilization and removal of vehicles…,” and to update definitions and effective dates for the other ordinances.

Council members did not undertake final adoption on Wednesday; first reading advances a measure to allow additional review and any edits before the second reading and potential final vote. The council will return the bills for a second reading and final consideration at a later meeting, where the public and council members may again comment and propose amendments.