Parent and staff ask commission to ease parking rules, commission holds item for school follow-up

City traffic staff, residents and a Green Bay Public Schools employee pressed the Traffic Commission to revisit no-parking and no-stopping restrictions near Martin Luther King Elementary, but the commission voted to hold the item until staff and the school district can coordinate a practical plan.

The commission heard that the curbside restrictions are largely governed by state rules requiring posted no-parking adjacent to schools from 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and that a district study completed between 2015 and 2019 recommended sidewalks on Painted Trail and other nearby streets. The traffic presenter said sidewalks generally cost roughly $1,400 to $2,000 per 100 feet of frontage, and that without sidewalks crossing from parked cars would pose a safety concern.

Resident Jennifer Howard, who lives at 294 Carriage Crossing, said she has received a photo-enforced citation while briefly stopping in front of the school and asked the commission to ease restrictions for pickup, special events and short-term loading. "I personally myself have gotten a ticket and bought it went to our city attorney," she said, adding that she was told that even briefly stopping on that side of the street can be prohibited.

An employee who said they work for Green Bay Public Schools described the school's bus lane and drop-off arrangement and said special events—student concerts and other end-of-year gatherings—create high parking demand that the current restrictions do not accommodate. "The new bus lane that they put in ... that is for bus traffic only," the school staffer said, and staff confirmed there is limited on-site parking for large events.

City staff recommended two near-term options: (1) change signage to a standard no-parking 7:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. school days rule that would allow short-term loading on the school side, or (2) have the school request specific event-day enforcement relief in advance so the city can temporarily suspend ticketing. The presenter noted the city could work with the parking division to provide ad-hoc enforcement relief if the school notifies staff in advance.

After public comment and discussion of enforcement practice, the commission voted to hold the item until the next meeting so staff can coordinate with the school district and the city attorney and return with a recommended sign plan and any clarifying legal guidance.

The person who raised the item asked that staff follow up directly; commissioners said staff would reach out to the resident and the city attorney to resolve the enforcement concern before the matter returns.

The item was held for follow-up; no regulatory change was adopted at the meeting.