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Midway council debates right-of-way parking, enforcement and pilot options for downtown
Summary
The council held an extended discussion about vehicles, cones and private signs in public right-of-way along Main Street and 100 West — exploring enforcement, residential permit zones, temporary cul-de-sac trials, one-way traffic, paid parking and buying land for communal lots; staff was asked to research legal and code steps and return options.
The Midway City Council devoted much of the meeting to a broad discussion about parking in public rights-of-way downtown, where private cones, signage and landscaping have increasingly limited safe access and created enforcement headaches.
Planning staff (S4) led the presentation with photos showing cones, private signs and landscaping encroaching into the right-of-way. "When people place their own signs, part of the problem is people don't know if things are legitimate signs or just personal signs," S4 said, pointing to photographs taken around town. Staff asked for guidance on whether and how to enforce existing code.
Council members traded options. Council member (S5) advocated stronger enforcement — boots, towing and fines — saying enforcement teaches businesses and customers to comply. "If we do enforcement in the form of boots or towing or large fines, those people won't do it again," S5 said. Other members stressed the limits of enforcement without longer-term solutions, citing businesses that lack on-site parking and cases where city code formerly allowed leased right-of-way stalls.
Ideas discussed included: pilot cul-de-sac closures or Jersey barrier trials at the most troubled locations; residential parking permit zones for streets with full-time residents; targeted enforcement in marked residential areas; paid evening parking in commercial blocks; encouraging businesses to advertise off-site parking locations; and creating communal public parking lots by purchasing or leasing nearby property. Council members suggested starting with 1–2 trial locations and returning results before wider roll-outs.
Staff direction and next steps: Council asked staff to research the legal/code ramifications of residential permit zones and cul-de-sac trials, identify specific trouble spots (Midway Bakery, Mercantile, Main Street areas), and return options for staged implementation. Several council members also suggested forming a small working group that includes business owners and residents to develop pilot proposals.
Why it matters: The discussion balances preservation of Midway's rural character with public safety and the practical needs of thriving downtown businesses. Council members emphasized a mix of short-term enforcement and long-term infrastructure or property-buying strategies to expand shared parking.
