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Kanawha adopts ordinance clarifying police, fire traffic authority and limited parking-citation power
Summary
The Kanawha City Council on Feb. 10 adopted Ordinance No. 2026-4, amending Section 3-3-5 to clarify police and fire department authority to direct traffic during emergencies and to authorize the mayor, mayor pro tem or city clerk to issue civil parking citations only if the city has no active police officers and no Chapter 28E agreement.
The Kanawha City Council adopted Ordinance No. 2026-4 at its Feb. 10 meeting, amending Section 3-3-5 of the city code to clarify traffic-direction authority for police and fire department officials and to allow limited civil parking citation authority for city executives if no active police force exists. The measure cites Iowa Code section 321.229 and takes effect after final passage, posting and publication as required by law.
Jessica Fowles read the ordinance language during the first reading. The amendment explicitly states that officers of the police department may direct traffic by voice, hand or signal and that police officers may direct traffic in the event of a fire or other emergency. It also states that officers of the fire department may direct or assist police in directing traffic in the immediate vicinity of an emergency.
The ordinance further provides that "in the event the City has no active police officers and law enforcement services are not being provided by another agency pursuant to a Chapter 28E agreement, the Mayor, Mayor Pro Tem, or City Clerk is hereby authorized to issue civil citations for violations of City parking ordinances only." The ordinance limits that authority strictly to municipal parking regulations and specifies it does not include enforcing state traffic laws, moving violations, traffic stops or arrest powers.
Council member Tim Lodin moved to waive the second and third readings and approve Ordinance No. 2026-4; Phyllis Jordanger seconded. By roll call, Lodin, Fowles, Lang, Kraft and Jordanger voted Aye and the motion carried.
The change clarifies local officials' roles during emergencies and establishes a narrow, temporary enforcement mechanism for parking violations when a municipal police presence is absent. The council made no amendments to the text as read and directed that the ordinance be posted and published to take effect according to law.
