Clarksville council directs staff to draft Main Street parking ordinance requiring 24‑inch gaps and business parking limits

At its Sept. 16 meeting, the Clarksville City Council directed staff to work with the city attorney to draft an ordinance tightening on‑street parking rules on Main Street and nearby side streets.

Council Member Jessi Reints proposed signs and a rule requiring a 24‑inch space between parallel‑parked vehicles; Council Member Jennifer Kielman said any change to the ordinance should include enforceability. Reints told the council she is concerned that business owners should not be made responsible for policing curbside parking and said the daytime problems are especially acute on South Main. "Signs and a 24‑inch space between vehicles would be a start," Reints said.

Police Chief Barry Mackey said he would like to meet with a couple of council members to discuss enforcement ideas and operational details for towing and citations. Mackey also noted limitations on staff time and resources when discussing how enforcement could be carried out.

Council members agreed to language the clerk and city attorney will prepare that, as described in the meeting, would require 24‑inch gaps for parallel parking on side streets within city limits and allow towing when the spacing requirement is not met. The proposal under discussion also includes a business‑parking window of Monday–Friday, 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Clerk Molly Bohlen will bring draft ordinance language back to the council for consideration.

The council did not take a final vote on an ordinance at the meeting; next steps are drafting the ordinance and returning it for formal consideration and any required readings.