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Council advances residential-parking ordinance for Marsh and Bridge streets amid process dispute
Summary
The council advanced a first reading to designate Marsh Street and parts of Bridge Street as 24-hour resident-sticker parking, passing the measure on a 4–3 vote after heated debate over whether usual petition and notification procedures were followed.
The City Council advanced an ordinance amendment to designate portions of Marsh Street and Bridge Street as 24-hour, resident-sticker parking following a first-reading vote that reflected a 4–3 split among councilors.
Council debate centered on process and notification. One councilor said the change bypassed the petition and notification procedures normally associated with sticker-parking designations, calling it "bad governance." Another councilor defended the vote, saying "we are policy makers" and that the council has the authority to change parking policy. The city solicitor advised the council that the action did not violate any ordinance but acknowledged there is an established process for petitions and interdepartmental review.
The ordinance requires a petition signed by a majority of affected residents for most district designations and 65% support for 24-hour sticker zones; councilors described the recent decision as housekeeping to align definitions but an atypical route that prompted concerns about transparency. The measure will proceed to the next hearing; staff were asked to ensure proper outreach and to confirm whether affected property owners and employees had been consulted.
What happens next: the ordinance will return for a subsequent reading with requested clarifications about petition thresholds and notification procedures.
