Lincoln, Illinois

Ordinance & Zoning Committee

June 12, 2012

Minutes of an Ordinance & Zoning Committee Meeting held in the Council Chambers of City Hall, Lincoln, IL, on Tuesday, June 12, 2012.

Alderman O'Donohue called the meeting to order at 6:15 p.m.

Members of the Ordinance & Zoning Committee present were Chairman Alderman O'Donohue, Vice Chairman Alderman Hoinacki, Alderman Tibbs, Alderman Anderson, and Alderman Neitzel. Also present was Alderman Bacon, Alderman Horn, and Alderman Wilmert. Department Heads present were Safety and Building Officer Mr. Lebegue, Fire Chief Miller, and Police Chief Greenslate. Also present were Mayor Snyder, City Clerk Mrs. Gehlbach, and Deputy Clerk Mrs. Fulk.

The meeting was to discuss the On Street Parking for trailers. Mr. Lebegue had a handout of results from a survey for on street parking restrictions.

There was no one from the public to address the Ordinance Committee but the Press was present.

Alderman Wilmert was in favor of giving provisions for people to park in their driveways.

Alderman O'Donohue said the City's does not address parking on the resident's property at all.

Mr. Lebegue said the City Code states that trailers, boats and things of that nature cannot be stored and parked in the front yard area of the property. Corner lots are especially affected because they have two front yards.

Alderman Bacon said her feeling was that citizens who do not have access to their backyard via an alley, like herself, should not be restricted to park their trailers or motor homes and what have you on their driveway. They were able to set their trailer at the side of their house on the proper pad that it needed to be. Not every person has a wide enough lot to be able to do that according to our ordinance right now.

Alderman O'Donohue didn't realize they were addressed as the yard and the street. He wanted to address the street first. He asked what they thought about parking in the street.

Mr. Lebegue had a slide presentation showing the violations of parking on the street in various areas around Lincoln.

Police Chief Greenslate said his role is to enforce whatever they wish. Whatever they decide he asked they discuss different ways to enforce this current ordinance. Currently it says three days for any vehicle. The problem the police department has is placing stickers on these vehicles, people walk out and tear the stickers off, push the vehicle an inch and walk back in their house and they are legal for another 72 hours.

Alderman Tibbs asked if they were asking to exclude the 72 hour. Alderman O'Donohue said they were looking at this as to what they want to do. Alderman Tibbs was in favor of no parking at all on the streets.

Ordinance & Zoning Committee

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Alderman Hoinacki asked if there was any repercussions for tearing the stickers off. Police Chief Greenslate said no and thought it was to deal with abandoned vehicles. Alderman Wilmert felt they should distinguish between enforcement and the ordinance itself and felt 72 hours was reasonable.

Alderman Neitzel was looking at the list and thought Galesburg, Washington and Streator were about the same and not Springfield, Peoria or Decatur. Asked how much it was worth to make Lincoln beautiful and would be in favor of parking in the driveways and not on the street.

Alderman Anderson agreed with Alderman Neitzel like Washington, Galesburg, and Streator allow for loading and unloading with a reasonable amount of time. Not in favor of parking on the streets: safety, hard to see around, and a lot of the streets are too narrow. The City has some streets that it would be an issue.

Alderman Hoinacki said if there aren't enough reflectors on the trailer it should be an enforcement issue. Police Chief Greenslate was not aware of anything about reflectors. Alderman Hoinacki was in favor on the street with a time limit as it is now.

Alderman O'Donohue said he is inclined to say no parking on the streets. He didn't think enforcement would be possible.

Alderman Tibbs agreed with no parking on the streets. However, if the 72 hour thing should carry.

Alderman O'Donohue said they would address it then. Alderman Tibbs did not want it. Alderman Horn agreed with not parking on streets. Alderman O'Donohue said giving reasonable time loading and unloading is important. Alderman Anderson said by having an ordinance that does not allow parking on the street other than for loading and unloading that resolves the enforcement issue. Alderman Bacon did not see a problem with the 72 hour thing except she did happen to agree with the Chief on the enforcement and would rather the 72 hour than ban it altogether.

Mr. Lebegue said where he came from up north there were instances where you couldn't get your vehicles on your property or something along those lines other than doing some kind of work or something of that nature. In that circumstance you would be allowed to call the police department and tell them the address, that you are going to park on the street for x number of days and you are allowed to do so.

Alderman Wilmert was concerned that they would be catching the wrong group of people if they eliminate the 72 hour rule.

Alderman O'Donohue wasn't opposed to some kind of permit for contractors and stuff like that working on buildings. There are two sides to every story. The Ordinance Committee is going to make a recommendation to the Council. He was getting a consensus that they would favor changing the ordinance to eliminate parking trailers on the street. Alderman O'Donohue said he was getting from all but Alderman Hoinacki on the committee they were in favor of a ban. That would be the recommendation of the committee. He moved to the next issue.