Othello council talks parking

City to debate options next week

OTHELLO — Some say they are trying to improve aesthetics in their community, but others argue limiting where people can park in front of their homes is an encroachment of their rights as a private property owner.

The Othello City Council took up the issue of off-street parking at their monthly workshop Monday night, but will have to decide next week whether or not to prohibit residents from parking their cars on front lawns.

"I want to maintain standards in this community," said Councilman Marc Spohr in proposing the changes. "I don't think any lot in this community should be a lot for junk vehicles."

The city will have to look at cleaning up its off-street parking ordinance currently on the books, which some council members said was outdated due to its provision to allow only two vehicles parked unobstructed in a front driveway.

At their last meeting in January, the council approved restricting the time any car can be parked on a city street to 25 consecutive days. Spohr told fellow council members he received feedback from citizens on the issue when the city discussed its on-street parking ordinances last month.

But some council members showed concern over the proposed limits the city was putting on landowners. Councilman Everett Cole told Spohr during discussion his proposal was going beyond what is necessary in regulating what people do on their private property.

"My property is private property," Councilwoman Eleanor Brodahl said, and said if she wants to park on her grass, she should be able to park on her grass. Brodahl questioned the need for the changes when hearing from City Administrator Ehman Sheldon had received one complaint on the issue at City Hall.

Mayor Shannon McKay suggested to the council they start enforcing the codes already on their books.

"It's just an enforcement issue," McKay said. "I guess I'm of the belief that we can enforce the code that we already have."

Discussion also centered around recreational vehicles and the ability to park vehicles in a person's backyard and behind a fence.

Brodahl said if the council was going to put in restrictions, they need to go look at what the residents in the city are doing now.

"This isn't groundbreaking stuff here, all we're trying to do is maintain the standard," Spohr said during discussion.

Sheldon said after Monday's meeting that he would be presenting language to the council next week, including allowing up to four cars on a paved service in front yards and determining whether or not cars should be allowed to be parked on grass surfaces or just other approved surfaces.