Othello council puts parking on hold

Deadline set for council vacancy

zOTHELLO — Discussion of changes to the city's off-street parking codes will be brought up again later this month, after proposals were pulled from the agenda at Monday night's Othello City Council meeting.

Mayor Shannon McKay said the absence of council members Eleanor Brodahl and Tim Wilson, in part, led to pulling the discussion from the agenda. He estimated the city council would require a few meetings to fully discuss the issue.

"This is kind of a complicated issue," McKay said, adding that the council wants to receive public input and have the full council address proposed changes.

The council at its next meeting Feb. 27 will consider the number of cars residents can park in their front yards, and which surfaces those cars can be parked on. Proposed changes to the city's off-street parking code would allow no more than four vehicles to be parked in the front yard, with additional vehicles allowed to be stored behind a sight obscuring fence.

Council members have previously debated whether or not cars should be allowed anywhere in a front yard or only on approved surfaces including concrete, asphalt, sod or gravel.

Also at Monday's meeting:

? Mayor McKay set a deadline for 5 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 21, for submission of applications at Othello City Hall to fill the vacant council position.

? The council unanimously approved the use of city facilities on July 14-15 for the All-City Classics 11th annual car show.

? Council members unanimously authorized Police Chief Steve Dunnagan to sign an agreement with the Coyote Ridge Correctional Facility for the Othello Police Department to assist the Connell prison in the event of an emergency.

— Staff report