‘A parking lot, not a street’

WASHINGTON - The Washington City Council plans to change parking on South Ave C because of safety and traffic concerns.

The City Council will discuss the third reading of the ordinance, making South Avenue C from West Madison Street to West Tyler Street mimic South Avenue B where parking is not allowed on the west side from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on school days.

Council member Elaine Moore has been one of the most outspoken individuals on the issue. She said the road has become a parking lot, not a street.

During the first workshop on July 21, Moore spoke about a situation she personally experienced. She was driving north on C, and someone turned out of Monroe. The other driver had to slam on their breaks to not hit Moore head-on.

'She was in the middle of the road, I was in the middle of the road,” she said. 'There was no place to go.”

Moore said it is bumper to bumper from Adam to Monroe on both sides. Mayor Jaron Rosien said it requires constant maneuvering on the street, and council members referred to it as 'pingpong alley.”

Outside of potential car accidents, Moore said children play in the neighborhood and ride their bikes to and from the high school. She also said there are many dog walkers and joggers that use the street.

'Somebody is going to get hurt,” Moore said.

Council member Steve Gault agreed saying a child will be hurt on that street, and it is not if but when it will happen.

Moore said she would like the parking to be completely removed on one side, but she would compromise for it to mimic South Avenue B. Councilmember Fran Stigers agreed that parking should be completely removed on one side.

At the July meeting, council member Millie Youngquist said she had visited the street at 8 p.m. and 3 p.m.

Youngquist said the problem is between West Monroe and West Adams. She made the observation that there are only two driveways on the east side of the street.

Stigers said in 2018 they discussed the issues and from Madison to Tyler, every residence has a driveway or garage. He said the only resident whom he spoke to that may not be able to use the driveway has two teenager and three cars.

'One person out of 46 houses on that street,” Stigers said.

Gault said it doesn't matter what they do, it will make someone unhappy.

'I would rather make someone unhappy than be on a city council that did nothing and have a kid killed,” Gault said.

City Administrator Brent Hinson said there is a difference between what the neighborhood wants and public interest. He said sometimes what the residents want does not serve the public well.

The council decided to send a letter to residents on the street alerting them of the conversation and seeking feedback.

The city received no feedback from the residents from the letter.

Rosien said he received a call from a resident who supported the parking change but with odd and even days rotating. Rosien said he heard from a variety of residents asking for parking to be changed on the west side not the east side.

During a third workshop, the council directed staff to change parking to follow South Avenue B, restricting parking on 'South Avenue C, on the west side, from Madison Street to Tyler Street, from 7:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. on school days.”

The ordinance passed its first and second readings. The third reading will take place during the council meeting Tuesday.