Marengo clarifies parking ordinance

MARENGO — Following a resident’s complaint to the state ombudsman, the City of Marengo is amending a parking ordinance that prohibits parking vehicles on the street for more than 24 hours.

The Marengo City Council approved the first reading of the amended ordinance during its Dec. 20 meeting. The amendment adds the words “Vehicles are considered moved when they move at least one vehicle width or length” and adds “rights of way” to parking locations: “On all streets, rights of way, and municipal parking lots which are not signed otherwise, it is unlawful to park any vehicle for a continuous period of more than twenty-four hours.”

Marengo Police Chief Ben Gray said the state ombudsman suggested the city clarify the parking ordnance.

The state’s ombudsman serves as a liaison between the public and government. He has the authority to investigate complaints against governmental action under Iowa Code section 2C.

Bernardo Granwehr has been the State Ombudsman of Iowa since 2022.

The city’s parking ordinance isn’t changing, said Gray. The 24-hour, on-street parking limit was being enforced long before he became police chief, Gray said.

Gray said police don’t drive around town looking for vehicles that haven’t moved. They find violations when residents complain.

If residents are home for a few days and don’t move their vehicles, they probably aren’t going to receive citations, said Gray.

But if a car parked on a public street, right of way or parking lot has four flat tires and is obviously not being driven, it would receive a citation, Gray said.

The process takes much longer than 24 hours, said Gray. Police have to gather evidence that the vehicle hasn’t moved. The Supreme Court ruled that officers can’t chalk tires, Gray said. They have to photograph the vehicles.

City Administrator Karla Marck said the city had to change its policy when that ruling was issued.

After police document that the vehicle hasn’t moved, officers will inform the owners that they need to move the vehicles, said City Councilman Travis Schlabach. If the owner doesn’t move the car after being contacted by officer, police will write a citation.

Council members Karen Wayson-Kisling, Bill Kreis, John Hinshaw and Travis Schlabach voted to approve the first reading of the amended section 69.11 of the Marengo Code.

Councilwoman Jennifer Olson was absent.