T-R PHOTO BY ROBERT MAHARRY Members of the Marshalltown city council along with City Clerk Alicia Hunter, Mayor Joel Greer and new City Administrator Carol Webb look on during Monday night’s regular meeting.

During a meeting that clocked in at just under an hour on Monday, the Marshalltown city council again spent much of the evening discussing parking rules and unanimously approved a second reading of one ordinance change while tabling action on another.

The first was a modification of the parking, loading and stacking in Chapter 156 as part of an effort to ensure that it aligns with Chapter 72 of the city code. As Planning and Zoning Commission Chairman Jon Boston explained, the new guidelines standardize the size of a parking space, increase the number of maximum parking spaces for residential properties from four to six, ensure that the driveway in front of a garage door is counted as a valid space and increase the number of spaces allowed for commercial properties, citing gas stations as a specific example, as well as government locations.

Without any questions from the council or comments from the public, the second reading of that ordinance change passed by a unanimous 6-0 tally with Councilor Gary Thompson absent.

The council then moved on to the first reading of an ordinance amendment repealing Chapter 72 parking rules and adopting new code sections. Public Works Director Heather Thomas told the council that the P&Z Commission had time to provide input on the rules over the last several months, and she also noted that legal counsel had advised against changing late fees for unpaid tickets — so that modification has been removed.

Councilor Jeff Schneider, communicating remotely, suggested a change to allow separate concrete slabs for trailers or boats on a lot one acre or larger.

“What I would like to do is propose that for lots over one acre, we reinstate that ability for a homeowner who wants to be responsible, who has a trailer, who wants to use it for hauling stuff to the compost (facility) or has a boat in their driveway, give them the ability to be in compliance with our ordinances,” Schneider said. “So I think we should add some language back in to allow for a slab of concrete that’s not attached to a driveway or a road.”

On a large lot of an acre or more, he added, the owner could be required to have a 200-foot driveway just to accommodate a boat or trailer.

“I think that’s a little too onerous, and they end up ruining their yard,” Schneider said.

Councilor Mark Mitchell agreed with Schneider’s proposal but thought it should go further down to lots of ¾ of an acre, and Schneider concurred before suggesting dropping the threshold down to half of an acre.

Boston suggested providing more flexibility for driveway regulations and going by square feet instead of dimensions, and Lonnie Hogeland hoped a clear message would be sent to citizens about keeping junk vehicles and materials out of driveways.

Schneider then made a motion to direct staff to come back with a formal recommendation so the council “knows exactly what it’s talking about,” which Mayor Joel Greer interpreted as a motion to table it. That motion carried unanimously.

Monday night marked the first meeting for new City Administrator Carol Webb in her designated chair inside the council chambers.

In other business, the council:

• Approved the consent agenda as listed.

• Approved a resolution providing for the conveyance of the north-south alley between 406 and 408 W. Madison St. and selling the right of way to the property owners.

• Approved an urban renewal plan amendment for Urban Renewal Area No. 3.

• Approved the first reading of an ordinance amendment relating to partial property tax exemptions for industrial property on which improvements have been made.

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Contact Robert Maharry at 641-753-6611 ext. 255 or rmaharry@timesrepublican.com.