T-R PHOTO BY ROBERT MAHARRY A photo taken Thursday afternoon shows the block of North Center Street between Main and State where the new back-in angle parking rules are in place. During Monday night’s meeting, the city council voted unanimously to proceed with an amendment to the city code that will allow the Marshalltown Police Department (MPD) and parking enforcement officers to ticket drivers who pull in as opposed to backing in as they are instructed to do.

While reviews of the new back-in angle parking system downtown have been mixed thus far, the Marshalltown city council unanimously passed the first reading of an amendment to Chapter 72 of the city code during Monday night’s meeting.

Public Works Director Heather Thomas explained that the change was requested by officers with the Marshalltown Police Department (MPD) and the individual in charge of parking enforcement with the Housing and Community Development department. She said pulling in with the front of the vehicle facing forward does create safety concerns for crossing traffic and getting back out of the stall.

“We’re about two months in since this parking configuration has been open downtown, and our focus has been over the last few months and will continue to be through the readings of this ordinance to educate the population and not penalize the population,” Thomas said.

So far, over 250 brochures have been left on vehicles pulling into stalls, and she added that city officials have tried to use the “Keep it Simple Stupid” (KISS) method in amending the ordinance by noting that parallel parking is the standard in town regardless of whether or not there are pavement markings.

“In areas where 90 degree paint is shown, vehicles may pull forward or back in. It’s their call. There’s no issues with either,” Thomas said. “For angle stalls, if you see angle lines, you should be able to tell by the direction that they’re going whether you’re supposed to pull in or back in, but we are not leaving it up to just the angles of pavement markings. Angle stalls will always be pull in unless they are signed back in. And so those four items are the amendments that we’re requesting to be changed in Chapter 72, and with that, I’ll open it up for questions.”

Councilor Melisa Fonseca asked if those who violate the new ordinance would be subject to a ticket, and Thomas said the new ordinance would allow for ticketing although the focus is currently based solely on educating drivers. During the public comment period, Jim Shaw called the new system “stupid” and said he had gone downtown with Councilor Gary Thompson a few months ago and tried to do it.

“Mr. Thompson’s vehicle would’ve caved in the fender of the vehicle next to him because he ended up over the line,” he said. “Mine, I did not use my backup camera because I wanted to see what it’s like going without it. I ended up over the lines.”

Shaw added that his girlfriend tried to do the back in parking and ended up having to go around the block as other vehicles would not let her in, and he also spoke with a reporter from WHO-13 news who was in town to cover the Legionnaires’ outbreak who Shaw said asked him “Who thought of this?” He joked that Thompson told him it was his idea, and despite the fact that they are friends, Shaw still felt it was a stupid idea.

Lonnie Hogeland thought the system included a major “learning curve” and wondered about signage to encourage drivers to park the right way.

“It’ll work. Be patient,” he said.

With no further comments, the first reading passed by a unanimous 7-0 vote. The new rules are still subject to two more readings before officially taking effect.

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Contact Robert Maharry at 641-753-6611 ext. 255 or

rmaharry@timesrepublican.com.