Kyle parking ordinances to change soon

Parking ordinances as presented to council don’t necessarily reflect the needs of residents.

That was the word from several speakers at the Kyle City Council meeting Tuesday.

A new parking ordinance was approved on the second reading by a vote of 6-1, with Daphne Tenorio in opposition.

Several residents voiced frustrations, saying that the parking ordinance didn’t reflect the needs of Kyle.

“We need a parking ordinance, we do. But the ordinance needs to be written pertaining to their town,” said Kyle resident Lila Knight.

The ordinance, presented to council by Assistant City Manager James Earp, was created to assist emergency vehicles and to help mitigate possible parking fines.

The ordinance as presented drew the ire of some residents for several reasons, including the requirement that makes it unlawful for a person to park in a manner that leaves less then 20 feet for the free movement of vehicles, in accordance to the International Fire code.

Residents noted that many streets in Kyle are narrow and the new rule would leave residents without proper means to park. Because of this problem, the council voted that the city’s fire marshal could designate some streets to be one-way parking, upon the review by the council. The marshal will present determinations to council at a later date.

The council also deemed that proper signage would be required to effectively enforce and police this ordinance.

The ordinance would affect parking for commercial and non-commercial vehicles, with a few exceptions including:

Emergency vehicles (as defined by state law) responding to or from, or at the scene of, an emergency call;

Vehicles being used to provide any municipal service such as the installation, repair or maintenance of any public street, asset or property, collection of garbage, grounds keeping, etc.

Vehicles being used to install, repair or maintain any public service or utility such as telephone, electricity, cable television, gas, water or sewer line.