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The Provo city council approved the North Joaquin parking permit program Tuesday night, but it wasn't a clear win for anyone.
The measure passed by a vote of 5-2, with Midge Johnson and Steve Turley opposing the ordinance. Although the remaining five council members approved the measure, it was not without hesitation.
The North Joaquin neighborhood is between University Avenue and 900 East, and 500 North to 800 North. Under the permit program, parking would be free in the daytime, and permits would be enforced from 1 a.m. to 6 a.m. daily, except during the week of Thanksgiving, between Christmas Eve and New Year's Day and during Brigham Young University graduation.
Cindy Clark said opponents of the program have brought differing arguments to the meetings, saying commuters were not a problem when a daytime permit was proposed, and saying they were the problem when a nighttime program was proposed. Clark said many problems still need to be addressed, including zoning enforcement in the neighborhood. In the coming months, BYU needs to play a bigger role in discussions.
"Whatever we do tonight has got to be an ongoing process," she said.
Turley and Johnson both said they felt there were far too many problems with the program to approve it. Johnson said she felt the council had not adequately addressed all the reasons for the program.
"I agree that we need a parking program," Turley said. "But not a half-baked one." |
