LIMA — It has been on the agenda for Lima City Council for months, and before the council passed ordinances related to off-street parking on third reading Monday, there was lengthy debate about whether it should remain on that agenda a little longer.
Six ordinances related to parking in lawns and tree lawns were passed after three readings Monday, with 2nd Ward Councilman Sam McLean, 3rd Ward Councilman Jesse Lowe II and 6th Ward Councilman Derry Glenn voting against each of them. The laws would prohibit parking on grassy surfaces, requiring hard surfaces such as concrete, asphalt or gravel for parking. The idea is that this will prevent destruction of lawns and the corresponding drop in property values.
Glenn attempted to make a motion to refer this issue back again to the council’s Public Works Committee to allow the public to learn more about the ordinances, despite committee meetings being held two times already, going back to November.
“A lot of people did not understand this ordinance,” Glenn said. “The best setting would be for them to come here and listen to how this would go by putting it in committee.”
Lowe sided with Glenn on this issue, saying this is not something that needs to be rushed. However, while 1st Ward Councilman Todd Gordon did withdraw his second “out of respect for Councilman Glenn,” 4th Ward Councilwoman Rebecca Kreher did not withdraw her original motion to pass, prohibiting Glenn’s motion from coming to a vote.
“This issue has been through the committee process and is now on its third reading,” council President John Nixon said. “I think we need to vote on this series of ordinances and make a decision.”
The debate escalated as Glenn voiced frustration with that refusal, asserting that this issue is only coming to the fore because it is an election year.
“The only time you guys want to play your games is at election time,” he said. “You’re not out there working your butt off in the 6th Ward. Why are we doing this so quick[ly]? Because one of their friends is having a problem. This problem has been in the 6th Ward for years and nobody said [anything] about it. So all of a sudden it’s a big problem because of their friends has got this problem. Let’s put it out there.”
Lowe said at the end of the meeting that these laws would not be needed if the city’s Community Development Department had the necessary resources and personnel to provide proper code enforcement.
“We’re out here making laws just to make laws,” he said.
