CHAPTER 79

PARKING REGULATIONS

79.01    PARKING LIMITED OR CONTROLLED. Parking of vehicles shall be controlled or limited where so indicated by designated traffic control devices in accordance with Chapter 71 of this Traffic Code. No person shall stop, park or stand a vehicle in violation of any such posted parking regulations unless in compliance with the directions of a peace officer.

79.02    PARK ADJACENT TO CURB. No person shall stand or park a vehicle in a roadway other than parallel with the edge of the roadway headed in the direction of lawful traffic movement and with the right-hand wheels of the vehicle within eighteen (18) inches of the curb or edge of the roadway except as hereinafter provided in the case of angle parking and vehicles parked on the left-hand side of one-way streets.

(Code of Iowa, Sec. 321.361)

79.03    PARK ADJACENT TO CURB – ONE-WAY STREET. No person shall stand or park a vehicle on the left-hand side of a one-way street other than parallel with the edge of the roadway headed in the direction of lawful traffic movement and with the left-hand wheels of the vehicle within eighteen (18) inches of the curb or edge of the roadway except as hereinafter provided in the case of angle parking.

(Code of Iowa, Sec. 321.361)

79.04    ANGLE PARKING. Angle or diagonal parking is permitted only in the following locations:

(Code of Iowa, Sec. 321.361)

79.05    ANGLE PARKING – MANNER. Upon those streets or portions of streets which have been signed or marked for angle parking, no person shall park or stand a vehicle other than at an angle to the curb or edge of the roadway or in the center of the roadway as indicated by such signs and markings. No part of any vehicle, or the load thereon, when parked within a diagonal parking district, shall extend into the roadway more than a distance of sixteen (16) feet when measured at right angles to the adjacent curb or edge of roadway.

(Code of Iowa, Sec. 321.361)

79.06    PARKING FOR CERTAIN PURPOSES ILLEGAL. No person shall park a vehicle upon public property for more than seventy-two (72) hours, unless otherwise limited under the provisions of Section 79.01 of this chapter, or for any of the following principal purposes:

(Code of Iowa, Sec. 321.236 [1])

1. Sale. Displaying such vehicle for sale.

2. Repairing. For lubricating, repairing or for commercial washing of such vehicle except such repairs as are necessitated by an emergency.

3. Advertising. Displaying advertising.

4. Merchandise Sales. Selling merchandise from such vehicle except in a duly established market place or when so authorized or licensed under the Code of Ordinances.

79.07    PARKING PROHIBITED. No one shall stop, stand or park a vehicle except when necessary to avoid conflict with other traffic or in compliance with the directions of a peace officer or traffic control device, in any of the following places:

1. Crosswalk. On a crosswalk.

(Code of Iowa, Sec. 321.358 [5])

2. Center Parkway. On the center parkway or dividing area of any divided street.

(Code of Iowa, Sec. 321.236 [1])

3. Mailboxes. Within twenty (20) feet on either side of a mailbox which is so placed and so equipped as to permit the depositing of mail from vehicles on the roadway.

(Code of Iowa, Sec. 321.236 [1])

4. Sidewalks. On or across a sidewalk.

(Code of Iowa, Sec. 321.358 [1])

5. Driveway. In front of a public or private driveway.

(Code of Iowa, Sec. 321.358 [2])

6. Intersection. Within, or within ten (10) feet of an intersection of any street or alley.

(Code of Iowa, Sec. 321.358 [3])

7. Fire Hydrant. Within five (5) feet of a fire hydrant.

(Code of Iowa, Sec. 321.358 [4])

8. Stop Sign or Signal. Within ten (10) feet upon the approach to any flashing beacon, stop or yield sign, or traffic control signal located at the side of a roadway.

(Code of Iowa, Sec. 321.358 [6])

9. Railroad Crossing. Within fifty (50) feet of the nearest rail of a railroad crossing, except when parked parallel with such rail and not exhibiting a red light.

(Code of Iowa, Sec. 321.358 [8])

10. Fire Station. Within twenty (20) feet of the driveway entrance to any fire station and on the side of a street opposite the entrance to any fire station within seventy-five (75) feet of said entrance when properly sign posted.

(Code of Iowa, Sec. 321.358 [9])

11. Excavations. Alongside or opposite any street excavation or obstruction when such stopping, standing or parking would obstruct traffic.

(Code of Iowa, Sec. 321.358 [10])

12. Double Parking. On the roadway side of any vehicle stopped or parked at the edge or curb of a street.

(Code of Iowa, Sec. 321.358 [11])

13. Hazardous Locations. When, because of restricted visibility or when standing or parked vehicles would constitute a hazard to moving traffic, or when other traffic conditions require, the Council may cause curbs to be painted with a yellow color and erect no parking or standing signs.

(Code of Iowa, Sec. 321.358 [13])

14. Churches, Nursing Homes and Other Buildings. A space of fifty (50) feet is hereby reserved at the side of the street in front of any theatre, auditorium, hotel having more than twenty-five (25) sleeping rooms, hospital, nursing home, taxicab stand, bus depot, church, or other building where large assemblages of people are being held, within which space, when clearly marked as such, no motor vehicle shall be left standing, parked or stopped except in taking on or discharging passengers or freight, and then only for such length of time as is necessary for such purpose.

(Code of Iowa, Sec. 321.360)

15. Alleys. No person shall park a vehicle within an alley in such a manner or under such conditions as to leave available less than ten (10) feet of the width of the roadway for the free movement of vehicular traffic, and no person shall stop, stand or park a vehicle within an alley in such a position as to block the driveway entrance to any abutting property. The provisions of this subsection shall not apply to a vehicle parked in any alley which is eighteen (18) feet wide or less; provided said vehicle is parked to deliver goods or services.

(Code of Iowa, Sec. 321.236[1])

16. Ramps. In front of a curb cut or ramp which is located on public or private property in a manner which blocks access to the curb cut or ramp.

(Code of Iowa, Sec. 321.358[15])

17. Area Between Lot Line and Curb Line. That area of the public way not covered by sidewalk and lying between the lot line and the curb line, where curbing has been installed, except for recreational vehicles as provided in Section 79.10 of this chapter.

18. In More Than One Space. In any designated parking space so that any part of the vehicle occupies more than one such space or protrudes beyond the markings designating such space.

79.08    PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES PARKING. The following regulations shall apply to the establishment and use of persons with disabilities parking spaces:

1. Establishment. Persons with disabilities parking spaces shall be established and designated in accordance with Chapter 321L of the Code of Iowa and Iowa Administrative Code, 661-18. No unauthorized person shall establish any on-street persons with disabilities parking space without first obtaining Council approval.

2. Improper Use. The following uses of a persons with disabilities parking space, located on either public or private property, constitute improper use of a persons with disabilities parking permit, which is a violation of this Code of Ordinances:

(Code of Iowa, Sec. 321L.4[2])

A. Use by an operator of a vehicle not displaying a persons with disabilities parking permit;

B. Use by an operator of a vehicle displaying a persons with disabilities parking permit but not being used by a person issued a permit or being transported in accordance with Section 321L.2[1b] of the Code of Iowa;

C. Use by a vehicle in violation of the rules adopted under Section 321L.8 of the Code of Iowa.

3. Wheelchair Parking Cones. No person shall use or interfere with a wheelchair parking cone in violation of the following:

A. A person issued a persons with disabilities parking permit must comply with the requirements of Section 321L.2A (1) of the Code of Iowa when utilizing a wheelchair parking cone.

B. A person shall not interfere with a wheelchair parking cone which is properly placed under the provisions of Section 321L.2A (1) of the Code of Iowa.

79.09    TRUCK PARKING LIMITED.

1. Load Limits. All trucks with load capacity in excess of one ton are prohibited from parking on any public street or alley for a period longer than needed to load or unload articles on or off the vehicle.

2. Loading of Volatile Liquids. The loading of tank wagons or tank trucks at or near gasoline or oil manufacturing or storage stations with volatile liquids while any part of such tank wagons or tank trucks is standing within fifteen (15) feet of any highway or street within the City is prohibited. This section does not prohibit the loading of wagons or trucks with drums or barrels containing volatile liquids if such drums or barrels are free from leakage and the contents thereof are not exposed during such loading.

3. Loading and Unloading Freight.

1. Duty of Driver. Except as otherwise specifically provided in paragraph B of this subsection, no person shall use the streets or portions of streets enumerated in paragraph C of this subsection for the purpose of loading or unloading freight, merchandise or other property from semi-trailers drawn by truck tractors or road tractors or from any vehicle of an overall length exceeding twenty-five (25) feet, including body, between the hours of nine o’clock (9:00) a.m. and six o’clock (6:00) p.m.

2. Special Permits; Fee. In the event that it is impractical to transfer freight, merchandise or other property, because of great bulk, extreme fragility, great weight, excessive length or width or peculiar value from vehicles in excess of twenty-four (24) feet overall length to other vehicles, application may be made to the City Manager and a special permit may be issued by the City Manager, permitting the use of the streets, highways, alleys or public places within the corporate limits of the City for a particular loading and unloading of such freight, merchandise or other property. No special permit shall be issued under this section until the applicant shall have paid one dollar ($1.00) to the City Manager therefor. Each separate loading or unloading described in this section requires a separate special permit.

3. Streets Designated:

(1) Central Avenue, both sides, between Jefferson Street and Osborn Street;

(2) Division Street, between Main Street and Third Street;

(3) Eighth Street, both sides, between Valley Street and Washington Street;

(4) Fifth Street, both sides, between Valley Street and Washington Street.

4. Backing Into Curb. In places where and at hours when stopping for loading or unloading of merchandise or materials is permitted, vehicles used for the transportation of such materials may back into the curb to take on or discharge loads when the owner of such vehicles holds a special permit granting said owner such privilege. Such permits shall either be in possession of the driver or on the vehicle at the time such vehicle is backed against the curb to take on or discharge a load, and it is unlawful for any owner or driver to violate any of the special terms and conditions of any such permit.

79.10    PARKING OF RECREATIONAL VEHICLES AND EQUIPMENT. No camper, motor home, travel trailer or boat and/or boat trailer shall be parked on public property; however, from April 1 through October 31 of each year, a camper, motor home, travel trailer or a boat and/or boat trailer may be parked on public property, excluding riverfront lots not specifically identified for parking of recreational vehicles and boat and/or boat trailers. No camper, motor home, travel trailer, utility trailer or boat and/or boat trailer shall be parked on the public right-of-way within twenty-five (25) feet of any street intersection. “Right-of-way” includes not only the traveled street, but also any area adjacent thereto dedicated to public uses, such as utility easements and sidewalks.

79.11    SNOW REMOVAL.

1. Snow Emergency Routes Map. The streets or portions of streets within the City designated as snow emergency routes are those shown on the map designated as the Snow Emergency Routes Map of the City, and such map and all notations, references and other information shown thereon are a part of this Code and have the same force and effect as if fully set forth in this section. The Snow Emergency Routes Map shall remain on file in the office of the Clerk.

2. Snow Emergency Route Signs. On each street designated as a snow emergency route, the City Manager shall have posted special signs designating that street as a snow route. These signs shall be distinctive and uniform in appearance and shall be plainly readable to persons traveling on the street or highway.

3. Parking on Snow Emergency Routes. Whenever the City Manager finds, on the basis of falling snow, sleet or freezing rain, or on the basis of a forecast of snow, sleet or freezing rain, that weather conditions will make it necessary that motor vehicle traffic be expedited and that parking on City streets be prohibited or restricted for snow plowing and other purposes, the City Manager shall put into effect a parking prohibition on parts of or all snow emergency routes as necessary by declaring it in a manner prescribed in this section. An automatic parking prohibition will go into effect on all snow emergency routes when there is an accumulation of two (2) or more inches of snow. While the prohibition is in effect, no person shall park or allow to remain parked any vehicle on any portion of a snow emergency route to which it applies. However, nothing in this section permits parking at any time or place where it is forbidden by any other provision of law. Once in effect, a prohibition shall remain in effect until terminated by announcement of the City Manager in accordance with this section.

4. Notice of Declaration. The City Manager shall cause each declaration made under this chapter to be publicly announced by means of broadcasts or telecasts from stations with a normal operating range covering the City, and the City Manager may cause such declaration to be further announced in newspapers of general circulation when feasible. Each announcement shall describe the action taken by the City Manager, including the time it became or will become effective, and shall specify the streets or areas affected, unless a general declaration is made regarding all snow emergency routes. A parking prohibition declared by the City Manager shall not go into effect until at least two (2) hours after it has been announced in the news media. In addition, no declared parking prohibition shall initially take effect at any time between eight o’clock (8:00) a.m. and seven o’clock (7:00) p.m. unless the announcement is made during the preceding hour of six o’clock (6:00) a.m. to seven o’clock (7:00) a.m. and no parking prohibition shall initially take effect at any time between seven o’clock (7:00) p.m. and eight o’clock (8:00) a.m. unless the announcement is made during the preceding hour of five o’clock (5:00) p.m. and six o’clock (6:00) p.m. The City Manager shall keep a record of the time and date when each declaration is announced to the public in accordance with this section. None of the times mentioned in this section limit the duration of any parking prohibition and the announcement times indicated do not forbid an announcement from being made at any other time as long as one is also made during the required hour. The notice requirements of this section do not apply to the automatic parking prohibition on posted snow emergency routes as authorized in subsection 3 of this section.

5. Termination of Parking Prohibition. Whenever the City Manager finds that some or all of the conditions which gave rise to a parking prohibition in effect under this section no longer exist, the City Manager may declare the prohibition terminated, in whole or in part, effective immediately upon announcement.

79.12    FIRE LANES. No person shall stop, stand or park any vehicle in any place designated by the Fire Chief, in accordance with the Fire Code, as a fire lane whether such fire lane is upon public or private property. Wherever a fire lane has been designated, the Fire Chief shall cause appropriate signs and markings to be placed identifying such fire lanes and the parking prohibition established by this section.

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