Suomi Spearheads New Ordiance Banning Parking Along Minnesota Avenue
By Donnelly Clare
City leaders have approved a new parking ordinance along Minnesota Avenue.
Citing heavy congestion and safety concerns during large- scale events, Alderwoman Joanne Soumi asked the Board of Public Works to create a new ordinance to deal with parking problems on Minnesota Avenue between Main and Prais Streets.
Suomi said the traffic for popular functions at Goerke Field and K.B. Willet Arena are simply a ticking clock before a pedestrian or driver is hurt. She said she spoke with several residents along Minnesota between Main and Prais Streets looking for feedback.
“I did get a wide range of, ‘Leave it alone,’ to ‘No parking all the time’, to just temporary no parking during events,” Suomi said told the board during its May meeting. “I think the consensus here is that the city needs to develop a new ordinance for the temporary parking for large community events at Georke.”
The Stevens Point Board of Public Works also sent letters to 19 residents along the street asking for opinions. Public Works Director Scott Schatschenider said only half of those residents responded.
“Of the ten replies we received back three supported no parking permanently, and seven supported no parking but only during the events at Goerke and (K.B.) Willet,” Schtschneider said.
“We came to the consensus that the temporary signage is going to make the most sense in terms of us installing those situationally for events we know are going on either at the ice rink or Georke Field itself, or ancillary track events using the facility as well,” added.
Stevens Point police will be responsible for putting the “no parking” signs up the night before any event so cars legally parked along the street aren’t caught in a situation where they could be towed away the morning of any large event.
The new ordinance was created with the help of officials from public works, the police department and the city’s parks department.