HomeMy WebLinkAbout~Master - Reservation of parking spaces at specific polling locations on Election Day RESOLUTION NO. 15-667
RESOLUTION APPROVING RESERVATION OF PARKING SPACES AND WAIVER
OF PARKING METER FEES AT POLLING LOCATIONS ON ELECTION DAY
FOR THE CITY OF AMES
WHEREAS, the Story County Auditor supervises the election process including all 20
polling places within the City of Ames; and,
WHEREAS,two of these city polling locations(Ames Public Library and Collegiate United
Methodist Church)have metered parking that serves as the primary public parking resource for these
locations; and,
WHEREAS, a third, Collegiate Presbyterian Church, has three meter spaces along with
additional private parking; and,
WHEREAS,citizens who use these locations have frequently requested that metered spaces
be available to accommodate voters and that the associated meter fees be waived on election day;
and,
WHEREAS, the other 17 locations in the city have private parking associated with the
facility or,in the case of Iowa State University,already allocate parking for poll workers and voters;
and,
WHEREAS,while there is no statutory requirement to provide parking, some citizens who
have raised the issue have noted that meter fees may serve as a potential barrier to voting; and,
WHEREAS, others have referred to the principle of removing barriers to voting in their
comments,noting that the City has waived parking fees for commercial events in the downtown area;
and,
WHEREAS, after a review of parking options at each site, it appears that 20 spaces on
Douglas Avenue (for the Public Library site)would provide a great deal of convenient, short-term
parking,and here are additional spaces on Fifth Street(11 spaces)and in Lot Q(62 spaces)for a total
of 93 spaces available in the area; and,
WHEREAS,at Collegiate United,there are nine spaces on Lincoln Way that are adjacent to
the church, and at Collegiate Presbyterian, there are three spaces on West Street; and,
WHEREAS, reservation of parking spaces for these polling locations should be viewed as
a one-year experiment,thereby allowing staff an opportunity to review the impact on the surrounding
areas.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Ames, Iowa,
that election day-related parking of up to 20 meter spaces near the Ames Public Library,up to nine
spaces at Collegiate United Methodist Church, and up to three spaces at Collegiate Presbyterian
Church is hereby approved;and,authorization by the Traffic Engineer to determine the final number
of parking spaces allocated to these three election polling locations is hereby further approved along
with the City Council approval of the waiver of meter fees for the spaces.
ADOPTED THIS 27`h day of October, 2015.
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Dianc R. Voss, City Clerk Ann H. Campbell, Mayor
Introduced by: Goodman
Seconded by: Corrieri
Voting aye: Betcher, Corrieri, Gartin, Goodman,Nelson, Orazem
Voting nay: None Absent: None
Resolution declared adopted and signed by the Mayor this 27th day of October, 2015.