The city of Cedar Springs adopted an ordinance last week that will allow city residents to park overnight in specific public lots from November 1 to April 1.
The council discussed whether to allow parking in one, two or three lots. The initial discussion centered on the old community building parking lot at the corner of Ash and Second Street. Councilor Raymond Huckleberry said he’d like to see a public lot on each side of Main Street, possibly the lot behind the Kent, across from the Post Office.
Councilor Neil Gomez suggested opening one on each side of Main Street instead of opening three. Mayor Charlie Watson said he felt the taxpayers own the lots and didn’t see why it would hurt to open all three.
Mayor Pro Tem Christine Fahl mentioned that there would be extra cost in signage and work for the DPW with a third lot.
The council voted to open the lots at Ash and Second and at Cherry and First (across from US Post office) for overnight parking, and possibly add a third lot later if needed.
Parking signs in the lots would specify which side or spaces cars would need to park in to comply with rules on snow removal, and drivers would be ticketed if they did not comply. “I’m 100 percent behind enforcement of tickets for people who don’t follow the rules,” said Watson.