Sumner Council OKs Parking Restrictions in Response to Citizens' Pleas

Train riders and other drivers who've taken advantage of day-long parking available in downtown Sumner will either have to move their cars every three to four hours or find another way starting next week after the Sumner Council passed an ordinance Monday limiting the amount of time vehicles can be parked in certain areas of the city.

According to Community Development Director Paul Rogerson, the changes came at the request of citizens and businesses in these affected areas and are as follows:

1. Two publicly owned parking lots on the south and east sides of The Buttered Biscuit Restaurant. A new 4-hour time limit goes into effect to discourage train riders from using these lots while they are gone for the day, Rogerson said.
2. Stretch of 24th Street East from 142nd Avenue East and continuing east to Stuck River Foot Bridge. The updated ordinance forbids any commercial trucks, trailers or truck-trailer combinations from parking here as nearby residents have had issues with overnight truck parking, Rogerson said.
3. Three parking stalls on the north side of Main Street between Traffic Avenue and North Street. A four-hour parking limit will be in place here as well. Rogerson said train riders have used these stalls, and the limitation supports the nearby Sumner West Building which is underserved by parking availability.

At Councilmember Cindi Hochstatter's questioning, Rogerson said the Sumner Downtown Association originally recommended imposing a six-hour time limit as opposed to four, but the latter option was better for the police department to monitor and enforce. Either way, Rogerson said, staff and employees of local businesses will likely have to move their cars anyway, so there's not too much difference presently between the two options.

Several citizens expressed their concerns over how well these new restrictions will be enforced. Police Chief Brad Moericke said his department issues between 20 to 30 tickets a day with monetary penalties ranging from $25 to $150.

The ordinance passed unanimously and councilmembers acknowledged this was not an ideal solution but one they are willing to try.

Per the ordinance, the new restrictions go into effect July 23.