Mayor's Veto Stops Parking Ban Ordinance

(April 16, 2024)

A city ordinance to ban parking on grass will not take effect.

The ordinance, introduced by Councilmember Ron Hug included a $50 fine for violations and was to be effective in August.

Mayor Jean Stothert vetoed the ordinance, calling it unclear. The City Council did not try to override the veto.

In a letter to Council members Monday, Mayor Stothert said she would consider supporting a revised ordinance that eliminates exceptions and clarifies enforcement.

She wrote, "Ordinance 43768 is unclear about enforcement and portions of it conflict with City Municipal Code, Chapter 55. There must be a standard and specific procedure for enforcement. Will complaints be assigned to Planning Department code inspectors for enforcement of the zoning code as currently required in Chapter 55, or to the Omaha Police Department for criminal citations if included in Chapter 20? Does one section of the code outweigh the other, and who will decide which department responds to complaints?"

The Ordinance, passed last week by a 4-3 Council vote, included exceptions for unregistered vehicles, vehicles parked on gravel driveways, and allowed parking on grass and other non-hard surfaces on city-recognized holidays.

"Vehicles with expired registrations must be included. Storage of unregistered vehicles on grass is as unsightly to neighbors as vehicles with current registrations, and the subject of hundreds of complaints annually. I will not support an ordinance that does not include all vehicles," said Mayor Stothert.

At the Tuesday Council meeting, Hug said, "This ordinance is not dead, it's moving to a new phase. I look forward to working with the Mayor to come up with something that works for everyone."

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