by Cori Hilsgen
St. Joseph Police Chief Pete Jansky wants to remind people his department will begin enforcing the new parking-pad ordinance beginning June 1.
Ordinance 52.10-7 was determined last year, but Jansky said the department wanted to give city residents some time to save money to bring their parking pads up to code.
The ordinance, which applies to all city residents, does not allow parking of vehicles on the grass in front or side yards. Parking pads are allowed in the front yard if they are made part of or are adjacent to the existing driveway. Parking pads are allowed on side yards but cannot be located in easement areas.
Jansky said the ordinance states the parking pads need to be a durable and dust-free surface consisting of concrete, asphalt, pavers or similar materials. Class 5 material is not an accepted material.
The ordinance helps clarify what the definition of a parking pad is.
“Your definition of a parking pad and my definition of a parking pad may be two completely different things, but meaning the same thing,” Jansky said. “Zoning folks, along with the city council, came up with a definition last year as to what a parking pad was, what it could be made from and where it could be put.”
Jansky said living in a city involves meeting expectations.
“When you live in the city there is an expectation to keep things up and to keep things nice,” Jansky said. “I guess that’s a decision you make when you move into the city.”
Officer Joel Klein, who will become the new police chief in August, said the department will be consistent with enforcing the ordinance.
“It’s our job to do and we just need to do our job and do it across the board,” Klein said.
Judy Weyrens, city administrator, said the police department will identify the areas that need to be brought up to compliance and those residents will be notified by mail.
“I don’t know how many parking pads are out there that need to be brought into compliance, but we have tried to let people know there is an expectation for them to become compliant,” Weyrens said.
