90-Minute Parking Limit to Remain, for Now, in Downtown Charles City

It’s been a little over two months since new parking restrictions went into effect in downtown Charles City.

The most noted adjustment is the 90-minute parking limit for two blocks of Main Street between Riverside Drive and Kelly Street. During a planning session Wednesday (03.01) night, the City Council heard early feedback on the change and discussed the time limit should be extended. The consensus was that it’s too early to make that decision.

So, for now, Charles City Police Chief Hugh Anderson says they’ll continue enforcing the parking limit as they have been.

Some businesses have suggested doubling the time limit to three hours, but Anderson says that could multiply the problem, too.

Council members also discussed the possibility of raising parking ticket fines, but for the time being, Anderson says the fine is still $15.

The parking changes, which went into effect in late December, also eliminated parking on Main Street between 2 and 6 am, but now allows for parking up to 48 hours in the City parking lots behind downtown businesses. 

City officials say the changes make snow removal easier for the Street Department in the winter.