Residents say that school employees are taking up all the street parking instead of using the staff parking lots provided by the school. Photo courtesy of Muhammad Naufal Subhiansyah from Pixabay

DIXON, CA (MPG) - During the April 1 meeting, Dixon City Council considered an amendment to Village 13 of the Homestead housing development, which is part of the Weyand Ranch tentative map and development plan. 

Village 13 is located at the northeast corner of Homestead Way and Evans Road, and the original approved plan was to develop 58 alley-loaded, single-family lots.

While other areas of the Homestead are growing quickly, however, Village 13 has not seen much interest from developers. The project applicant is requesting modifications to improve Village 13’s marketability by switching from alley-loaded lots to 58 conventional front-loaded, single-family residential lots. 

The amendment would eliminate the alleys and increase the size of each lot. The smallest lots would change from 4,320 square feet to 5,165 square feet and the largest lots would increase from 7,839 square feet to 11,210 square feet. To accommodate the larger residential lots, a reduction in common open space in Village 13 would be needed, from 0.93 acres to 0.89 acres. 

These changes would bring Village 13 more in line with the other Homestead villages. 

“It actually seems like a reasonable request and the new lot sizes are “more common sense,” said Dixon Vice-Mayor Thom Bogue.

Councilmember Kevin Johnson said he is not a fan of the alley style, so “this is an improvement.” He said that this change will increase development interest. 

City Council voted unanimously to approve the Village 13 amendments. 

The council then discussed parking concerns on North 4th Street between East A Street and East C. Street. Many of the homes there have very small driveways or no driveway at all, so residents have to park on the street. However, directly across the street is John Knight Middle School, and residents say that school employees are taking up all the street parking instead of using the staff parking lots provided by the school. 

Dixon City Manager Jim Lindley said that the issue was brought to the school administration, which in turn reminded employees to use the assigned lots, but residents say the problem has continued. 

“This has been an ongoing problem,” said Vice-Mayor Bogue.

Bogue explained that the site used to be the Dixon High School location, prior to its relocation. Parking was a problem then as well, so residential parking signs were installed, which he said was an effective solution. The signs came down when the high school was relocated but there were no parking problems because the site was vacant. The parking issues returned when the middle school was established. Bogue added that there is ample parking available for school staff, noting that he “always sees plenty of open spaces” in the parking lot. 

During public comment, many residents of 4th Street shared their frustrations, explaining that due to school staff taking up the parking along the street, they are unable to park near their homes. This can be even more challenging for those with medical or mobility issues. With such limited parking, it is also difficult to have repairs done on their homes, receive deliveries or have guests visit. They all asked that residential parking be reinstated along the street. 

One school staff member also spoke in support of residential parking, saying that she has urged her co-workers not to park there but they have argued that it is a public street.  

The council consensus was that the city should reinstate the residential parking zone. City Manager Jim Lindley explained that staff have so far been unable to locate any ordinance in the city code that authorized the residential sign removal nor their initial installation. 

Dixon Police Chief Robert Thompson said that without an official ordinance, the police department would have no enforcement abilities. If the council did pass an ordinance, Thompson said, they would need to consider whether parking permits would be issued to residents, if there would be an associated cost or expiration date, what fines and penalties would be imposed and how the parking program would be administered.

“It’s much more complicated than just throwing signs up and saying anyone who lives here is OK. There’s a lot more we have to do on the back end to facilitate this,” said Thompson.

Vice-Mayor Bogue said the issue is the lack of respect for the residents, so it is necessary to get the residential parking zone reinstated. Regardless of cost or complications, Bogue said, “it must be done.” 

Mayor Steven Bird said he understands it will take time for staff to write an ordinance to govern the residential parking and that it will have to come to the council as an action item before going into effect. But in the meantime, Bird suggested temporary signs be put up, even if the signs can’t yet be enforced. 

Councilmember Jim Ernest agreed that temporary signs could make a difference in deterring staff parking and the city can continue to work with the school administration to remind employees about where they should park. 

City Council directed staff to immediately put up temporary residential parking signs while also beginning the process of creating an ordinance.

“We’re working on it, folks. We’ll get there,” said Mayor Bird.

The council also considered amendments to the city’s vehicle code to include bicycles and electric scooters. Police Chief Thompson said there have been “a disturbing number” of bicycle and scooter accidents involving vehicles, some with significant injuries. In these collisions, Chief Thompson said, it has almost always been the fault of the riders, often youth on their way to school, who are not wearing helmets or obeying traffic laws. 

By updating the vehicle code, the police department will be able to enforce the laws and impose fines and penalties, including seizing and impounding bikes and scooters being driven recklessly. Thompson said these measures, along with more public outreach and education about the laws, will help improve safety and reduce the number of juveniles involved in accidents.

Councilmember Johnson also said that a clear policy will help improve safety and City Council voted unanimously to approve the vehicle code amendments. 

The next Dixon City Council meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. April 15.