No action was taken last week by the Fayette city council with regard to a proposed ordinance to ban college parking along North Church Street in front of the Central Methodist University campus.

The controversial move was discussed during the council’s regular meeting held on Tuesday, June 27, after it was brought up at the council’s previous meeting on June 13. Several visitors spoke before the Board of Aldermen about the ordinance on Tuesday. Of the eight people who addressed the council about this matter, six spoke against a parking ban and favored Central’s plan to widen the sidewalk and eventually to widen the roadway alongside the campus to allow for safer parking. The project will result in the removal of a dozen trees.

Central originally asked the city for a letter of support to augment a Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) grant application through the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT). If awarded, the grant could pay for up to a half-million dollars of the cost to improve the sidewalks along the western border of the campus. Complaints arose when it was revealed that up to 18 trees would have to be removed to widen the sidewalks. The city took no action in the college’s request, thereby denying the letter of support.

Central’s ultimate plan is to also widen the section of Church Street that borders the campus in order to allow cars to park more safely. Street improvements would not be included in the portion of the project to widen the sidewalk for which the TAP grant is being sought because they are not covered under the grant.

Currently, cars are parked on the edge of the road and over the curb, causing large ruts in the grass between the street and the sidewalk. Open car doors jut into the driving lane, creating traffic hazards.

The move to ban parking in front of the Central Methodist campus, except for those parking along North Church Street for church events, was brought up at the council’s previous meeting on June 13. Northwest Ward Alderwoman Michelle Ishmael attempted to make a motion to push through a parking ban, but the action was halted by Mayor Jeremy Dawson, who suggested discussion take place at future meetings.

The move was seen by many as retaliation against the university for its plan to cut down several trees—now pared down to 12—between the sidewalk and street. Eleven of those trees will be removed regardless of sidewalks or roadway improvements because they are either dead or dying, too close to power lines, or damaging sidewalks.

Fayette resident Cathy Thogmorton, whose family is long associated with the university, spoke against the plan and told the council that if Central cuts down trees, she would halt further donations.

During Tuesday’s council meeting, CMU President Roger Drake told members that accessible parking along North Church Street is vital for the faculty and staff of the university. He also pledged to plant back as many trees as are cut down.

“Safety for our faculty, staff, and students is important,” Drake said. “Reasonable access to satisfactory parking with acceptable walking distance is also extremely important. We must have the ability to continue to park along Church Street. There is no working alternative. That decision was made a long time ago when our stunning campus was designed. But we must create a safer parking arrangement along Church Street. The university believes in this project so much that we are dedicating our funds to correct the situation so that it can be safer and more beautiful.”

The university plans to pay to widen that portion of Church Street sometime in 2024 when MoDOT overlays Highway 240 through Howard County. MoDOT has not announced when in 2024 the work will take place.

“I have an ask to make of the council,” Drake said. “Please don’t harm our faculty and staff by removing the only reasonable parking option. Please don’t damage the cooperative relationship between the city and the university. Instead, give us time to create a visual model of what we intend Church Street to become.”

Rev. Bill O’Neal, minister at Linn Memorial Methodist Church, which is a part of the CMU campus along North Church Street, addressed the proposal to ban parking except for Sundays.

“We’re becoming a church where every day is a Sunday,” he said.

The church offers worship services and other meetings throughout the week, he explained.

“It is really getting difficult to lead a church these days,” Rev. O’Neal continued. “It doesn’t take much for folks not to come. If they have to park a half a mile away, that’s really going to put a huge burden on us.”

Rev. O’Neal is also employed by the Central Methodist University advancement office. 

Other speakers asked the council to at least table a decision about banning parking on North Church Street to a later meeting so that more information could be brought forward. Former councilman Grafton Cook spoke on behalf of Fayette’s downtown CID board, which is funding traffic studies in Fayette. (See related story on Front Page).

During the council’s discussion, East Ward Alderwoman Stephanie Ford said she had no intention to make a decision that night but wanted to see further information from traffic studies and more public comments.

Alderwoman Ishmael said she in no way would ever discriminate against anyone, let alone her CMU family or others in the community. “I took an oath to listen to my folks in my ward and to bring it back what has been said.”

She suggested there needs to be a “hard reset” on the discussion in order to move forward.

Southwest Ward Alderwoman Bekki Galloway, who attended the meeting remotely via speaker phone, said she thinks the proposal was rolled out too soon and looks forward to a visual plan from CMU for parking and the sidewalk.

“I’m really excited about having a clear visual. I think having had that from the beginning would have helped a great deal,” she said. “I’m not hearing a whole lot of people really wanting the parking to go away. So, in my mind, the discussion of an ordinance…I just don’t remember anyone saying that last meeting. Maybe it was implied.”

Southwest Ward Alderwoman Marsha Broadus said she also didn’t recall the intent to vote on the matter. However, she was absent from the previous meeting.

The matter on Tuesday’s agenda was listed as follows under new business: “DISCUSSION AND/OR APPROVAL OF NO PARKING ON CHURCH STREET IN FRONT OF CMU.”

During board member comments at the end of the open session portion of the previous meeting held on June 13, Alderwoman Ford brought up the idea of banning parking along Church Street. “I think we really need to think about making Church Street no parking. I mean, maybe it’ll stir up some crap doing that. But I think we need to talk about it,” she stated.

Northwest Ward Alderwoman Michelle Ishmael immediately asked, “What can we do to move that forward?” Moments later, she asked, “Can I make a motion?”

(The Advertiser maintains audio recordings of all meetings covered for the sake of accuracy and recollection.)

For the time being, no changes have been made to the parking ordinance along North Church Street. The matter is expected to be further addressed in future meetings.

The Board of Aldermen meets regularly at 6 p.m. on the second and fourth Tuesdays of every month in City Hall. Meetings are open, agendas are posted, and the public is invited.