The Des Moines City Council temporarily overturned recent limitations on parking availability on 27th Street at its meeting Monday night. The decision came after students and council members expressed frustration with the policy’s implementation.

Last Wednesday, a parking policy went into effect that banned students from parking on the east side of 27th Street between Carpenter Avenue and Forest Avenue. The city’s Traffic Safety Committee passed the ban last week, upon Drake University’s request. University administration cited concerns over pedestrian safety and logistical difficulties for snowplows in the winter.

Students were informed of the changes through a campuswide e-mail and a notice posted on BlueView last Tuesday, one day before the ban went into effect. No signs were posted on 27th Street until Tuesday afternoon.

Bridgette Huntley (L2), a Drake Law School student, spoke out against the new policy at the council meeting. She filed a petition against the ban, which she said had over 300 signatures.

“There was no adequate notice of the ban and Drake hasn’t offered alternative parking to students,” Huntley said.

Jolene Schmidt, director of operations and support services at Drake University, provided maps at the council meeting that displayed parking alternatives provided by the university. She reiterated Drake’s concern about the limited access for garbage trucks, emergency vehicles and snowplows under past policy.

Schmidt said that she understood students’ frustration with limited parking on campus and with the prices for parking passes.

“I understand issues with the price of parking, but if you look at our prices compared to peer institutions we’re right in the middle,” Schmidt said.

Council members were disappointed in how Drake implemented the ban.

Christine Hensley of Ward III said that Drake’s notification to students made it appear that the council had ordered the ban, rather than issuing it as Drake’s request. This was the first time the council had read the ban.

The council decided to withdraw the ban and rescind all tickets issued by police, until the matter is discussed again in two weeks.

“We didn’t expect this to be controversial,” City Manager Rick Clark said.

Director of facility services Mark Chambers said that he felt Drake had followed the appropriate protocol.

“I was surprised at the city’s attitude,” according to their rules.”

Chambers confirmed that the ban was requested due to safety concerns. He said that in the last three winters there have been six accidents, seven hit-and-runs and one major injury due to ice on 27th Street.

Chambers added that although overnight parking is allowed on 27th Street, 24-hour parking isn’t.

“This is something we’ve talked about for years,” Chambers said. “With the additional parking Drake has put in over the last few years, it seemed like the right time.”

One of Huntley and the council’s main contentions with the ban was that students were given such short notice of the changes.

“The city gave us short notice, too,” Chambers said. “27th is a city street. The city puts in new signs all the time and they don’t notify people. You’re just expected to abide by the new signs.”

Chambers said the criticism of the decision was undeserved.

“We’re committed to improving safety on campus, and this was just another measure to do that,” Chambers said.