Though drivers might see a few more "no parking" signs across town, the city of Fulton would do relatively little to its parking policy if it adopted proposed changes.
City Engineer Greg Hayes presented the Fulton City Council with a proposed updated parking code Tuesday that had been approved by the city's Traffic Commission. The majority of the changes are minor updates to a section of ordinances overdue for revision, including placing signage on previously-unmarked areas that were technically already designated no parking.
"We just want to update them to reflect reality," said Hayes, who is on the commission along with Fulton Chief of Police Steve Myers and Traffic Control Supervisor Jason Woods. "We were constantly refining downtown (parking). Back in the day there used to be meters downtown on Court Street, then we got rid of those, but people were complaining cars were parked in their space for too long.
"Then there was a two-hour limit, and the Brick District got involved and said you couldn't enjoy your dinner and your shopping experience in two hours. ... It got to a point where I'd go to the code to look for something, and there was too much (to go through) to find it."
For updates to signage or curb striping to indicate an area is a no-parking zone, Hayes said most unmarked areas were not commonly used or obvious "common-sense" roads unfit for parking.
Others, such as each side of Nichols Street between Third and Fourth streets, might take more getting used to, but Hayes said it would still not interfere with residents and patrons downtown.
"We're not taking away any existing spots," Hayes said.