Drivers who occasionally park in the center lane of downtown Manitou Springs to grab a cup a coffee or ice cream cone, may want to think twice about doing that.

Manitou Springs City Council approved an ordinance Tuesday, on first reading, establishing that permits are required for center lane parking, allowing it for delivery vehicles only. Commercial delivery vehicles such as UPS trucks won’t be required to have the permits, according to City Planner Dan Folke, who presented the ordinance to Council.

However, all vehicles will be required to have blinkers on and be in the center land for no more than 15 minutes, if possible. Business owners can purchase up to three private delivery permits for $3 apiece. The permits will be stickers placed inside the windshield of vehicles, Folke said.

“The reason for the center lane is because (the city) doesn’t have alleys,” Councilwoman Donna Ford said. “Fifteen minutes sometimes works and sometimes doesn’t for businesses.”

The 15-minute time limit was the only concern among members of Council, which felt some deliveries could take longer than that. Folke said parking enforcement officers would be educating delivery drivers on the new policy and would be lenient at first. The major goal is to detract non-delivery vehicles from using the lane.

Enforcement officers are going to crack down on center lane abusers, Folke added.

“This was aimed for the outright abuse,” Councilman Matt Carpenter said.

Commissioner gives update on Rainbow Falls, No Man’s Land

El Paso County Commissioner Sallie Clark informed Council that even though there’s a constant battle with graffiti, the Rainbow Falls area is seeing some improvements.

The overlook trail at the area has been restored and new picnic tables have been added to the area, as part of the county’s efforts to make the spot a recreational area again. Clark said the county is in contact with the Colorado Department of Transportation to try and have signage installed to direct drivers on Highway 24 to the scenic area.

The county is also installing security cameras in the area to try and deter graffiti. Clark said the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office and the Manitou Springs Police Department are partnering to handle security issues at the site.

“We’re trying to change the culture of destructive graffiti,” Clark said.

As for No Man’s Land, besides coming up with a new and positive name for the area, Clark said the county plans to make use of a $300,000 grant from the state to start conducting a study of the area.

“This is one of the important projects I think we need to champion,” Clark said.

County engineer Andre Bracken, who oversees road and bridge maintenance, said the goal of the 10-month study is to gain a consensus of how the project could best serve the community.

“It’s not going to be left up to planners and engineers,” he said.

County public information specialist Lisa Bachman added that “walkabouts” are being conducted, and those involved with the project are meeting with business owners along the corridor to gather their input. One-on-one interviews are played with folks who have a stake in the project, she said. A series of roundtable meetings will follow, as well as public open house to discuss those findings.

The county will soon have a website dedicated to the project up and will send out electronic newsletters about the project and promote it on social media as well, according to Bachman.

In other business, Council …

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