OTTUMWA — Will parking in your front yard join the city’s list of nuisances?

Possibly. The Ottumwa City Council is studying a draft copy of the city’s nuisance code. Health Director Jody Gates presented the draft and its changes at this week’s council meeting.

“Parking in yards is a regular complaint,” Gates said. “I didn’t include it in the proposed ordinance. The city council needs to tell me if they want it.”

Gates noted a number of residences don’t have driveways or the driveways aren’t big enough for more than one vehicle. Other places have hilly terrain or “maybe there’s no rock,” she added.

“We’re seeing this more and more,” Councilman Bob Meyers said.

Mayor Dale Uehling said he has received complaints about parking on the lawn.

“I’m concerned, too, and we have debated this,” Gates said. “In some cases there’s a financial investment to create parking.”

Councilman Keith Caviness wondered if the police could enforce no parking in yards.

Police Chief Jim Clark said “one part only.”

“Parking across sidewalks is illegal but there’s no ordinance for anything else,” he said. “If you would include [parking in yards] as a parking violation, it’s easier to enforce and Jody wouldn’t have to do the abatement process.”

Clark also said there are houses with no parking or restricted parking. If the council decides to require driveways or other specified parking spots, will they require gravel or asphalt?

“We need to work on this,” Councilman Gordon Aistrope said.

Meyers said the council should consider enforcing something “if people don’t like” seeing parked cars on lawns.

Aistrope said the council’s goal-setting session included cleaning up the city and making corrections in housing.

“We don’t want to be punitive, we want to get what the city needs,” Gates said.