Years-long debate over potential Minneapolis truck parking ban continues

A proposed Minneapolis truck parking ban is heading back to committee for debate yet again, prolonging an already years-long debate over what exactly the oh-so-crucial rigs are supposed to do when delivering to the city. 

The proposed ordinance would ban trucks from parking along city streets overnight, but trucking professionals say that this just isn’t feasible if the city wants to continue to receive supplies via truck, so the ordinance is heading back to a committee for further debate and discussion. 

The ordinance was already technically passed back in late June, but the decision was met with so much pushback that the Minneapolis City Council is hoping the committee will find a different solution fit for truckers’ and residents’ needs. 

“Parking for trucking is very tight in the city,” said John Hausladen, president of the Minnesota Trucking Association, to ABC 5.

“It makes perfect sense that it goes back to the committee for another swing at this to come up with real solutions for this problem,” he continued. 

“They have to have somewhere to park,” he added, pointing out that while he understands that parked trucks can clog up the streets in front of city businesses, it’s a necessary evil so to speak. 

“It makes perfect sense that it goes back to the committee for another swing at this to come up with real solutions for this problem.”

During the revisit, the committee plans to bring in staff at Community Planning & Economic Development to help determine specific spots suitable for truck parking. 

“My constituents have been waiting years to get this problem resolved,” Council Member Cam Gordon said.

“This is a real issue and we have to deal with it,” Council Vice President Andrea Jenkins said.

“If everyone bans parking for trucks but they still expect goods and services to be shipped to our city, it becomes impractical to do so because you can’t park within two hours of the city. That is going to have significant economic development impacts,” Council Member Steve Fletcher said.

“We feel the city needs to be an active player in coming up with solutions,” Hausladen said.

“This is a real issue and we have to deal with it,” Council Vice President Andrea Jenkins said.

“If trucks are in the business of doing commerce and serving the city, they need to have a safe space to park,” Hausladen said.

The committee meeting and discussion will be held on July 14th.