A proliferation of “phantom” residential handicapped parking signs in Davenport has aldermen considering charging a one-time $40 installation fee and a two-year renewal policy for residents with the special parking privilege.

The new regulation was proposed by 5th Ward Alderman Bill Lynn, who said neighbors throughout his ward have complained about handicapped parking spots that no one uses at all, once belonged to a handicapped person but have now been “inherited” by an able-bodied resident and some in front of homes where no one

drives.

“We did spot checks, and we’re finding a tremendous amount of people without handicap stickers on their cars are parking in these spots, no one is parking there or the resident has no car,” Lynn said. “The idea is the (installation fee and renewal requirement) may deter people who aren’t really serious about needing this.”

Gary Statz, a city traffic engineer, said more than 900 residential parking signs are scattered throughout Davenport.

The city’s current policy allows anyone with a state handicapped parking sticker or license plate to come to Davenport City Hall, request a sign and have it erected by the city. The city has not had a policy to inventory or check to see if the property the sign is placed in front of continues to be inhabited by a disabled person.

“One of the problems we’re finding is people are getting these not so much to get a spot, but to control the parking in front of their house,” Lynn said.

Statz said the $40 fee will be waived for low-income disabled residents. Anyone who qualifies for free recycling — typically households with less than $18,000 in annual income — will be exempt. In addition, there will be no fee for renewal. Applicants will still need to issue proof of disability.

Statz pointed out that the cost of the program to the city is much greater than $40.

“That will cover the material cost of the sign, but not the labor for the install,” he said.

Two aldermen — Ray Ambrose in the 4th Ward and Jeff Justin in the 6th Ward — raised concerns about increasing fees on a vulnerable population.

“I think it’s wrong to pass a new fee and regulate the handicapped,” Ambrose said. “I can’t support this.”

Lynn said he sympathizes, but points out that other cities in Iowa already have policies in place with much higher fees. Earlier this year, he said, Cedar Rapids was contemplating a $200 fee to get its residential handicapped parking under control.

“The problem is, we don’t have a policy, and we have to have a policy,” he said.

The issue will be on the discussion agenda at next week’s regular council meeting at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday at City Hall.