VIDALIA — Vidalia residents will have a chance in the coming days to tell City Hall how they feel about parking in the streets.

The City of Vidalia mailed out a six-question survey to all residences in the city about the issue, and particularly if an ordinance prohibiting parking in the street should be adopted.

Mayor Hyram Copeland said the issue has been brought to his attention several times recently, and was discussed at the last Vidalia board of aldermen’s meeting.

“We have discussed these issues for many, many years, but it seems like more and more people are parking in the streets,” he said.

“We have had some people complain about cars being parked in the street and creating problems and concern for safety, especially out of concern a child might dart out from behind a car and get hit. We also have concerns if we have to get an ambulance or fire truck down particular streets.”

In addition to asking the name, street address and contact information of respondents, the survey asks:

4How many vehicles do you own?

4How many vehicles are usually parked overnight at your residence?

4Do any vehicles park in or on your street?

4Do these vehicles present a driving hazard, or potential danger to children? If so, please specify the potential problem, and kind of vehicles presenting the problem.

4Do you consider parking in or on the street in residential areas a hazard?

4Should there be an ordinance to prohibit such parking?

Vidalia Public Relations Director Sheri Rabb said the survey questions came in part out of discussions at a recent community planning session.

“Some of these streets are smaller than others, some have sidewalks and curbs, some there are several families that live in one or two houses, so it is a whole different group of problems we wanted to look when thinking about this,” she said.

Rabb said in addition to the mail-outs, the surveys are available on the City of Vidalia’s website at cityofvidaliala.com, on social media at facebook.com/marketingrabb and twitter.com/VidaliaLA.

They’re also available at Vidalia City Hall and will be placed at the Concordia Parish Chamber of Commerce.

Rabb said she would like to receive the surveys back within the next couple of weeks so the results can be presented at the next board of aldermen’s meeting.

Copeland said the city administration does not have a particular model ordinance in mind, but if after discussion the board deems it is necessary, the board will look at similar ordinances other cities have adopted.

“But before that, we need to get the people’s input and their opinion, and after analyzing that decide what to do,” he said. “In some areas it is worse than other areas, and we want to see what their opinions are and what they want in their neighborhoods before we just go and pass an ordinance.”

Digital copies of the surveys can be emailed to cityofvidalia@gmail.com, while physical copies can be dropped off at Vidalia City Hall or mailed to the marketing department, 2003 Billy Deal Lane, Vidalia, LA 71373.