By Sam Parsons

The Oskaloosa City Council held a regular meeting last night and approved a resolution amending their Complete Streets Policy.

The amendment changes the name of the policy to the Complete Streets and Sidewalks Policy and changes the department managing it from the Development Services Department to the Public Works Department. Additionally, it updates the list of exceptions to the policy to include projects that cannot be shown to have a current or future connection to an existing sidewalk, trail, or other pedestrian feature within one mile, as well as a reduction of design consideration to only a single side of the street for sidewalks on dead end roads. The amendment also originally included an appeal process in the list of exceptions, but that item was stricken from the policy by the council. The amended version was approved in a 4-2 vote, with council members Ronda Almond and Lisa Ossian voting “no.”

The next regular meeting for the Oskaloosa City Council is scheduled for October 6.