Residents in Whitney Ranch decided to take action regarding the ongoing conflict of students using the streets near campus to park during school hours. They submitted a report to the City of Rocklin July 14 requesting a parking permit program on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

“The Rocklin Police Department, the Rocklin Public Services Department, and the Rocklin Unified School District (RUSD) have been contacted by the residents of these neighborhoods regarding littering, speeding in and out of the neighborhood, vehicles blocking driveways or facing the wrong direction, as well as confrontations between residents and students,” the report says.

Students who parked in these neighborhoods in previous years agree that there have been numerous conflicts with residents concerning parking.

Bailey Eaton posted a photo on Twitter last year of a note from a resident left on her windshield claiming that her vehicle “[took up] enough room for a 20 mule team, two elephants, [etc.].”

The post included another photo of her parked vehicle visibly clearing the resident’s driveway.

The report also states that there are “ample parking stalls and parking permits available on campus.” However, parking permits are not sold to underclassmen and were already sold out for this year by the second week of school.

“I got my license right after the last permits were sold so I got put on the wait list. Now I either have to park in neighborhoods further away and walk from there or get dropped of by my parents,” Alannah Frankel said.

Anyone parking during the restricted hours will be issued a parking citation under the city ordinance.

“No cars have been parking on our street so far this year. Last year, the cars wrapped all they way around to our house and all the way down to the other side [of the block], easily 40 cars per day,” Abilene Circle resident Mrs. Tina Martinez said.

The parking permit program is a trial and is only active this school year to be modified further. More information can be found on the City of Rocklin website here.

by SIERRA YOUNG