Council introduces ordinance to set 20 mph on Memorial Avenue; adoption set for next meeting

The Washington Common Council introduced Ordinance No. 11-2026 on July 13, an amendment to the city code that would establish Schedule 2 speed limits and set a 20-mph limit on Memorial Avenue between North 10th/21st Street and Eastside Park Road.

A city staff member read the ordinance text by title, explaining the code amendment and the requirement that any signs conform to the Indiana Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices. The reading notes that the street department would install signs upon passage and that posted limits would supersede the general 30-mph rule where signs are present.

Council members and staff discussed how to implement the change, including matching existing postings around the park and deploying portable speed-display devices to inform drivers. One member said the council should run a display-monitoring period of about 60 days so residents could see speeds before enforcement actions begin; the meeting record shows agreement to use visible posting and monitoring rather than immediate ticketing.

The mayor said the ordinance will be on the agenda for adoption at the council’s next meeting; staff were asked to install or prepare signage to match existing park-area limits and to consider a temporary monitoring deployment to track speeds and inform residents.