BREA

An old city code, long forgotten since its adoption in 1961, forced the City Council to take quick action Tuesday when it realized the Birch Street Promenade loading zone--set up by the city--was illegal. Traffic Engineer Warren Siecke told the council that the code prohibited the city from designating more than half the length of a curb as a loading zone.

Business owners on the north side of the Promenade have complained that their customers get ticketed when they park in the loading zone in front of their business to get a quick coffee or bite to eat. To address the problem, the council voted to add perpendicular parking spaces to Madrona Avenue and to abolish the loading zone law.