The El Centro City Council approved the first reading of an ordinance on Oct. 21 to prohibit commercial vehicles with more than two axles from using portions of Wake Avenue between Imperial Avenue and Labusheree Avenue.

Council members and staff said the change responds to resident complaints about large vehicles traveling through the neighborhood. The ordinance amendment is intended to improve safety, preserve roadway conditions and enhance quality of life for residents along the corridor, the council said during its recap of Oct. 21 business.

The amendment is to the city code; the council approved the ordinance on first reading and the item "will return to the city council for a second reading and adoption at an upcoming meeting," the recap said. The transcript did not include a motion maker, a second or a recorded vote tally for the first reading.

Residents had raised concerns about large commercial vehicles using Wake Avenue as a cut-through. The council's recap framed the measure as a targeted restriction — limiting use by commercial vehicles with more than two axles on the specified stretch — but provided no technical standards, enforcement procedures or penalties in the meeting recap. Those details are expected to be included in the ordinance text presented at second reading and adoption.

No state statute, specific city code section number or implementing enforcement mechanism was cited in the recap. The council did not provide a timeline for when enforcement would begin after final adoption.