During a recent government meeting, local business owners expressed significant concerns regarding parking availability and its impact on their operations in downtown Caldwell. One business owner highlighted the lack of free parking options, particularly for young employees who may face safety issues when parking far from their workplace during winter evenings.

The owner pointed out that while other areas, such as Indian Creek and behind the movie theaters, offer free three-hour parking, their side of downtown lacks similar provisions. They proposed utilizing an empty lot nearby for free parking to support local businesses and their customers.

The discussion also touched on the financial implications of parking meters, particularly for small businesses. One owner noted that the cost of parking, when combined with the price of a meal, could deter customers from spending more time in their establishments. For instance, a taco priced at $3 could effectively cost a customer $4.35 when factoring in parking fees, which could discourage quick visits.

City officials acknowledged the concerns and mentioned that certain parking passes had been allocated to businesses, but it appeared that not all had received them. The conversation also raised questions about the overall strategy behind parking fees, suggesting that local residents should not bear the burden of parking costs while visitors from outside the community benefit from the downtown area.

The meeting underscored the need for city officials to engage more directly with local businesses to understand their challenges and to consider adjustments to parking policies that could better support the downtown economy.