Committee approves one‑year lease for off‑street lot to add about 64 employee parking spaces

The Facilities and Infrastructure Committee approved a resolution authorizing a parking‑lot lease with WT and CE Pritchard to add roughly 64 parking spaces for county employees while downtown construction displaces existing spots. Facilities staff briefed the committee that the leased lot will provide "an opportunity to add additional 64 parking lot to the number of spaces that we have," and that the lot will be available to employees from every department rather than being allocated to specific staff. Staff said striping and some site markings remain to be done and that facilities and highway crews will assist. Legislator Randy Brown moved the resolution (ID 13553); Legislator Mike Lane seconded. Committee chair called the question and the motion carried. No roll‑call vote was recorded in the meeting minutes excerpt. Committee discussion focused on cost and duration. Legislators noted earlier budget authorization for temporary parking of up to $50,000 and asked about the current estimated cost; staff said prior assumptions were based on usage of a different Cayuga Street lot and that net annual cost estimates have been revised. "The actual annual cost was around about 100 and change," staff said, adding that the facilities budget incorporates the lease cost for 2026. Randy Brown asked whether the leased lot would be considered an employee benefit once assigned passes; staff and Norma, county administration, confirmed would be treated as a benefit when tied to an individual parking assignment. Several committee members stressed that the lot may be temporary during downtown deconstruction and that downtown facilities discussions will continue as plans for the center of government evolve. Ending The committee approved the one‑year lease; staff were asked to coordinate striping and to include the lease costs in the 2026 budget and broader downtown parking allocation work.