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Residents raise Old Town accessibility and safety concerns after weekend events
Summary
Public commenters told council that some Old Town events and temporary street setups impede ADA circulation, block fire exits and narrow pedestrian pathways; commenters asked the city to coordinate cross-departmental enforcement and event permitting.
Several members of the public used the evening’s public‑comment period to urge the city to improve accessibility and safety during Old Town events and for permanent sidewalks and parklets.
David Finch, a resident who uses a wheelchair, said temporary fences, sandwich-board signs and some parklets impede accessible circulation and sometimes block business entrances during busy events. Finch described situations where clustered crowd-control fencing around alcohol‑service areas created narrow passages and limited access to establishments; he asked staff to coordinate across departments to ensure Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) access and emergency egress during events.
Another public speaker said some longstanding encroachments (including a blocked fire-escape ramp) have not been fully addressed through prior enforcement and urged clearer interdepartmental follow-up. Council and staff acknowledged the issues and said staff would meet with business operators and event organizers to review permits, circulation and emergency access standards.
Council asked staff to follow up and report on existing permitting procedures for events, enforcement of sidewalk and accessibility requirements, and options to ensure consistent ADA access during recurring events such as Second Saturdays.
