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Downtown business owners urge action on parking, SDC fees and sidewalk problems
Summary
Business owners and property owners told council that downtown construction and planning choices have created parking shortages, drainage and tripping hazards and uncertainty about possible reinstatement of System Development Charges (SDCs); council directed staff to schedule further discussion and follow-up.
Several downtown business owners and a property owner told the council they are concerned about parking loss, potential re-imposition of System Development Charges (SDCs) and sidewalk and drainage problems following recent downtown construction.
The nut graf: Business owners said a post-construction parking survey had low participation and likely mis-timed collection, that losing several parking spaces has strained customer access, and that infrastructure work at Third and Ida created a ponding and trip-hazard problem that needs follow-up from public works.
Mike Schultz, a downtown property owner, described drainage and curb height problems in front of 240 East Ida and said sidewalk changes created a tripping hazard that required adjusting sidewalk elevations. He said the curb was unusually high and that making the section ADA-accessible produced a configuration with two levels and a lip. Public works staff acknowledged awareness of the ponding and said they will work with Canyon Construction on a fix as soon as weather permits; staff also said they will inspect the trip hazard and look for mitigation options.
Retailer Adam Culverton, of Homegrown Reminis, criticized the timing and turnout of a downtown parking survey and asked the city to consider short-term curb parking (15- to 30-minute spots) near businesses that provide curbside pickup and serve an older clientele. Culverton said downtown had lost about 32 parking spaces after curb and sidewalk work and that the business community would benefit from targeted short-term parking.
Councilors responded by directing staff to place downtown parking on a future agenda or work session, to consider repeating or clarifying the survey to target downtown businesses, and to include downtown merchants in the discussion. Public works was asked to evaluate the reported ponding at Third and Ida and potential tripping hazards and to follow up with Mr. Schultz.
Ending: Council said it will prepare a resolution or staff recommendation based on survey results for future action and encouraged downtown businesses to participate in follow-up outreach.
