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Council committee waives hourly fees at JCPenney ramp during Foundry construction and allows permit-holder refunds
Summary
The committee approved temporarily suspending hourly parking fees at the JCPenney ramp for the first three phases of the Foundry project (April 14–July 3, 2025) and amended the resolution to permit permit-holders to apply for refunds for that period.
The finance committee approved a temporary suspension of hourly parking fees at the city-owned JCPenney parking ramp (Ramp 3) for phases 1–3 of the Foundry project, a period the city engineer estimated as April 14 through July 3, 2025.
Callie Wilk, executive director of the Wausau River District (Wausau's Main Street program and the business improvement district), requested the waiver to ease downtown access during major underground utility work and complete-street reconstruction on Washington Street and Third Street. Wilk said the ramp is close to the construction zone and underutilized since the Wausau Center Mall demolition, and free hourly parking would make it easier for shoppers to access downtown businesses during the construction.
Committee members discussed fairness to annual/monthly permit holders and operational details. Staff said hourly parkers use pay stations; staff proposed covering or "hooding" the pay station so hourly customers would not pay, while permit holders would retain their paid status. Enforcement staff can distinguish permit holders for overnight/long‑term enforcement. Staff estimated about 50 permits sold directly by city hall; passport-sold permit counts were not specified.
Alder McElhinney moved an amendment to the resolution to create a process for permit holders to apply for refunds for the free-parking period; Alder Tierney seconded and the amendment carried by voice vote. The resolution as amended (suspending hourly fees for April 14–July 3, 2025, and allowing permit-holder refund applications after construction) was then moved by Alder McElhinney, seconded by Alder Tierney, and carried on a voice vote.
City staff said enforcement and permit-accounting changes may be administratively burdensome within the Passport parking system and proposed an online refund form to process refunds after the construction period. Staff also noted the free ramp parking could be unlimited daily during the hooded-pay-station period; the committee acknowledged the possibility and discussed monitoring overnight parking.
