Aldermen amend Union Street parking proposal, then table it after residents and businesses debate 4-hour limit

A measure to add time-limited parking near downtown Pacific drew extended public comment and aldermanic debate on March 18, resulting in an amended ordinance specifying four-hour parking on the north side of Union Street from Columbus Street east to the alley — and a decision to table the item until the Board of Aldermen meeting on June 17.

The item originated in a petition from downtown businesses and nonprofit service providers seeking dedicated short-term curbside spaces so clients and customers would not have to walk multiple blocks. Tim Gribb, representing the petitioners, told the board the group seeks a modest number of dedicated spots so customers and clients — some with limited mobility — can access nearby services and businesses. “We’re not asking for much,” Gribb said during public participation, “we’re just asking for a few spots…so we can provide our services to folks.”

Aldermen amended the draft ordinance on the floor after discussion to limit the change to the north side of Union Street between Columbus and the alley, a change that passed 6–0. After further public comment from nearby residents and business owners, who said the street is public parking and that parties were already working cooperatively, an alderman moved to table the amended ordinance. The motion to table carried 4–2 and the board set a return date of June 17 to revisit the issue.

At the meeting aldermen and public speakers raised enforcement and fairness questions: how the four-hour limit would be policed (officers would need to mark or otherwise document vehicles and return to verify violation time), whether making on-street parking time-limited would displace other users, and whether the city had notified all affected stakeholders before proposing a change. Public commenters said some business vehicles and service fleets regularly use the curb, and one speaker described a previous enforcement incident that left a large sticker on his vehicle’s window.

City staff and the city attorney noted the ordinance language originally covered both sides of Union Street; the board approved an amendment to restrict it to the north side before voting to table. The board asked staff to monitor whether the informal cooperation among neighbors and businesses reduces the parking conflicts and to return the ordinance as scheduled in June if problems persist.

No final ordinance was adopted at the March 18 meeting; the item was tabled to the June 17 board meeting for further review.