Committee approves Stark Brewery use of 19 Arms Lot spaces for outdoor seating

The Committee on Public Safety, Health and Traffic approved a request from Stark Brewery to use 19 parking spaces in the Arms Lot for outdoor seating. The committee voted to approve the request by voice vote; no roll-call tally was recorded in the transcript.

Committee members said enforcement and signage would require additional expense and that the city would not commit to continuous enforcement or towing to police daytime use. Committee members asked that Stark Brewery representatives and city staff coordinate details, and the motion was seconded with the understanding the parties would try to resolve outstanding operational and cost questions before the committee revisits the item if necessary.

The communication initiating the item came from Chris Goodnow, identified in the record as parking manager, requesting use of a portion of the Arms Lot that consists of 19 parking spaces. Committee members and staff discussed how the area had been managed in previous years — including placement of Jersey barriers to prevent parking — and whether the lot should be treated as designated daytime parking for building staff or be restricted for brewery events.

Committee members raised several implementation questions: whether the city would tow vehicles that overstayed posted limits, whether signage and barricades would be paid for by the city or the business, and how to enforce daytime-only parking without dedicating city manpower. The transcript records a past fee reference of $12.60 (context not fully specified) and a director’s remark that a figure of $7,315 was associated with “those 9 spaces,” though how that number was calculated or whether it applied to the full 19 spaces was not specified in the discussion.

A committee member noted the brewery’s timeline is tight, with an anticipated start date referenced as April 15; members agreed that approving the request that night would allow the applicant to move forward while leaving open the possibility of returning to the committee if enforcement problems occur. The committee approved the motion; the chair called for the ayes, and the motion carried by voice vote.

The committee did not adopt specifics for signage, enforcement protocols, or a final charge for use of the spaces; members indicated those details would be resolved between Stark Brewery representatives and city staff, with the understanding that any city expenses would be considered if the city were asked to provide enforcement or equipment.