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Downtown business owners urge Roseburg council to end ACE parking contract
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Summary
Dozens of downtown business owners and residents told the Roseburg City Council they want the ACE Parking contract canceled, saying enforcement is punitive, inconsistent and discourages customers; council members said staff will provide contract details and enforcement options before further action.
Dozens of downtown business owners and customers told the Roseburg City Council during public comment on Jan. 27 that the city should cancel its contract with ACE Parking, saying the company’s enforcement is harming small businesses and discouraging people from visiting downtown.
The speakers urged the council to consider alternatives to the private enforcement contract and to improve communication with downtown businesses. “Anytime that you share anything about happenings downtown, there’s always a lot of backlash, and it always ends up being surrounded by parking and ACE and the tickets,” said Jill Fay, a downtown business owner. “We’re trying so hard to come together as neighbors downtown … and it’s a shame that people would rather go to Marshalls or Walmart because they don’t have to worry about the parking situation.”
Why it matters: Commenters said aggressive enforcement and inconsistent time limits are deterring customers from visiting downtown businesses and that some small, newer businesses could close if parking costs rise. Several speakers recommended the city consider an in‑house enforcement program, pointing to other Oregon cities that use police or city parking officers instead of private contractors.
Speakers recounted examples of customers receiving tickets for being a few minutes late or for being slightly misaligned in a parking space. “It’s discouraging,” said Sarah Moore of Bliss Salon. Lachlan McKinnon, owner of MaxTrax Model Railroading, said adding about $50 a month in parking costs could force him to reconsider keeping his shop open.
Council and staff response: Council members said they have heard concerns from downtown business owners and are seeking clearer documentation of the contract terms and termination options. City staff said the ACE contract had been extended recently for a multi‑year period, but noted that city contracts include termination language. “We have termination clauses in all of our contracts. It’s either 10 days or 30 days,” a city staff member said in response to a council question (the transcript did not specify exact contract language or which clause applies to this contract). Councilors also discussed convening additional meetings or a work session with staff and downtown stakeholders.
Next steps and uncertainties: Council members and staff agreed to provide more information to the council and the public about the contract terms, the city’s options for termination, and possible replacement approaches. Several councilors encouraged downtown business leaders to organize and present a concrete alternative plan for enforcement and parking management.
Ending: No formal council action on the ACE contract was recorded at the Jan. 27 meeting. Council members asked staff to return with contract details, termination language and an outline of possible alternatives for further council consideration.
