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Colfax residents and council debate temporary downtown seating pilot and parking trade-offs
Summary
Public commenters and council members discussed a temporary downtown public seating installation that occupies eight on-street parking spaces. Business owners raised concerns about lost parking; city staff said the seating is movable, the city manager can adjust placement, and four staff vehicles were relocated to free curb spaces.
A temporary downtown seating area that occupies several curb parking spaces drew questions from residents and business owners during public comment at the Colfax City Council meeting.
Several speakers said eight parking spaces were removed to create the seating footprint and expressed concern about access for older customers and downtown businesses. One business owner, identified during the meeting as Randy, said the graffiti spree downtown had already affected his business and said he did not want political messages posted on his storefront. "It was not appropriate. It was not okay," Randy said of the tagging and called it vandalism.
Council members and staff responded that the seating area is public, not assigned to any single business, and that the current layout is temporary and movable. The city manager said he has authority to adjust the layout for events or if it does not work, and council members said they intend to continue refining the design. Staff reported that four city work vehicles have been relocated to a back lot, freeing curb spaces that had been used by city vehicles.
Local business and chamber representatives supported the seating as a way to attract people downtown. The Colfax Area Chamberexecutive director said the seating helps keep visitors downtown longer and noted the installation grew out of earlier COVID-era outdoor seating efforts. Council members said there have been months of discussion and some businesses have been directly contacted; they encouraged residents to email the city clerk with comments.
No formal council action was recorded to make the seating permanent. Council described the arrangement as a temporary trial that can be modified or removed; the meeting transcript did not include a formal vote on a permanent change.
