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Council hears extended public debate on partial alley closure; staff told to adjust barricade placement temporarily
Summary
City staff were directed by council to explore moving the south barricade north and to use flexible barriers so property owners can access rear building areas while maintaining pedestrian safety in a tourist area. No formal ordinance change was adopted; discussion produced interim operational direction.
Councilors and business owners debated the partial closure of an alley adjoining Sixth and Seventh streets between Main and Raleigh before giving staff informal direction to adjust the existing barricade layout to allow limited vehicle access for deliveries and property clearance.
The council previously approved closing the alley on a trial basis with temporary barriers. Several downtown business owners and property owners told the council the current configuration blocks vehicle access to the rear of buildings and prevents deliveries and removal of large items; they asked the city to reconfigure the barricades to allow limited, authorized vehicle access to specific parcels.
Public Works staff and property owners discussed options including moving the south barricade northward, installing temporary sliding gates or water-fill plastic barricades that can be moved without heavy equipment, using a single barricade at either end plus a temporary gate, and reserving space for dumpsters and short-term loading. Fire and emergency access concerns were raised and discussed during the session.
Council members expressed a preference for quick interim adjustments rather than reversing the closure; several members noted safety concerns that motivated the closure initially, citing near-miss incidents at the alley and heavy tourist foot traffic. After hearing from property owners and staff, the council’s direction was to allow staff to move the south barricade north toward the Watering Hole/Cornerside area and to trial more flexible, less visually oppressive barricades (such as plastic water-fill barriers and cones) to allow property access with an emphasis on preserving pedestrian safety.
No formal rezoning, vacation or ordinance change was enacted at the meeting; staff said they would act within prior council authority to adjust barricades and then bring any recommended, more permanent design back to council for approval.
