Downtown operations team rolls out parking, signage and maintenance plan

At the Oct. 27 council meeting, Lieutenant Brad Jeong presented a multi‑department Downtown Operations Team update on parking, maintenance and safety in Aberdeen’s downtown.

Jeong said the team ran a public survey from June 10 to Aug. 8 and received 58 responses. Staff used the results to prioritize parking‑lot maintenance, weed control, signage clarity and consistency of enforcement. Short‑term actions already taken, Jeong said, include hiring Aberdeen Lawn Care to spray weeds in city lots and alleyways and contracting Parkview Nursery to clear dead vegetation and refresh landscaping. Forestry staff began trimming dead trees.

Jeong described a new lot‑color system and redesigned, more durable parking permits that include a lot number, lot color and specific instructions to make enforcement easier. He said the city eliminated 20‑minute, 1‑hour and 2‑hour designations for city lots and moved most city lots to 24‑hour parking (except specified lease spaces), while maintaining two‑hour limits on Main Street and the avenues at business owners’ request.

The Downtown Operations Team includes police, parks and recreation, public works/street, traffic control, community development, economic development and the Downtown Association. Jeong said the team will perform CPTED (crime prevention through environmental design) lighting and safety reviews using light meters and security assessments, then pass recommendations to property owners for possible lighting, camera or door upgrades. Longer‑term items include chip sealing and repainting lot lines according to the city’s rotation schedule.

Jeong said enforcement will emphasize fairness and consistency; community service officers are being instructed accordingly. He encouraged council members and the public to report issues and offered direct contact information for follow‑up.