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Residents press council on feral cats, River Park parking and scooter safety during public comment
Summary
During the public‑comment period several residents urged action on feral/feeding cats in residential neighborhoods, parking and ADA designation at River Park, and pedestrian safety at trick‑or‑treat hours and from riders on electric scooters. Council and staff provided clarifications and noted follow‑up actions.
Multiple residents used the non‑agenda public‑comment period to raise neighborhood quality‑of‑life and safety concerns.
Mary Wittenheiser described repeated problems with feral and feeding cats in her neighborhood and said neighbors are not contacted when people install feeding stations. She asked who is responsible for property damage caused by cats, recounting a broken birdbath given as a twentieth‑anniversary gift. "I can't put up a sign on my yard that says no cats allowed... No one cleans up after the cats that are shitting in my yard," she told council (00:07:24).
Residents also raised River Park parking and ADA‑space designation concerns. Wittenheiser asked that a handicap space be clearly designated and that signage indicate "vehicles with trailers only" where appropriate (00:10:42). Council and staff discussed parking lot configuration and measurements but no formal action was taken at the meeting; staff noted they would follow up.
Frank Deltrick and others raised pedestrian safety issues related to children on electric scooters and scooter use on public sidewalks and streets. A resident asked whether electric scooters are permitted on public streets; staff replied that scooters are not allowed on the street and work primarily on private property rules, and that enforcement stops have been made during the summer (00:17:43).
Separately, a resident organizing a Thanksgiving food giveaway questioned whether Market House policy disallowed political events; staff clarified that the denial was due to the requested event time being during Market House hours, not a categorical ban on political events (00:13:03). The Market House manager said events outside market hours are permitted and that staff would provide guidance on use policies.
Council acknowledged the issues and referred some items to Public Works or Market House staff for follow up. No new ordinances were proposed during public comment.
