Commission debates 90‑minute downtown parking plan; police say enforcement would be burdensome

City planner Natalie Burczyk presented a draft downtown parking plan that would limit on‑street parking to 90 minutes between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. on weekdays along selected downtown streets to improve customer turnover.

Burczyk told the commission the change would not alter existing shorter limits (for example, 5‑ or 10‑minute zones) and estimated materials costs of roughly $2,000 for signs; public‑works labor would install them. She said enforcement would be complaint‑driven and examined two enforcement approaches: photographic evidence routed through municipal court, or pavement‑marking (chalking) with officer return visits after 90 minutes.

Chief Joe Ciani told the commission he is opposed to the 90‑minute plan as presented, saying it would be a burden on law enforcement. "Chalking requirement for us to witness a violation of this nature… the same officer would chalk the tire and have to come back in that hour and a half time frame," he said, adding the process would add workload for police and prosecutors and could be inconsistent.

Business owner Laurie Stroman of Quality Quick Print urged the commission to place signs even without active ticketing, saying signage itself would deter long‑term parking: "My 10‑minute parking in front of my office… it works perfect. They're in, out, in, out." Several commissioners said signage alone without reliable enforcement would be ineffective; others urged another round of outreach to downtown businesses and to revisit the idea only if enforcement resources can be identified.

Commission direction: staff was asked to notify downtown businesses, consider budget implications, and return to the city commission for further discussion if the Planning & Zoning Commission supports moving forward. Commissioners expressed reluctance to install signs they cannot uniformly enforce.