Commission fails to move forward on removing 100 block of 7th Avenue North from snow‑route; motion to draft resolution lacks majority

The City Commission declined to advance a proposal to remove the 100 block of 7th Avenue North from the city’s tiered snow‑route after debating enforcement, business impacts and precedent.

Jeremy, a local business owner who maintains several downtown lots, asked the commission to relieve his customers from tier‑2 parking rules that require vehicles to shift sides during snow responses. “I’m just looking for a little bit of variance so I don’t get ticketed,” Jeremy said, explaining that customers often leave vehicles for repair and risk repeated tickets under the current system.

Police and other commissioners described enforcement challenges and safety considerations: officers said the block historically functioned with parked vehicles, and making it tier‑2 inadvertently created a policing challenge and could harm a downtown business by increasing tickets from previously lower fines.

Commissioner Shaver moved to draft a resolution to change the 100 block to five‑day parking and return the language for public notice. During the roll call, several commissioners recorded 'nay' votes (Commissioners Bowser, Beller and Day were noted as voting 'nay'); following the roll call the chair declared the motion failed for lack of a majority.

The commission did not adopt any alternate remedy at the meeting. Commissioners discussed the possibility of targeted neighborhood outreach and legal review and instructed staff that if the commission directs a future action it should include public notice to adjacent property owners.