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Mount Kisco business owners urge board to rescind new Saturday parking enforcement
Summary
Local merchants and the Chamber of Commerce told the Village Board that changes to enforcement days and hours — not the fee increase — will deter shoppers, asking the trustees to reverse Saturday enforcement; the board noted permit and Passport app options and did not take immediate action on rescinding enforcement.
Local business owners urged the Mount Kisco Village Board on May 19 to reverse newly proposed parking enforcement days and hours, saying stricter enforcement will hurt downtown foot traffic and small merchants.
Ed Reilly, president of the Mount Kisco Chamber of Commerce, told the board that “the Chamber of Commerce in Mount Kisco is different than others as they get involved with more than just the merchants, but the community as well.” He said the practical problem is the hours of enforcement rather than the higher fee and warned that shoppers will be ticketed even after public education efforts, which could discourage return visits.
Rob Bernstein of Mount Kisco Sports said enforcement changes are “important… for the customer,” and asked the board to rescind the new enforcement days and hours. Diana Cardello of Indulgence Salon echoed that request and asked the board to rescind Saturday enforcement; she read a letter from a local merchant asking for reconsideration. Several other merchants and residents — including Beth Vetare Civitello of the Chamber, Mimi Tesfoye of Mimi’s Coffee House, Heather Bryant, and Tammy Brown — told trustees they feared increased vacancies and financial strain on small, local businesses.
Mayor J. Michael Cindrich and Village Manager Edward Brancati responded by outlining options for employees and customers, including employee parking permits and the Passport parking app to facilitate customer visits. The board did not vote on rescinding the enforcement changes during the meeting; a fuller discussion and the staff-manager conversation on parking are recorded in the meeting video (discussion referenced at the 1:37:00 mark). The public comment portion of the meeting began with this topic and several speakers asked the board to reopen conversation with the Chamber to seek an amenable solution.
The Board scheduled no formal vote on the enforcement change during the meeting; residents and merchants asked trustees to reconsider before the new enforcement schedule takes effect.
