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Residents deliver ~2,000 signatures against paid parking; commission sets stakeholder group and Oct. 7 workshop
Summary
Residents reported collecting roughly 2,000 signatures on a citizen petition opposing paid parking. Commissioners directed staff to form a public stakeholder group; the city clerk said verification of the petition will be considered on Oct. 21 and, pending commission action, could go to the ballot.
Multiple residents told the commission the citizen-driven petition opposing paid parking gathered about 2,000 verified signatures in roughly three and a half weeks.
Mac Morris, who said the petition-gatherers stopped short of submitting more signatures out of respect for county election workloads, urged the commission to conduct any further discussions about payment schemes in a public workshop and to 'do it in the sunshine.' Paul Lohrey and other speakers echoed that residents had exercised their voice and expected the commission to respond.
City Manager Campbell said staff has established a public stakeholder group to discuss paid parking; the group's first meeting is scheduled for Thursday at 3:30 p.m. and the commission will hold a workshop on Oct. 7. City Clerk Miss Best advised the commission that the petition verification requirement will be on the Oct. 21 regular meeting agenda and that, depending on the commission's action then, the item could be placed on the ballot.
Vice Mayor Askew and other commissioners recognized the speed and scale of petition collection and urged an open process. Commissioners discussed outreach to the petition committee so that, if the petition proceeds, the city and petitioners can coordinate next steps and ensure a public vote.
