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Council weighs downtown parking lot proposal; estimated $90,740 construction cost and bond repurposing discussed
Summary
Council reviewed a plan for a proposed 55-space downtown parking lot near the Crandick property with a conceptual construction estimate of $90,740 and five-year maintenance estimate of $17,300; members discussed lease length, phased construction, potential donor grading and whether leftover Division Street bond funds could pay for the project.
City engineering staff presented a conceptual plan for a 55-space parking lot at the Crandick site, including required ADA stalls, three lights and a conceptual construction estimate of $90,740 (including contingencies and engineering). "Our conceptual estimate is ... $90,740," the engineer said.
Council and downtown business representatives debated whether to build a full asphalt/chip-sealed lot or to start with gravel. One local business representative told the council that 5 Star owner Kevin Jerga had offered to donate grading work and asked the council to "open the gates" to let people use the space while final decisions are made. Staff cautioned that liability and lease terms would need to be clarified before opening any private property to public parking.
Members discussed lease length, with several saying a longer lease (10 years) would make major improvements more reasonable, while staff said the current lease language was for five years and that a longer term could be negotiated. The council discussed phasing the project (for example, an initial 30-space phase including required handicap stalls) and agreed to include the project in budget conversations in January and to ask staff to seek clarity from Crandick on whether chip seal counts as "rock" for return-to-original requirements and whether the landowner will agree to a deferred start date.
Separately, council members asked staff to consult the bonding attorney about repurposing leftover Division Street bond funds (discussed at roughly $390,000 originally with about $346,000 remaining after earlier commitments). Staff will follow up with Crandick and the bonding attorney and return with lease options, phased cost estimates and a recommended budget approach.
Council did not commit funds at the Nov. 11 meeting but directed staff to pursue clarifying information for the budget session and to include the parking-lot discussion on the January budget agenda.
