Plan prioritizes shopper parking, proposes 85% occupancy threshold and flags state waiver for affordable housing

Consultants told attendees the downtown parking strategy will prioritize shoppers and visitors and seek to reduce employee and resident demand through better walking and biking connections, shared parking and zoning adjustments. The Presenter described an operational threshold for when to limit employee/resident parking on public lots: the plan uses an 85% occupancy figure as a trigger for additional measures and management.

Staff clarified that state policy affects parking mandates: a staff member explained "the state has basically mandated that if you build affordable housing, you don't have to build parking" and noted affordable-housing projects can obtain parking waivers. A nearby resident (Justin) raised an applied question about the approved Redwood Mobile Town development — "36 units, 3 stories... they allotted 2 parking spaces" — and the presenter said future market‑rate housing would generally be required to provide on‑site or identified off‑site parking while the city will encourage but cannot always require parking for state‑mandated affordable units.