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Arcade owner urges city help with trash, drug use and safety on Commercial Street
Summary
Gizmo’s owner Roger Nickinen described recurring trash, substance use, and public‑safety incidents near his business and urged the council to allow creative trash‑securing solutions and other supports to keep the street safe for customers.
During the non‑agenda public‑comment period, Gizmo’s owner Roger Nickinen described repeated incidents on Commercial Street — waste rummaging, substance use, and an alleged exposure incident — that he says have driven customers away and forced businesses to repeatedly clean sidewalks. Nickinen said he had tried creative approaches, such as decorative trash enclosures and locked receptacles, but city code required removal of some of his solutions.
He told the council he respects police efforts but that the same individuals often returned after enforcement actions, leaving business owners without durable remedies. "I'm asking the city for guidance for businesses to be afforded some consideration in finding creative solutions to secure trash cans," Nickinen said, urging staff and council to collaborate with businesses on practicable streetscape solutions that address safety while remaining code‑compliant.
Council thanked Nickinen and acknowledged the complexity of balancing public‑health rules, sanitation codes and business needs; staff and council noted they would follow up as part of ongoing downtown and public‑safety planning work.
Next steps: City staff indicated willingness to work with local business owners on potential, code‑compliant design solutions and to consider the complaint as part of broader downtown planning discussions.
