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Council rejects one-year extension of downtown permit fee waiver; asks attorney to draft promenade‑only alternative
Summary
By a 3–4 vote the council failed to extend a temporary downtown permit fee waiver as written. Several council members said the original intent was to support the promenade; others said staff data showed the waiver spurred development. Council directed staff to have the city attorney draft a promenade-only option for September.
Council considered Ordinance No. 0082026, a proposed one-year extension of the temporary elimination of certain development permit fees in the downtown area. The ordinance would have extended the fee waiver for another year to support downtown development.
Council debate centered on whether the program should remain citywide downtown or be limited to the promenade area. Supporters argued the broader waiver had validated itself by encouraging development and generating ongoing revenue; opponents said the promenade-only area should be the focus to preserve the downtown character. Councilmember Campbell moved to approve the extension as written; the motion did not carry, failing on a 3–4 vote.
Councilmember Walker said he remained unconvinced the waiver should be used to drive housing citywide and requested the attorney prepare a promenade-only draft for the September meeting. Councilmember Gamble cited staff data as a validation that the waiver prompted the recent developments, and asked for clarity if that staff conclusion was incorrect. There was no immediate ordinance adoption; council direction was to return with a revised draft in September after legal review.
The failure of the motion leaves the existing approvals in place but requires staff to draft and return with alternative language for council consideration.
