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Council debates three downtown parking options; staff told to refine site‑specific analysis
Summary
Staff presented three site concepts and industry walkability/capacity standards; councilmembers split on whether to prioritize current south‑side demand or future north‑side office/hotel redevelopment. Council directed staff to refine circulation, pedestrian impacts, funding options and outreach to prospective users.
City staff and consultants returned to the council to narrow a decision on where to place a downtown parking structure and to seek direction on next steps.
Staff presented three concept sites, explained that build‑out across downtown could require about 2,500 spaces and that one scenario tied to a boutique hotel and a five‑story office would generate roughly 425 spaces of demand. The staff memo showed the most efficient concept on the largest site would yield the most spaces (613 in the largest evaluated alternative) and typically offers the lowest cost per parking space.
"What we're here today to talk about is looking at trying to narrow the decision somewhat," a staff presenter said, listing decision points: site location, traffic circulation, potential retail integration, funding strategy and architectural expectations. The presentation highlighted national walkability standards (about 400 feet, or two blocks, as good pedestrian service) and tradeoffs among the three concepts: smaller sites preserve park adjacency and cost less but require more walking; the largest site yields more capacity and the lowest cost per space but occupies the prime redevelopment parcel.
Councilmembers were sharply divided on priorities. One councilmember urged a distributed approach—building multiple garages across quadrants over the next decade to meet the 2,500‑space need—warning that concentrating all capacity in one large central garage risks degrading pedestrian activity and commercial frontage. Others said parking should align with expected users: if class‑A office and hotel users are the priority, parking must be adjacent and sized to meet those tenants’ expectations.
Several councilmembers pressed staff to bring back additional analysis and user commitments rather than immediately selecting a site. Staff said demolition of the old City Hall and Development Services buildings is under contract and will begin imminently; they asked whether council wants schematic design to follow or whether staff should first secure commitments from prospective office or hotel users before finalizing a site plan. After discussion the council’s direction was to refine the site‑specific traffic and pedestrian analyses, continue outreach to prospective users and return with more concrete programming and cost implications.
No formal vote was taken on a preferred site at this meeting.
