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Downtown businesses urge data-first approach; paid parking and enforcement spark council debate
Summary
Business representatives urged the council to prioritize hard data before major policy changes. Councilors debated paid parking, enforcement consistency, cadet enforcement roles, and potential exemptions for residents.
A representative of the downtown historic district association called for a data‑driven approach before major policy changes and urged the council to ensure seasonal sampling in any updated study. "It all starts with the data," Hayes said, recommending inventory and utilization sampling at peak, low and intermediate seasons.
Councilors diverged on next steps: Councilor Davis argued enforcement consistency is paramount and suggested stronger deterrents, noting downtown parking ticket amounts are low and enforcement has been inconsistent. "I think our ticket amounts are maybe not high enough right now," Davis said while advocating for more rigorous enforcement and the possibility of hiring a cadet focused on parking enforcement.
Other members supported exploring paid metered parking (including app-based systems with resident exemptions) and 15‑minute turnover spots for businesses with high turnover. Several councilors favored a hybrid approach: begin transit pilots and internal inventories now while commissioning a limited-scope consultant to provide cost/benefit analysis on paid parking and enforcement models.
Business groups offered to share case studies from similar coastal towns (one caller offered Newport, Oregon’s paid parking presentation) to inform council deliberations. Council gave staff direction to prepare an RFP scope and to continue partner outreach for pilots and enforcement planning.
