Committee hears downtown parking options: feasibility study, surface lots and future garage

Staff presented a downtown parking proposition that would fund immediate surface parking improvements, an updated parking and feasibility analysis and reserve land for a future structured parking garage. "The primary goals of this project would be to secure land for future parkland garage... and to construct surface level parking to meet current and near‑term needs," the presenter said.

Staff emphasized the project is intentionally staged: surface parking and right‑of‑way improvements could provide near‑term relief while a future bond could fund a garage if demand, redevelopment and financing align. The presenter described a 2019 occupancy study and suggested updating analysis every five years; staff also said some 'overflow' parking on private property has historically served downtown businesses and that the proposed $5.15 million allocation covers a mix of feasibility work and immediate improvements.

Committee members asked about the relationship between new City Hall, Downtown East development and the core's parking needs and whether repurposing the old City Hall site should be considered; staff said the new City Hall parking would support Downtown East while additional measures are needed to support the historic core and indicated the feasibility study would inform specific locations and counts.