1996-02-20 - Laserfiche WebLink

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23 of West Main Street. Mr, Hook said parking is essential and the loss of 55 spaces will definitely hurt businesses in that area. Mr. Hook added that there is no evidence that bike lanes will improve business. Mr Melvin Walker, owner of Mel's Cafe on West Main Street, said that his customers depend on parking and removing the parking will definitely hurt his business. Ms. Daugherty asked if alternative parking locations were discussed at the meeting held with West Main Street businesses, and Mr. Huja replied that had not been discussed. Ms. Daugherty said that she is interested in endorsing the concept of bike lanes, but would like to see staff work with merchants on alternative parking locations~ Ms. Daugherty said she thinks additional bike traffic will improve business and she feels it is time to send a message that alternative means of travel are wanted. Ms. Daugherty said she also feels that the bike lanes will bring many more students and tourist downtown. Ms. Daugherty said she favors identifying well lighted parking. Ms. Slaughter said she supports having bike lanes and having them open when the bridge is complete. Ms. Slaughter said she thinks a timetable is needed and that parking should be found at the same time. Ms. Slaughter recommended adding lights and better signage for existing parking. Ms. Slaughter also recommended identifying other possibilities for customer and employee parking and looking at sharing of parking for businesses and churches whose peak parking times differ. Ms. Slaughter also suggested that the Urban Design Committee be involved in the identification of parking possibilities. Mr. Vandever said he would like to see the City move forward on the bike lanes, but Council should leave the meeting with a commitment to businesses to locate alternative parking and to earmark capital funds for parking. Mr. Vandever said he does not think bike lanes are viable without alternative parking. Rev. Edwards said that he supports staffs recommendation to build replacement parking and to provide the parking and bike lanes in tandem. Mr. Toscano noted that the Council has emphasized the importance of the West Main Street Corridor to the City's economic viability. Mr. Toscano said that he ~%els one way to address the potential long-term financial shortfall is to increase economic development. Mr. Toscano said he wants to see alternate parking available prior to the installation of the bike lanes. Otherwise, he continued, the City's efforts to redevelop the corridor may be hampered. Ms. Daugherty made a motion to approve staffs recommendation, to build replacement parking in tandem with installation of the bike lanes. Ms. Daugherty asked staff to confer with the merchants on possible parking locations. Rev. Edwards second the motion. Ms. Slaughter expressed disappointment at the motion and said she would like to see Council take a strong stand for bike lanes. Ms. Slaughter noted that increasing mass transit on West Main Street will be expensive. Ms. Slaughter asked that staff look at parking needs of the West Main Street corridor and consider changing some parking time limits. The Council unanimously voted to build replacement parking in tandem with installation of bike lanes on West Main Street. Mr. Toscano noted that the construction of the hotel on West Main Street will eliminate approximately 140 additional permanent parking spaces and suggested that the Planning Commission discuss the issue, Ms. Daugherty said that she believes there are funds in the capital budget for a parking structure, but Mr. O'Connell said there are no stl¢tl ~rl~s av4ilable at the present time, but staff will come back with financial options for parking and a timetable.