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284 <br /> <br /> Ms. Lisa Murphy, representing the Downtown Property Owners Council, said that <br />the Council has been asked by Council to respond to the proposal to increase frees and <br />reduce on-street parking times. Ms. Murphy asked that Council commit to underground <br />parking. <br /> <br /> Mr. Oliver Kuttner, property owner downtown, said that underground parking has <br />been done in major cities throughout the world and suggested that underground parking <br />be put on the Water Street lots. <br /> <br />Mr. Jay Kessler orR. E. Lee Construction Company, was asked by Mr. Kuttner to speak <br />on the constructability and financial feasibility of the proposal to put underground <br />parking on the Water Street lots. Mr. Kessler said the idea is plausible and further study <br />is justified. <br /> <br /> Ms. Murphy asked that Council set a five,year time line for solving the parking <br />problem. Ms. Murphy said that the problem is mostly with availability of monthly <br />parking. <br /> <br /> Mr. Reid Nagle ofS & L Securities, which has 220 employees downtown, said <br />that parking is a key issue. Mr. Nagle said that there is no monthly parking available and <br />employees have to move their cars in the two hour spaces. <br /> <br /> Ms. Murphy said the Council is asking council to make underground parking <br />financially feasible. Ms. Murphy said she is speaking for Mr. Colin Rolph who was <br />unable to attend the meeting, who feels that underground parking should be a criteria for <br />public parking. <br /> <br /> Ms. Elsie Thompson, a member of the Paramount Theater Board, said that <br />parking is tremendously important to the Paramount. <br /> <br /> Ms. Joan Fenton, Chair of the Downtown Business Association, said the <br />Association opposes the proposals to reduce on street parking times and increase fines <br />until short and long-term solutions are. found. Ms. Fenton said a financial commitment <br />from the City is needed and lower cost monthly parking is needed. Ms. Fenton urged <br />Council to set aside funds for parking in the budget and require that any parking be <br />underground Ms. Fenton recommended that any City land that is sold and developed <br />include public parking. <br /> <br /> Mr. Sam Patterson, E. Market Street, said he works with technology companies <br />downtown and suggested that underground parking be built with permanent revenue <br />generating structures on top. <br /> <br /> Mr. Dick Aubrey, 100 5th Street, S.E. owner of two retail businesses on the <br />downtown mall, said that parking is a big issue. Mr. Aubrey said the City is doing <br />wonderful things helping to attract people downtown, and now it needs to provide <br />parking. <br /> <br /> Mr. Julian Calvet, said he understands that the City is going to build a $7 million <br />parking structure on West Main Street, and said if this is true it should be built downtown <br />instead. <br /> <br /> Ms. Alexandra Boris, a former retail business owner on the downtown mall, said <br />that parking was a real nuisance for customers, but said it would be awful to continue <br />building above ground parking. <br /> <br />Mr. Jonathan McVity, expressed agreement with Ms. Boris. <br /> <br /> Ms. Beatrix Ost, Estouteville, Keene, asked that Council keep downtown as <br />attractive as possible, and supported underground parking. <br /> <br /> Mr. Jock Yellott, 311 E. Market St., #4, said he feels that reducing on-street <br />parking times is a bad idea. Mr. Yellott said that additional on-street parking spaces <br /> <br /> <br />