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<br />City Council :Minutes <br />September 18, 2006 <br /> <br />Page 3 <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />5.3. <br /> <br />Street Disruption Permit for Jackson Street and Main Street <br /> <br />Mr. Clark reviewed multiple downtown issues regarding street closures and employee <br />parking as outlined in his staff report. <br /> <br />Councilmember Dietz questioned why First National Bank is using parking stalls in the city <br />owned King Avenue parking lot when they have parking stalls in their own lot. <br /> <br />Mr. Clark stated First National Bank used to own a portion of property in the city-owned <br />parking lot. He stated the bank has given the city an easement in exchange for 23 stalls <br />dedicated to the bank. <br /> <br />Wendy Simonson, Kemper Drug-Stated she is opposed to the city closing parking stalls on <br />Jackson Avenue during the busiest time of the year for retail. She suggested charging <br />Flannery Construction a fee for each spot they need and to split those fees between the city <br />and the affected businesses. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />Fred McCoy, McCoy's Restaurant-Questioned why the Rivers Edge Park construction <br />project couldn't wait until the Bluff Block project was completed. He suggested the city wait <br />until spring to begin park construction. Mr. McCoy stated the street lights have gone out a <br />few times downtown. He stated when he contacted Elk River Municipal Utilities they <br />refused to come out until a later date. He stated when the lights are out it makes downtown <br />look closed. He further expressed concern for the safety of customers and employees. He <br />stated he would like to see a parking ramp and he is unsure if his business can survive the <br />construction. Mr. McCoy questioned why the parking stalls in front of the park have to be <br />eliminated. <br /> <br />Mr. Maertz stated the stalls are being eliminated due to safety concerns with the intersection <br />and vehicles backing up into the intersection. <br /> <br />Chief Beahen stated the parking stalls are not legal. <br /> <br />Mary Van Valkenberg-Stated she is disappointed that the city has a downtown parking <br />issue. She stated the city assured business owners there would be extra parking downtown <br />from day one of construction. <br /> <br />Keith Holme-Kemper Drug-Asked each Councilmember to comment on these issues. <br /> <br />Mayor Klinzing stated she is concerned about how downtown businesses are being affected <br />by construction. She stated she is unsure how to solve these complex issues. She stated the <br />city can't delay the projects; they need to be completed as soon as possible so as not to <br />affect business owners any longer than necessary. She liked the idea of charging the <br />construction company for any parking stalls that need to be closed. She suggested micro <br />loans or grants for downtown businesses (that could prove hardship). Mayor Klinzing stated <br />she doesn't know why the Rivers Edge Park project couldn't have been moved to a later <br />construction date. <br /> <br />Councilmember Farber stated he has been against this project from the beginning. He <br />stated the Council should consider a parking ramp. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />MOVED BY COUNCILMEMBER MOTIN AND SECONDED BY <br />COUNCILMEMBER FARBER TO APPROVE A STREET DISRUPTION <br />