Neillsville Discusses Parking Permits, But No Action Taken
Friday, August 28th, 2020 -- 9:07 AM
-The Neillsville City Council had a lengthy discussion on parking permits in the city.Alderman Julie Counsell stated that parking permits have been talked about for the last few months and research shows there are 75 spaces available between the Town Square (19), lower downtown city lot (24), West Street (on-street between Fourth and Fifth Streets) (14), West Street (on-street between Fifth and Sixth Streets) (11) and Sixth Street (on-street between West Street and Grand Avenue) (7). These spots are not identified as permit versus open. Counsell stated that the current ordinance was last updated in 1997. The ordinance reserves ten permit spaces plus one for Glenn Roberts. There was a question on how you know which are permit spaces? Counsell reviewed some suggested recommendations for the parking permit application including treating tenants and business owners the same, you can’t use these permit spaces for storage (we have three out of service vehicles which haven’t moved for months), permit holders are assigned a spot, if a parking space is not used for two weeks then the permit is cancelled, vehicles must be moved every 72 hours, no more than two different cars can use the spot, one permit per entity, the vehicle has to have current tags, etc. Counsell stated that most communities sell permits annually with the first year prorated. The recommendation is to raise the current parking permit fee from $15 per quarter to $30 per quarter or $120 annually on a first come first available basis and that the time periods be removed. Counsell stated there are a lot of problems with parking around the courthouse. It was suggested that parking permits be considered for the courthouse, which would eliminate courthouse employees using public lots, having to move their vehicles every three hours and offers them a dedicated spot.
On August 24, the north courthouse parking lot was at 90% capacity at 9:00 A.M.
Council Member Joe Neville stated the street parking is for people doing business at the courthouse, Clark County has its own parking lot for the county employees, and stated they should never have parking permits for their employees. Mayor Diane Murphy stated that the city needs to get on the county to make their employees move. Jim Smagacz, a county board member and a parking officer for the City of Neillsville, stated that when Chief Klueckmann received a complaint he surveyed the north courthouse parking lot and there was no fewer than twenty-two open spaces available. He talked with the County Board Chair Wayne Hendrickson, the Personnel Committee and at Department Head meetings and they all say it is a city problem. Council Member Dan Clough stated that the county has two parking lots available with more than enough capacity. They also have room to expand. Smagacz stated that on court days the streets are filled up. Clough suggested writing a letter to the county board. Neville stated that they do need help from the county. They are violating their own county personnel policy when employees leave the county grounds during work time. Counsell asked where they want to have permit parking?
Clough stated that he thought they were talking about permits for the five City Lots (downtown upper and lower, town square and Library east and west). Keep it simple, designate the five lots and a permit is good in any lot. Neville stated that he was not aware of the street parking permits. Clough showed his business owner permit and there is no charge to a business owner. Clough recommended parking permits for parking lots only with no permits for on-street parking. Mayor Murphy stated that the permits should be displayed in the vehicles and it would be too much work to put up numbers for assigned parking spots. Chief of Police Mankowski stated that the sheets handed out were for brainstorming, but they need to clean up the ordinance language. Smagacz stated that there is plenty of room in the lots during his parking enforcement rounds and they have never been totally filled. City Attorney Bonnie Wachsmuth stated that they should not be totally filled, there should be some places not-permitted for others to use. The Council is to review parking permit information further, but no action was taken.
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