MONROE - Discussion of what to do regarding downtown parking deteriorated into a frenzy of motions and the meeting eventually adjourned mid-vote on Wednesday after the Monroe Common Council spent an hour deliberating the city's options.
Alderman Michael Boyce called for the meeting to be adjourned.
"This is ridiculous," Boyce said. "And, quite frankly, it's embarrassing."
Once a motion to adjourn is seconded, it is not debatable. The request came amidst a frenzy of talking about options for parking in downtown Monroe. City Attorney Rex Ewald, who was attending the meeting as a private citizen, remarked he could not remember a time in the past 28 years when city council ended on an abrupt adjournment. After an hour of discussion amongst council members that included safety concerns for the downtown municipal parking ramp, no decision was made on how to proceed.
Ewald, operator of the Monroe Professional Center, presented a case in which the city should purchase property along 11th Street across from the post office and tear down the buildings to be replaced by lots. He argued that the tax revenue from the properties would be lower than the expansion of commercial buildings if parking were more easily available, and that the east side of the Square was suffering from a parking deficit.
"Parking is not a dead zone, it is a life zone," Ewald said. "It's a key to economic success. Perception is everything when we're talking about parking."
The flurry of talking, which had the city clerk scribbling to keep up and essentially ended the meeting, included add-ons from members of council trying to piggyback more items onto a motion made by alderman Charles Koch. Boyce also mentioned he believed no member of the council had a clear idea of what they were voting on. After suggestions from the Business Improvement District Board and Main Street Monroe, Koch moved that requests for proposals from companies be put forward on building a two-level ramp in place of the parking lot commonly referred to as the Armory lot before demolishing and building a two-level municipal ramp in place of the current one. Upon advisement from Al Gerber, director of public works, Koch amended the motion to be for an estimate on the ramps to evaluate how the city wanted to design each.
Alderman Louis Armstrong stepped in to request a third estimate be included for a possible parking ramp in place of the Spring Square parking lot, and alderman Brooke Bauman asked that an estimate be found for placing a 48-stall flat lot along 11th Street, per Ewald's suggestion.
Throughout discussion, though Bauman cited concern for the people who park in the current ramp, she advised against moving too quickly.
"I think it's hard to make a decision without seeing what the timed parking will do," Bauman said. "We can't do everything all at once."
The city has taken steps for timed parking along the downtown district throughout nine blocks surrounding the Square, with most spots limited to 2 to 3 hours. Officials began requesting proposals from companies to enforce the time limits Monday. May 16 is the deadline to submit proposals. The schedule outlines that the city decide on a company by the end of July. The timeline they hope to follow will institute timed parking Jan. 1.
Members of the council put forward myriad options during discussion. Boyce suggested a relationship between the city and Green County to create revenue on a public/private basis. Armstrong said a ramp in place of the flat Spring Square lot was the best option. Alderman Reid Stangel focused on the safety issue and asked why the city couldn't tear down the municipal lot to be replaced with a flat lot "but not end the conversation." In the end, though members cited a general concern for the safety of the ramp, they did not move forward with any plan on whether to replace it or create alternative parking.
Alderman Michael Boyce called for the meeting to be adjourned.
"This is ridiculous," Boyce said. "And, quite frankly, it's embarrassing."
Once a motion to adjourn is seconded, it is not debatable. The request came amidst a frenzy of talking about options for parking in downtown Monroe. City Attorney Rex Ewald, who was attending the meeting as a private citizen, remarked he could not remember a time in the past 28 years when city council ended on an abrupt adjournment. After an hour of discussion amongst council members that included safety concerns for the downtown municipal parking ramp, no decision was made on how to proceed.
Ewald, operator of the Monroe Professional Center, presented a case in which the city should purchase property along 11th Street across from the post office and tear down the buildings to be replaced by lots. He argued that the tax revenue from the properties would be lower than the expansion of commercial buildings if parking were more easily available, and that the east side of the Square was suffering from a parking deficit.
"Parking is not a dead zone, it is a life zone," Ewald said. "It's a key to economic success. Perception is everything when we're talking about parking."
The flurry of talking, which had the city clerk scribbling to keep up and essentially ended the meeting, included add-ons from members of council trying to piggyback more items onto a motion made by alderman Charles Koch. Boyce also mentioned he believed no member of the council had a clear idea of what they were voting on. After suggestions from the Business Improvement District Board and Main Street Monroe, Koch moved that requests for proposals from companies be put forward on building a two-level ramp in place of the parking lot commonly referred to as the Armory lot before demolishing and building a two-level municipal ramp in place of the current one. Upon advisement from Al Gerber, director of public works, Koch amended the motion to be for an estimate on the ramps to evaluate how the city wanted to design each.
Alderman Louis Armstrong stepped in to request a third estimate be included for a possible parking ramp in place of the Spring Square parking lot, and alderman Brooke Bauman asked that an estimate be found for placing a 48-stall flat lot along 11th Street, per Ewald's suggestion.
Throughout discussion, though Bauman cited concern for the people who park in the current ramp, she advised against moving too quickly.
"I think it's hard to make a decision without seeing what the timed parking will do," Bauman said. "We can't do everything all at once."
The city has taken steps for timed parking along the downtown district throughout nine blocks surrounding the Square, with most spots limited to 2 to 3 hours. Officials began requesting proposals from companies to enforce the time limits Monday. May 16 is the deadline to submit proposals. The schedule outlines that the city decide on a company by the end of July. The timeline they hope to follow will institute timed parking Jan. 1.
Members of the council put forward myriad options during discussion. Boyce suggested a relationship between the city and Green County to create revenue on a public/private basis. Armstrong said a ramp in place of the flat Spring Square lot was the best option. Alderman Reid Stangel focused on the safety issue and asked why the city couldn't tear down the municipal lot to be replaced with a flat lot "but not end the conversation." In the end, though members cited a general concern for the safety of the ramp, they did not move forward with any plan on whether to replace it or create alternative parking.