MONROE - The idea to list for sale the city's municipal parking ramp was up for debate, and a suggestion to hire a consultant was strongly encouraged by Alderman Tom Miller.
But for now, the challenge of what to do with Monroe's headache behind the Square's western edge belongs to City Administrator Phil Rath and his assistant, Martin Shanks, whose title includes economic development.
The Common Council, which was attending in full, agreed Tuesday to keep the matter in-house, giving its two administrative leaders the reins.
"It's some pretty heavy lifting," Mayor Bill Ross said to Rath in asking if he and Shanks were up to spearheading the ongoing issue. The ramp, which is falling apart and has several of its 227 spaces blocked off due to structural hazards, is being seen as a possible spot for retail growth while also a vital location for parking near what can be a crowded Square.
"Between the two of us, I think we could," Rath said of handling the issue.
Shanks was not present at the meeting.
An ad hoc committee appointed last year to investigate the topic lost two leaders and fizzled out.
"We've never been given anything to work with," Alderman Brooke Bauman said. "And we don't have the expertise."
Alderman Chris Beer noted the council doesn't even have an idea of the true parking needs of the downtown.
"One person says 100 (spots), another says 300," she said.
Either way, Ross seemed relieved to finally have some leadership in place.
"We've had a horse without a head," he said. "That's the principle we've been under for too long."
Miller voiced his skepticism in saying, "Two years ago we had this same conversation. I don't think we can do this on our own."
Bauman followed that by saying Rath and Shanks were not experts, but Ross countered by saying the two-man task force could rely on outside sources as needed - anything to find a solution.
"Last year we looked at this complex, complicated issue and basically just kicked the can down the road," Ross said.
Earlier in the meeting, the mayor stood behind his idea of trying to sell the ramp, reminding the council there should be stipulations for a buyer regarding making available a certain number of parking spaces and adhering to design consistent with the downtown, but added other options could be explored in the interim.
"If there are no offers, at least we'd know that as part of our deliberations," he said. "We're not going to satisfy everyone with this. I understand that."
Rath said maybe an interested buyer could shed light on the issue.
"It's just an option. We could hear an option we haven't thought of that fits everything everyone needs," he said.
What was made clear was that the council did not support the idea of a flat lot.
Alderman Louis Armstrong, holding a piece of concrete that had fallen from the ramp, said he was worried about the liability with such a hazard.
Bauman noted the idea of steering people off the Square toward the ramp through 2-hour limits may be once again worthy of debate, but agreed the structure is nerve-wracking.
"We've seen business owners, employees and tenants park on the Square, which is not what we want to see, but at the same time there's a fear of danger - that things will be falling on them."
Several residents voiced opinions to the council, including Craig Patchin, who is a board member with the Downtown Business Improvement District (BID). He said the city lacked a best-scenario game plan.
"What outcome does it want?" he asked. "I've never heard a definition of what kind of project you want - and it's a project of great importance."
Downtown property owner Chris Barth spoke of the parking congestion and how losing the ramp would be hurtful.
"Right now, there are 97 cars parked on the Square and 90 in the ramp," he said. "And if there's 2 inches of snow or more, which we just had, there's no legal parking within a block of the Square."
Bob Duxstad, the outgoing BID president, also suggests the hiring of a consultant. If pursuit of a buyer is the plan, in warning he said: "Your process is somewhat reversed. You could have someone say, "Give me the land' and not promise much of anything else. There's no revenue in parking."
In a letter to the council, he also suggested the city consider investing in the ramp while not expecting a return in the short term - like it did with the industrial park - in order to attract a legitimate buyer.
"This is not going to be a freebie," he said Tuesday.
But for now, the challenge of what to do with Monroe's headache behind the Square's western edge belongs to City Administrator Phil Rath and his assistant, Martin Shanks, whose title includes economic development.
The Common Council, which was attending in full, agreed Tuesday to keep the matter in-house, giving its two administrative leaders the reins.
"It's some pretty heavy lifting," Mayor Bill Ross said to Rath in asking if he and Shanks were up to spearheading the ongoing issue. The ramp, which is falling apart and has several of its 227 spaces blocked off due to structural hazards, is being seen as a possible spot for retail growth while also a vital location for parking near what can be a crowded Square.
"Between the two of us, I think we could," Rath said of handling the issue.
Shanks was not present at the meeting.
An ad hoc committee appointed last year to investigate the topic lost two leaders and fizzled out.
"We've never been given anything to work with," Alderman Brooke Bauman said. "And we don't have the expertise."
Alderman Chris Beer noted the council doesn't even have an idea of the true parking needs of the downtown.
"One person says 100 (spots), another says 300," she said.
Either way, Ross seemed relieved to finally have some leadership in place.
"We've had a horse without a head," he said. "That's the principle we've been under for too long."
Miller voiced his skepticism in saying, "Two years ago we had this same conversation. I don't think we can do this on our own."
Bauman followed that by saying Rath and Shanks were not experts, but Ross countered by saying the two-man task force could rely on outside sources as needed - anything to find a solution.
"Last year we looked at this complex, complicated issue and basically just kicked the can down the road," Ross said.
Earlier in the meeting, the mayor stood behind his idea of trying to sell the ramp, reminding the council there should be stipulations for a buyer regarding making available a certain number of parking spaces and adhering to design consistent with the downtown, but added other options could be explored in the interim.
"If there are no offers, at least we'd know that as part of our deliberations," he said. "We're not going to satisfy everyone with this. I understand that."
Rath said maybe an interested buyer could shed light on the issue.
"It's just an option. We could hear an option we haven't thought of that fits everything everyone needs," he said.
What was made clear was that the council did not support the idea of a flat lot.
Alderman Louis Armstrong, holding a piece of concrete that had fallen from the ramp, said he was worried about the liability with such a hazard.
Bauman noted the idea of steering people off the Square toward the ramp through 2-hour limits may be once again worthy of debate, but agreed the structure is nerve-wracking.
"We've seen business owners, employees and tenants park on the Square, which is not what we want to see, but at the same time there's a fear of danger - that things will be falling on them."
Several residents voiced opinions to the council, including Craig Patchin, who is a board member with the Downtown Business Improvement District (BID). He said the city lacked a best-scenario game plan.
"What outcome does it want?" he asked. "I've never heard a definition of what kind of project you want - and it's a project of great importance."
Downtown property owner Chris Barth spoke of the parking congestion and how losing the ramp would be hurtful.
"Right now, there are 97 cars parked on the Square and 90 in the ramp," he said. "And if there's 2 inches of snow or more, which we just had, there's no legal parking within a block of the Square."
Bob Duxstad, the outgoing BID president, also suggests the hiring of a consultant. If pursuit of a buyer is the plan, in warning he said: "Your process is somewhat reversed. You could have someone say, "Give me the land' and not promise much of anything else. There's no revenue in parking."
In a letter to the council, he also suggested the city consider investing in the ramp while not expecting a return in the short term - like it did with the industrial park - in order to attract a legitimate buyer.
"This is not going to be a freebie," he said Tuesday.