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<br /> Councilm~Williams said he feels it is a question of whether provision of park-
<br /> ing by the business communi ty downtown is something they are doing and availing
<br /> themsel,ves of the tax system in so doing, or an overall public service wi th any
<br /> number of other public activities involved. Mrs. Beal said she feels the implica- -
<br /> tions_go beyond a group of people allocating taxes to themselves; the question _.
<br /> may',hav.et.o,~e resoJ,.ved-whether this kind of organization is necessary if it is
<br /> .to b~ l~mited onlyt~,additional tax ,for parking.
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<br /> Manager said one of the key elements in Mr. 'Jacbbs' presentation of the background
<br /> for creation of the district was that if it is assumed that the downtown area has
<br /> to be maintained in an economically strong position and that transportation in
<br /> general and promotion are part of that process, some method is needed which makes
<br /> it mandatory that those people who are benefitted will participate. He ,said it
<br /> was - fouil,d in surveyimjsimilar programs in th€? California cities v~sited that
<br /> un~versal participation is _ th.e key_ to the succ,ess of the program. , $ince the City
<br /> is the only agency which has legal way of guarant_eeing that universal participa-
<br /> tion, the creation of a board wi th legal authori ty to develop financing seems to
<br /> be the only alternative. This ordinance creates that bOdy-and needs to use the
<br /> power of the pUblic if the program is to be carried out. Manage:r: ;s~id it is _
<br /> generally felt that if the program is to work it must absorb and pay the assess-
<br /> ment on the 10th and Oak garage because the City cannot be expected to set up a
<br /> free parking district and also. pay. bonds on the Overpark.
<br /> Mrs. Beal wondered if the Downtown committee has considered alternatives to park-
<br /> ing, whether they -have thought of less expensive parking, shuttle busses, special
<br /> arra,ngements wi_ th the bus company, package deli very. .
<br /> Vince Farina, member of the Downtown committee~ tiaid even with mass transit, park-
<br /> ing will be need~d.. He said people within the proposed district are willing to
<br /> pay a business license fee or ad valorem tax for the very specific purpose of sol v-
<br /> ing the parking, problem as well as to promote business, downtown. . He said the
<br /> business pro[llOtion downtown is what will bring property values back and will con-
<br /> seque.ntl,y benefit the entire City.
<br /> Mrs. Beal _remarked on the aspect of air pollution connected with parking and the
<br /> use qf. ?utomobi~e.s.~n _the congested area of the City, aside from the blacktopped
<br /> areas, needed to accommodate tlle parking,: She felt there should be some study on
<br /> the impact of the propo~al in that sense.
<br /> Mrs. Campbell was concerned that the tax would_be recovered from the consumer by
<br /> an increase in the price of merchandise. Mr. Farina replied that the cost of doing
<br /> business mu~t be borne by the cons~mer; in order to realize a profit the cost,of
<br /> operation must be overcome. He said there may be some difference between prices
<br /> in the downtown area and those in Valley River, but it is debatable; the customers I
<br /> pay the cost of parking at Valley River since the merchants there pass the cost on
<br /> the same as any other merchant. He t?aid there would have to be some price adjustment,
<br /> how much it is not known, becaus-ethe formula is one of the problems to be worked out .
<br /> by the proposed board.
<br /> Harry Ritchie, owner of stores both at Valley River and in the downtown area, said
<br /> prices are the same 'at both stores but business at Valley River has continually
<br /> increased whereas in the downtown store the volume has, gone down. Comment9 from
<br /> customers always revol ve around lack of or diffi cul ty in parking. He said
<br /> several, other programs were explored at great length wi th the concl usion that com-
<br /> pulsory participation in a free parking program is necessary. He noted that tenants
<br /> in Valley River pay the parking assessment as part of the lease. Mr. Ritchie ,con-
<br /> tinued,that all ,of the merchants in the proposed district who are dependent upon I
<br /> parking are vitally interested in the program.
<br /> Manager sa,id,it has'been previously discussed that before any funding program is
<br /> implemented, this Council would expect to have proof of substantial agreement on
<br /> the plan prior to public hearing, and that no action would be taken on a request
<br /> from ten people to impose a charge on everyone. Mr. Mohr said for that reason it
<br /> is very important that a subcommittee of the Council should participate in drafting
<br /> th,? program.
<br /> Councilman Williams_wondered whether the Council shQuld participate in the drafting
<br /> of a financing program, saying that Valley Ri ver and other shopping areas wi thin
<br /> the City do_not_have Council participation. He said there is littie question that -
<br /> in terms 'of commercial health, growing and expanding, cost of parking- is of concern. ",'
<br /> Movement of commercial activities to suburban areas testifies to that. But he does
<br /> not agree that in_the downtoTt!n area parking is not a matter of business c~ncern and
<br /> is a matter ofCouneil c6iwern when the Council has no say in what shopping centers
<br /> provide in the way of parking. He feels the position of the City is to give the
<br /> businessmen the opportunity to provide that parking.
<br /> J~7 6/15/72 - 2
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