In downtown St. Marys, parking is such sweet sorrow

ST. MARYS - A city business owner called proposed changes to the central business district's parking ordinances short-sighted during Monday's regular council meeting.

Councilors also heard first reading of an ordinance to repay $2.1 million in debt and roll over the remaining balance of roughly $1.53 million into a one-year note.

Nancy Mauter, co-owner of Hudson Jewelers, during Monday's meeting said proposed legislation that would change the central business district's two-hour parking limit from 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Saturday to 7 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday would reduce growth downtown. The change would apply to all streets in the district except Main Street.

The issue stems from a general frustration with parking in the central business district from business owners. Business owners have said customers are at times unable to find spots to park, and some business owners have cited apartment tenants using downtown parking as an issue.

At the same time, Scott and Dave Rosenbeck, who own nine apartments and three storefronts along West Spring Street, have said their tenants have been issued parking tickets since the police department began cracking down on parking violations.

"We are in the midst of a time when we're doing a lot of downtown revitalization," Mauter said. "I really have a big concern about this. I think that we're being very short sighted by doing this. You need to look at where our community is growing and where we want to grow, not just based on the fact that somebody didn't have parking for all their residents."

If parking continues to be an issue for business owners, Mauter said St. Marys could risk losing businesses.

"If it comes down to it… there might be other people that are retailers that are going to start moving out, and you'll have less than what you had," she said.

Councilman Erik Mauter, Mauter's husband, called the proposed changes "horrible."

"I can tell you Saturday is my busiest day, and it's always been my busiest day," he said. "So if you cut that parking out, I just think that's a horrible move."

Erik Mauter later made a motion to amend the ordinance to change the two-hour parking limit to 7 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Saturday, which was approved by council members.

The ordinance, as well as other legislation related to downtown parking, was tabled for two special meetings at 5:15 p.m. Wednesday and 5:15 p.m. Thursday, both at the municipal building.

In other business, council members heard first reading of an emergency ordinance to pay nearly $2.1 million of a $3.58 million loan and roll over the remaining balance of approximately $1.53 million into a new short-term loan.

City public service and safety director Greg Foxhoven said the debt comes from several projects, including purchasing the Doseck farm and the demolition of three buildings to pave the way for the new municipal building.

"So we want to pay down approximately $2.1 million and then roll over $1,530,000," he said. "That would be a one-year note."

The first loan must be paid by March 1, he said. The interest rate for the current one-year loan is 1.22% and he anticipated the new interest rate to be around 3%.

Councilors will hear second and third reading of the legislation at the special meetings on Wednesday and Thursday.

The next regular council meeting is 6:30 p.m. Feb. 27 in the municipal building.