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closeCouncil passes parking measure
The Puyallup City Council addresses parking concerns around the new city hall on April 21
Chris Albert
Dan Smith went before the Puyallup City Council at their April 21 meeting concerned that parking would be disappearing in front of his law office in downtown Puyallup.
Planned sidewalk improvements in front of the new city hall could have caused street parking in front of his building and part of the Puyallup School District building to disappear.
That won’t be the case though after the city council approved a recommendation by City Manager Gary McLean that keeps street parking in front of the attorney’s office and the school district.
“That sounds pretty good to me,” Smith said, after being asked by Mayor Don Malloy what he thought that of the recommendation.
The recommendation was passed 4-3. Deputy Mayor George Dill and Councilmembers John Knutsen and Rick Hansen voted against the recommendation.
“I’m encouraged that we are looking at more parking than we were a couple of weeks ago,” Hansen said.
But the loss of street parking in front of city hall is still too much, he said.
The approved street parking recommendations also include no deductions of parking spaces on the west side of the street.
The bus stop at the park, which was temporarily moved during construction would be permanently moved south of the park.
The sidewalk in front of the city hall would extend to the end of the plaza, by what is now a counseling center. The aim is to make city hall more pedestrian friendly.
From the end of the plaza across the street to Pioneer Park a crosswalk is planned.
There had been some concerns that the crosswalk would be raised.
“There is no raised crosswalk,” McLean said. “I want that very clear.”
The crosswalk will also feature flashing lights to warn drivers of pedestrians.
Knutsen said the sidewalk and crosswalk will be a safety hazard and was opposed losing street parking in front of city hall is unacceptable.
“I think it makes absolutely no sense we move any parking,” he said.
Councilmember Kathy Turner said the crosswalk and sidewalk were designed with safety in mind and a crosswalk connecting city hall to Pioneer Park would at least create a safe pathway people are using anyway.
“People cross in the middle of the street as if there’s one there anyway,” she said.
She voted for recommendation along with Malloy and Councilmembers Tami Brouillet and Mike Deal.
To address some parking concerns the city hall will have about 220 spots with 152 in the parking garage and 71 around the building.
McLean said minimizing city staff use will be a priority by encouraging uses like the bus, carpooling or riding their bike to work.
It is likely no more than 140 pots would be used by city staff, leaving about 80 to 90 spaces available for the public.
There has not been a decision on whether there will be a charge to park in the parking garage, McLean said.