Council weighs drafting legislation to buy downtown parking lot amid tank/cleanup concerns

City staff asked the committee for permission to draft legislation to buy a downtown lot that would yield roughly 60 parking spaces for visitors and festival traffic.

The service director said the goal was to "prepare legislation for the purchase of this property" to increase parking capacity. Several council members objected to advancing a purchase without first resolving an underground fuel tank and potential EPA/state remediation requirements. Members raised possible cleanup costs (one council member said figures discussed ranged from about $150,000 up to as much as $350,000) and asked that any purchase be conditioned on completed testing, remediation and clarity on who would fund paving, lighting and remediation.

Councilors repeatedly said the city should not assume the full financial risk if the acquisition primarily benefitted private businesses and non‑profits; one member recommended contingencies allowing the city to back out if environmental or cost issues persisted. The committee did not approve a purchase; staff was directed to draft legislation and return with documentation showing environmental clearance and a funding plan before final approval.

Council members asked the administration to provide cost estimates, any EPA or state orders, and proposed contingencies in the draft legislation.