City officials told the Common Council they seek to amend prior bonding and design ordinances so construction of a parking lot adjacent to the new Public Safety Building can proceed.

Matt Ojek, Commissioner of Assessment, said the city initially planned the lot to be municipal with mixed use: police would use spaces but the lot would be open to the public when not in use by police. As the project moved closer to construction, staff said operational needs point toward more consistent police use, so the language is being amended to reflect that expectation.

Council members raised concerns about public access and where visitors will park. Ojek said an off-street public lot will be directly adjacent to the public entrance on the west side of the building and that the east-side lot will be gated and fobbed exclusively for police and fire use. He said the west lot will have approximately 14 spaces; staff agreed to provide a detailed map and final counts prior to construction.

Councilors also asked whether any on-street parking will be retained; staff replied that as of Feb. 1 there will be no parking on West Fayette or South Geddes, though some parking exists on nearby Magnolia and other adjacent parcels. No final council vote or appropriation was recorded in the provided portion of the meeting.

Next steps: staff will produce a map with confirmed space counts, clarify public access plans and return with final language for the ordinance amendments.