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dinner at restaurants, there is no parking spot available. He asked the Commission to accept Mr. Dondero's offer to go walking around Downtown and ask those people Downtown instead of just listening to two people talk here, and find out what they really say about the parking situation Downtown. He questioned the statement that the proposed project is going to use only three more parking spots, since that building has a restaurant that will use tons of parking spaces; and the City is not going to supply more parking on the north side of town because there is no place to put them. Mr. Byrd stated that he has no problems with the project, that he would like to see the applicant build the project; but he would like to see the City hold up its end of the bargain and supply the parking. He pointed out that the City is not doing that, and that is the problem. Larry Dondero stated that he is the other half of the application and that the one thing that has not been mentioned as far as the parking goes is that restaurants are there in the evening where business probably starts at 5:00 p.m. through 10:00 p.m. He indicated that the rest of the properties that have daytime uses and are retail would be pretty much shut down by that time, and with parking being an asset, it would be a good thing to be able to blend both types of businesses to constantly use these parking spaces. Mr. Dondero stated that he thinks having a parking problem is one of the best things a city can have because that means it has commerce, it has viability, it has things happening in town. He pointed out that this happens to a community that is moving and working, and he would be worried if the city did not have that parking problem. THE PUBLIC HEARING WAS CLOSED. Commissioner O'Connor noted that one of the speakers tonight questioned where the public parking is going to go. He stated that he knows the City has some railroad corridor parking and a lot more of farther south and central to Downtown, but inquired what is happening farther north. He indicated that he knows the City owned all of that public right -of -way but does not know if there are plans to pave that. Mr. Otto replied that the City did purchase from Alameda County the railroad corridor up to Ray Street which includes behind Cole's Market, and the City also has an option to purchase the north side portion of Ray Street when the soil contamination on that portion of the corridor is cleaned up. He stated that there are plans that show conceptual layouts of parking spaces to go in those locations along the trails, as well as public art, benches, and things like that, but he is not aware of the actual timeframe for that. He indicated that the City has used all of its funds from the in -lieu parking fee. He added that the Municipal Code specifically does say that the parking fee is not required to be used in one specific area; it does not say that if the fee is for a site in the north part of Downtown, parking has to be built in the north side. He indicated that the fee can be used for parking anywhere in the Downtown. PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES, May 13, 2015 Page 8 of 32