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Mayor Brown closed the public hearing. <br /> Councilmember Balch stated the pendulum has swung back a little bit from the past two years but the <br /> challenges are real. He noted downtown parking has been very packed lately. He expressed concerns <br /> about the non-active use between traditional meal windows, stressing the need for programming to <br /> keep people around. He stated downtown cannot only be for restaurants. He would like to see it at least <br /> twice a month but noted this is a steppingstone, echoing public comments about not wanting to dine <br /> around moving cars. <br /> Councilmember Balch moved to approve staff recommendation but added going through December <br /> could work as a compromise and the Hometown Holiday Parade would be an outstanding back-end <br /> anchor point. He called for additional signage. He added there should be a prohibition on parklet <br /> construction during the Weekend on Main period. <br /> In response to Mayor Brown, Councilmember Balch agreed with having staff handle the barriers due to <br /> cost. Mayor Brown requested that it be part of the motion. <br /> Councilmember Balch amended his motion to incorporate the staff-only option. <br /> Councilmember Testa reported many restaurant owners feel like twice a month is a sufficient <br /> compromise. She agreed every weekend is too negative of an impact on retailers. She added twice-a- <br /> month also allows for bimonthly Concerts in the Park on the other two weekends. She reported <br /> speaking to a staffer at Baci Cafe and Wine Bar saying downtown had become a destination and <br /> reported business is down 30% without Weekend on Main and added all restaurants want at least <br /> bimonthly as reflected in the staff report. She stated restaurants have had to turn away diners without <br /> the parklets and closures and twice a month is a fair compromise to support retailers. <br /> Councilmember Balch stated he would also prefer bimonthly but expressed concerns there would be <br /> sufficient programming based upon comments from staff and the PDA. <br /> Councilmember Testa stated reducing to once a month for the PDA is not necessary. She requested to <br /> make a substitute motion. <br /> City Attorney Sodergren clarified the need for a motion and a second on the original motion before <br /> there can be a substitute motion. <br /> Councilmember Narum seconded Councilmember Balch's motion. <br /> Councilmember Testa made a substitute motion to have Weekend on Main on the first and third <br /> weekends of every month from May through December with the City handling the barriers for cost <br /> reasons. <br /> In response to Mayor Brown, Interim Assistant City Manager Ott noted Weekend on Main creates costly <br /> overtime pay and doing it bimonthly would necessitate using outside vendors. <br /> Councilmember Testa's substitute motion failed for lack of a second. <br /> Councilmember Narum agreed bimonthly would be nice but they have to be realistic with what the PDA <br /> can handle. She added Main Street cannot survive with restaurants alone, stressing the importance of <br /> its retailers and service businesses. She noted the advisory group the Council asked staff to assemble <br /> put a lot of work into the recommendation and it should be honored, along with the PDA's wishes. <br /> Councilmember Arkin stated she loves the closures. but they need to support all downtown merchants. <br /> She added retailers are struggling and the recommendation by staff and the PDA is a good <br /> City Council Minutes Page 13 of 16 February 15. 2022 <br />