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The parking exempt amendment was previously before the commission, but had to be read and voted on again because a public hearing on the issue was not properly noticed prior to its recommendation for approval by the planning commission.

The amendment was drafted to allow the city to grant parking exemptions to developers, meaning that they do not have to provide the requisite number of parking spaces as mandated by the zoning ordinance. Instead, the developer would pay a fee to the city's parking fund. The fee has not been determined as yet.

Commissioners voted as they had on May 22, with Mayor Eleanor Stackus, Ron Grunch and Jerry Douglas voting for a second reading leading to approval of the amendment.

But commissioner Chuck Vondra opposes the parking exempt boundaries saying it will lead to a lack of prime parking.

"There is no solution to the problem that we could be creating," Vondra said. He believes that allowing the One Water Street development to not have to create 89 parking spaces could hurt the downtown businesses whose customers rely on shortterm parking.

Vondra said that with the development of anything there is the opportunity to adhere to zoning laws and that there is the need to specifically comply.

Commissioner Dan Adkison had also voted against the parking exempt district boundaries including the One Water Street development.

But he was absent from the July 31 meeting. But Mayor Stackus said she doesn't think there is a lack of parking downtown.

"I think we have plenty of parking for everybody," Stackus said. "I think we've created more parking. I think the parking problem lies with the business employees."

Stackus was referring to employees of downtown businesses parking in prime spots while working.

Douglas said he wanted to see more people walking downtown.

Vondra said he also would like the downtown to encourage walking.

"I'm all for a walking community," he said. "But the reality is that people won't walk more than a couple of blocks."