“It sounds like maybe there has been significant progress made to clean up the debris on the city property. The question is how much longer will we let this drag out.””

Plan Commissioner John Peterson

PRESCOTT – The Prescott Plan Commission began its June 5 meeting talking about remedial action regarding the property of 154 Wacota St., citing the process began in May 2022 with no resolution thus far. 

City Attorney Phil Helgeson was present along with McCoulter Eaton, who resides at the address. He spoke to the commission regarding the progress he has made removing items off the adjacent city property. Currently, Eaton’s property is in violation of City code 443.9, which states that there must be safe, attractive and sanitary maintenance of commercial property. Eaton has many items stored throughout his property. The city previously notified him to remove items off his property or build a fence it. He also has debris and items encroaching onto city property that must be removed as well.

As Eaton addressed the commission, he explained that he was contacted last year and asked for more time to build a fence and remove some items. He showed them photos of the work he’s done removing items and building a temporary fence, explaining that more work would be completed except he was delayed by the very snowy winter.

Plan commission members are confused why the temporary fence that Eaton installed is located significantly on city property. Eaton stated that previously the city was aware that he installed the fence on city property, and they didn’t have a problem with it. The other issue is that in August 2022, the city gave Eaton an extension to remove items off of city property and while he has made large strides in doing so, he has not met the city deadline. Eaton asked for more time again, mentioning the snowy winter conditions and that he travels a lot for his job.

“It’s a work in progress yet and it will continue to be,” Eaton remarked, showing commission members photos of the items he has already cleared.

City Administrator Matt Wolf recommended that members of the Plan Commission visit the property in question so they can understand the situation themselves.

“It sounds like maybe there has been significant progress made to clean up the debris on the city property,” member John Peterson said. “The question is how much longer will we let this drag out.”

“I will need more than 30 days,” Eaton said, adding that he may need a few months.

Plan Commission members were hesitant to issue a 30-day compliance letter as they felt Eaton has been working to be compliant and would need more time.

Member Steve Most said he doesn’t think 30 days is realistic for Eaton to be compliant, but stated that it’s important to make sure he is moving forward in a timely manner. Eaton said he would be willing to return to the next Plan Commission meeting in August with more pictures detailing his progress, to which the Plan Commission agreed.

The group decided to issue Eaton a final letter under Chapter 410 nuisance with 30 days to reach compliance and the Plan Commission will determine at the August meeting if remedial action is needed.

Paid parking

City Planner Carter Hayes discussed the idea of downtown paid parking project with commission members, which would address overnight boaters parking in Mercord Mill Park for extended periods. The issue has been addressed in numerous meetings and workshops since September 2022. Results of the project would include:

• Parking revenue can be returned to pay for additional amenities in metered areas.
• Turnover is stimulated resulting in more open spots.
• It cuts traffic congestion by slowing down “cruising” or patrolling for an open free spot.

“It’s been done in many cities,” Hayes said. “The purpose of this altogether is not just to increase revenue. It’s not just for the money. It’s to manage our current inventory as best as we can without having to invest all that money into a parking ramp or parking lots that really provide nothing because our downtown is really close to the river. We would really want businesses and buildings rather than pavement and parking lots.”

The plan would affect 327 downtown parking spaces including those in the Cherry Street lot, Mercord Mill Park lot, and Orange Street lot, with the possibility of extending it to Locust Street. The expansion on Cherry Street would add 25 to 30 spaces resulting in a total of approximately 70 spaces in that lot. For patrons to pay for the parking, Hayes said Prescott City Council likes the idea of using a mobile app system, pay stations for non-mobile payments, and annual permits for residents at $50 and at $100 for business employees. For enforcement, license plate readers would be mounted on police vehicles so officers can quickly identify violators.

Hayes added that the city doesn’t want to make a profit from the permits.

“We don’t want to have our residents pay for parking like our visitors would,” he said.

The revenue gained from the paid parking spaces would be divided between a new Downtown Parking Fund and a Capital Improvement Fund to be put back into city services.

Most asked, “Of what’s on the map that you provided in regards to the parking downtown, how many of these spots would be affected by this new system?”

Hayes answered that it would be all of them.

“People are going to push back on this big time,” Most stated.

“I would say we are fairly deep into it at this point,” Hayes pointed out when Commissioner Kate Otto asked if this project was going to be brought to City Council. He further described that Prescott is looked at as the free parking city by visitors and they hope to combat that.

In other news:

• The Plan Commission reviewed and made final amendments to the Chapter 635 Zoning Code that had been started in December 2022.
• Most made a motion to ask the City Council to approve a public hearing to be held by the Plan Commission on Aug. 7, which carried after being seconded by Josh Gergen.
• Plan Commission members Dave Hovel and Rick Miller were absent from the meeting.