Council backs parallel parking plan Oct. 15, 2009 With surprisingly little discussion, the Antigo Common Council rebuffed attempts to alter the planned design for downtown parking.
On a 3-6 vote, aldermen rejected an attempt to rescind an earlier decision to redesign Fifth Avenue incorporating parallel parking and a center median.
In favor were Vern Cahak, Maggie Turnbull and Bob Noskowiak.
The decision means that engineers will design the streetscape, scheduled for rebuilding in 2013, following a recommendation of the Springbrook and Downtown Revitalization Steering Committee and incorporating parallel parking, one lane travel in either direction, bicycle lanes, and a center median with a design yet-to-be determined.
Prior to the vote, aldermen heard from Barb Suick of the Palace Twin Theater and Mary Ann Kamps of Avenue West, who supported a compromise approach that would have created angled parking on the south side of the street and parallel parking on the north. There would have been no center median. With the council deciding against rescinding its earlier motion, that compromise idea did not reach a vote.
The parking setup is a main component of the reconstruction of Fifth Avenue, which is planned following a state of Wisconsin project to construct a Highway 64 bypass of downtown in 2011.
As part of the bypass work, the city may receive up to 80 percent of the funding for repairs and changes to Fifth Avenue through downtown through state grants. That work would commence once the bypass is complete, probably in 2013.
In a related matter, the council agreed to apply for funds through the state Community Block Grant Planning program to assist with access and improvements to rear business parking downtown.
The grant is for $25,000 and requires an equal match from the city. It would focus on analyzing the lots with an eye toward signage, lighting and the rear facades on the businesses.
Aldermen also hired Frisch Greenhouses to design and maintain planters along both Fifth and Sixth avenues. Total cost is estimated at $11,621, with $7,271.50 for Fifth Avenue and $4,349.50 for Sixth Avenue.
In other business, aldermen:
—authorized the clerk-treasurer to apply annually for the necessary state licenses needed to hold fund-raising raffles for various projects.
—waived the $25 fee for the Antigo Optimist Club Halloween parade.
—accepted the $29,352 bid of Walters Buildings to construct a maintenance storage facility at Elmwood Cemetery with funds to be derived from the cemetery capital improvement project account.
—purchased a GPS unit for the Public Works Department to be used for completing a variety of engineering, surveying and mapping duties. Cost is approximately $17,155 and the equipment will be provided by Seiler-Terry Lueschow of Sheboygan.
—and bought a new hydraulic hammer from Airing Equipment for the water department at an approximate cost of $14,240.
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