Officials will meet on matter in December
By Dave Fidlin
Correspondent
A series of long-range recommendations concerning parking could soon bubble to the surface in Whitewater, city officials revealed recently.
City Manager Cameron Clapper and Neighborhood Services Director Chris Munz-Pritchard came before the Common Council on Oct. 21 and discussed next steps to the parking summit meetings that were held throughout the summer.
“At this point, we have a variety of alternatives, although nothing has been set in stone,” Clapper said.
The parking summit meetings are an outgrowth of the city’s extensive zoning rewrite process, which was completed early this year after a two-year review. Parking was an issue that came up frequently in discussions, and city officials decided to review it — independent of zoning related matters.
In April, the council authorized entering into a contract with Larry Witzling, a principal with Milwaukee-based engineering firm GRAEF, to assist in making parking recommendations. Witzling and his staff attended the trio of parking summit meetings.
Clapper said the summit meetings were held with a cross-section of interested groups, including property managers and renters. One meeting involved members of the city Plan Commission.
Munz-Pritchard said a variety of issues need to be taken into account as revised parking accommodations are considered. For example, such infrastructure as the city’s storm water system cannot be disrupted.
Tentative plans call for Witzling and his staff to bring forward a recommendation for on-street parking throughout the city at a council meeting Tuesday, Dec. 2. Most, if not all, of the members of the Plan Commission are also expected to be part of the discussion.
Munz-Pritchard had inquired about having the meeting with Witzling in November, but council members said the discussion should take place after the 2015 municipal budget is adopted.
