City Council Minutes 2024 03 19 - Laserfiche WebLink

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City Council Meeting Minutes March 19, 2024 Page 10 of 14 Councilmember Bierman stated the bus is the big issue and we need to find a way to work with RTD to move the bus from LaFarge. Councilmember Kern stated having the bus to LaFarge for six months is just a huge impact for the residents. Mayor Leh asked if a closure of any length of time is acceptable. Councilmember Hamlington stated Main Street needs to be revitalized and she wants the businesses to succeed, but is closure is the right way to do this for 2024. If we want to do it in 2025 with full engagement and data she would consider it. Running the bus down residential streets for any amount of time is not acceptable without clear data that it is beneficial to businesses. It is only an extra 3.5 feet from what they get from the patios and that is not worth a full closure of the street. Councilmember Hoefner stated it will be hard to get more data on the impact and benefits without trying the closure. We do know that what is happening now is not generating a thriving downtown; sticking with the status quo isn't a good long term plan. He suggested a closure for June — August to get some data on if it helps businesses. Whatever we decide we need to give staff good direction to engage in outreach and apply pressure on RTD to come up with other options. Councilmember Bierman stated he supports businesses but this feels too rushed and reactionary. Main Street is the lifeblood of downtown but this has serious impacts on the neighbors. He asked if there is a way to have the patio program enhanced with signage, lighting, etc. He stated people he spoke to agree 400 busses per week on their street would be a huge impact. He stated it is unfair to ask the neighbors on LaFarge to bear the brunt of the busses for another year. Councilmember Leh stated RTD is the problem; we have tried for three years to get them to move the bus from LaFarge and they are unwilling to look at alternatives. Councilmember Hamlington stated she likes the idea of a shorter closure but without knowing what data we want to collect she is not convinced 2024 is the year to do this. Councilmember Hoefner stated he thinks giving staff the next two months to determine what data is needed could work; this would need to be the priority for staff and there would be tradeoffs with other staff work. Council would need to support this. Councilmember Hamlington stated she is struggling with devoting so much time and effort to this at the expense of other priorities. She supports the downtown but is not sure this is the right move at this time. Mayor Leh stated there are a large number of big projects on the schedule in the next few months so if we do this it will impact those other projects.