HOLLAND, MI (WHTC) – Nary a word was said last night about a possible change to one of downtown Holland’s biggest selling points.
With no public comment, the City Council last night approved on a consent vote a recommendation to designate 30 short-term parking spaces on 8th Street, hiring “parking ambassadors” to “positively encourage appropriate parking” in the downtown district; improve signage; redesign parking brochures; and provide an incentives program to reward employees for parking correctly. These steps were put forward in a report made earlier this year by a retained consultant to address the growing free parking problem in downtown Holland caused by more development, employees and shoppers.
The report also had two other proposals to deal with the issue, which included parking meters and enforcing a time-limit program, but Council had taken a dim view of those ideas when the members considered the matter at a work-study session last week.
City Manager Ryan Cotton and his staff will now work on implementing Council’s recommendation, with a review of its results slated for a year from now.
