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Houghton will begin implementing the city’s new parking ordinance and parking permit system. Last night following a hearing on the new parking ordinance, the city council unanimously passed new parking enforcement rules and fines. Resident will have three overnight parking permits to chose from, including a 6 month pass, one designed for students and the school year, and for yearlong residents living in downtown.Additionally the city will implement a re-parking fine, in order to discourage residents, visitors and downtown workers moving a vehicle within the same block, or adjacent block or any city owned parking lot for a period in excess of the two-hour time limit.
Houghton used the city of Wausau’s parking ordinance as guidance for the new updates.
City owned lots with free all day parking include the lot behind the chamber of commerce building, the lot between the Portage Lift Bridge and the Downtowner, and half of the lot at the Grace United Methodist Church on Montezuma Avenue. Free two-hour parking in the city, runs from 7am to 5 pm Monday through Friday. The city wants to encourage purchasing a parking permit, especially employers, as the cost of a parking permit is cheaper than incurring multiple parking tickets over the course of a year.
Houghton will begin to update signage around the city to show where time limited parking lots, permit lots, and two hour parking blocks are located within the city. During public comment a downtown business owner addressed concerns he has heard from his female staff, regarding the lighting at some of the temporary parking areas the city has set up during the parking deck demolition. He voiced concern that while his staff did feel safe at first, there have been interactions recently that have made some people uncomfortable walking alone late at night. City officials and the police department plan to address the issue and will check the lighting in those areas. City Manager Eric Waara did express that there was a temporary lapse of some lights working near Bridgeview Park as a result of some of the nearby work, but that issue has been addressed with a temporary power source.
The council will support City Manager Eric Waara going after a community center grant with MI-LEO to make updates to Dee Stadium. The grant has a 2.5 million dollar limit, and the city does have enough money in the ARPA funds and the stadium’s budget to cover any potential match amount. Waara told the council the updates would include the addition of an elevator, improvements to the ballroom HVAC system, as well improvements to a dehumidifying system for the rink. Other updates to the space would help the stadium turn into a sort of community center for area residents.
Houghton has scheduled a public hearing for August 9th to accept 124,000 dollar grant from the USDA to purchase a new loader truck for 250,000 dollars. The city will use funds from the Equipment fund to match the USDA grant. Houghton had applied for the funding in 2021.
After the final action item the city council entered into closed session to discuss the purchase of property.
