Unrestricted parking will continue in the middle of First Avenue between Second and Fourth streets following a petition from Ketchum business owners urging the Ketchum City Council to maintain the status quo. That issue was part of a larger public hearing on numerous language changes and amendments to the city's parking ordinance at a Tuesday City Council meeting.
"We are all concerned with the direction that the city is taking in 'punishing' our employees because they drive to work and park in Ketchum," said Sun Valley Title Manager Cassie Jones in an e-mail to city planner Beth Robrahn.
The e-mail was attached to a petition containing 60 signatures from individuals representing various local businesses.
One change that will occur is that First Avenue will be restricted to two-hour parking in the center between Fourth and Fifth Streets, Robrahn said in an interview. It had been unlimited.
Robrahn explained that after angle parking was changed to parallel on Fourth Street outside Perry's Restaurant, owner Keith Perry requested the two-hour parking on First Avenue to offset lost parking spaces on Fourth Street. The adjustment will be made by the traffic authority and not as part of the ordinance, she said.
The 17 pages of changes in the parking ordinance could be approved at the council's regular meeting on July 2 if three readings of it are waived, Robrahn said.