HomeMy WebLinkAboutA001 - memo from Assistant City Manager to Council dated June 9, 1989 - skateboards in downtown area P. � 0 �' � U� limit
TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: Sheila Lundt, Assistant to the City Manager
DATE: June 9, 1989
SUBJECT: Skateboards in the Downtown Area
For the past week, I have been attempting to contact businesses north of
Main Street to assess the impact, if any, that skateboarders are having
upon their operations and/or property. I was able to speak with the
representatives of six (6) of the businesses in the Fifth Street area, from
Clark to Kellogg. The following seem to summarize the skateboard problems
of which all six representatives were aware:
(1) Damage to private and/or public property;
(2) Rude or inconsiderate behavior by the skateboarders to busi-
ness employees and/or customers;
(3) Hazards to either motoring or pedestrian traffic;
(4) General safety concerns for the skateboarders themselves.
At this point, I feel confident that there are problems beyond the Library
and Depot areas. I also am confident that both the City and private sector
are bearing a burden for damage skateboards are causing.
In order to prepare a more comprehensive recommendation, I feel the
following steps will be necessary:
(1) Set a meeting with the Downtown Betterment group (or its
representatives) to discuss additional concerns and possible
alternatives.
(2) Contact with other cities in Iowa and several in California about
possible alternatives available to us.
(3) Preparation of an ordinance for presentation to the City Council
on the June 27 agenda.
At this time I am recommending that the Council continue action on the
proposed ordinance prohibiting skateboards at the Library and Depot sites.
Over the next two weeks I will be proceeding with the above process.
Summaries of my contacts with the Betterment representatives and other
cities will also be presented to the Council on June 27.
/lw
c: Don Mangels, First National Bank
Bill Cronin, Electronic Engineering
Bob Lembke, United Bank & Trust
John Mathison, Mathison Ford
John Huber, Downtown Betterment Association