Recently I have read that the City Council, under the advice of staff, is considering a “test” of new paid-parking options in downtown Bend. The Bulletin rightfully published an editorial basically saying, “we have been there, done that, and nothing ever changes.” Well, yes and no.

I have lived in Bend well over 40 years and seen many changes — not all bad, mind you. At one time we had parking meters on many of the downtown streets. The “meter reader” (cannot use the term meter maid anymore) was a full-time city employee. Later, the Mirror Pond parking lot was totally revamped and the “alley” between Franklin and essentially Oregon avenues was limited to use by the businesses abutting it. And then came the parking structure on Lava Road and Oregon Avenue.

The city has grown in many ways, including city services.

Last evening I walk up to my extended cab, long bed pickup parked in the what was a public, two-hour maximum parking lot off Franklin Avenue in front of the city’s Finance Department and found a parking ticket. What? I was stunned, as I had only been in the lot about 60 minutes (two-hour downtown lot), a lot in which I routinely park because of my “overlength vehicle.” The lot is off-street and easily accommodates longer vehicles which, if parked on Wall or Bond streets, could impair traffic (something the city has grappled with in recent years). Without notice or even a “warning,” I received a $50 citation for now parking in a spaces with new signage reading “City Vehicles Only.” I don’t check the signs every time I park in that lot; why would I? When did that change? The next morning I asked some city Finance Department employees when it changed. The response was sometime last week. Further, they commented that they just learned of the change this week. I asked why? Four new 24/7 “City Vehicles Only” parking. A loss of four long, deep spaces for customers that certainly will not be used on weekends.

So let’s have the serious conversation about parking downtown. Yes, employees working downtown take up parking spaces for customers of downtown businesses. Downtown employees also park on close-in neighborhood streets. And the city employees are the biggest contributor to the “problem”. The city issues well over 200 free parking permits to its employees working downtown. Swell — this as the city “encourages” folks to get out of their cars and use “alternative” transportation. I digress.

The problem of downtown parking is exacerbated by the large number of people (customers and staff) doing business with the city in downtown. The footprint of the city services in and around City Hall is immense, and all those doing business on either side of the desk need a place to park. There are even maps posted in City Hall to direct customers to the various buildings occupied by city departments

I wrote a guest column published in The Bulletin suggesting that the city administration uses “bounce-house logic.” Nothing has changed. It is past time to relocate City Hall and all downtown city offices from the most valuable land in Bend. These jewels of property are exempt from taxes. Move these services to locations outside the core which have adequate space for growth, adequate parking for customers and staff and recapture the badly needed property tax revenue the current downtown city properties should generate. Might I once again suggest Juniper Ridge, which offers such a site and the city already owns it (also not generating property tax revenue).

The largest employer downtown is the city. The emperor is naked and if the administration and council cannot see it, perhaps it is time for leadership.

— Don Ptacnik lives in Bend.