08/14/16 — Council to discuss parking

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Council to discuss parking

By Rochelle Moore
Published in News on August 14, 2016 10:34 AM

The results of a downtown traffic and parking study, a proposed $10 billion bond referendum and new trash services will be reviewed by the Goldsboro City Council Monday.

The council, which meets at 7 p.m. in City Hall, is set to approve the parking study, conducted by VHB Engineering this year. The final report shows the city with a surplus of 579 parking spaces, which is expected to reduce by more than 300 spaces in the next three years. Additional downtown development is expected to eventually lead to a 191 parking space deficit by 2026, according to the report. VHB offers recommended strategies to meet future demands.

A $10 million bond referendum proposal will go before council for a vote. If approved by the council and the state's Local Government Commission, city voters will be able to decide during the Nov. 8 general election if they support a $7 million bond for street resurfacing and $3 million bond for the development of a multi-sports complex near Seymour Johnson Air Force Base. City officials confirm that the bond proposal will not lead to an increase in property taxes, but existing and increasing revenue sources will pay down the debt.

The city's public works department will present a solid waste ordinance change that would allow the city to add new side yard trash pickup service. Currently, city crews roll out trash containers for the handicapped at no additional cost. The ordinance change would allow any resident to receive the same rollout service, at an additional monthly cost of $20.

Public works is also proposing the sale of heavy duty bags for construction debris. The 3-cubic-yard bags would hold about 3,300 pounds of debris. The city plans to sell each bag for $25. City crews will also collect and dispose of the bags at a first bag cost of $125 and additional bags at $100 each.

City officials are also considering an increased cost for compost and mulch that is sold from the city's compost facility on North Center Street. The cost is recommended to increase from $6.50 to $8 per cubic yard. The cost of a 30-pound bag of compost is also recommended to increase from $1.13 to $2.

The council will also hold a public hearing for two tattoo parlor conditional use permits. Nicky Parrish is seeking a conditional use permit to operate a tattoo parlor at 1923 N. William St., in the shopping center where The Playground Nightclub is located.

Zackell Perry is seeking a conditional use permit to open a tattoo parlor at 605 E. Ash St., near Slocumb Street. The permit requests will be reviewed by the Goldsboro Planning Commission later this month and commission decisions will be recommended to the council in early September.