For Sagebrush owner Dia Zaraga, the idea of 20-minute parking doesn’t make sense.
‘None of these places are one-stop shopping,? Zaraga said, noting that someone might come to Sagebrush to eat, then stop at Ed’s Broadway Gifts for some candy and then see Elements and want to go over there. ‘If you are on limited time with the 20 minutes, you are always watching your time.?
Zaraga said that he feels putting a stress on parking time limits prevents customers from enjoying all that downtown has to offer, as they are worried about getting ticketed and will cut their visit short.
‘Twenty minutes is not much,? he added. ‘Then all of sudden, you go to your car and you have a ticket and that will drive people away from downtown.?
Zaraga praised what the DDA (Downtown Development Authority) has accomplished in downtown, but feels that rather than focusing their efforts in a perceived parking problem, they should continue to work on making downtown look beautiful and welcoming.
He suggests putting some benches, new garbage cans and maps of downtown businesses and parking in, which he feels will continue the look that the hanging flowers create.
‘It’s beautiful (in downtown), we just kind of need to do more with it,? Zaraga added.
Shifting the focus away from parking, he believes, will create a better attitude in the downtown.
‘Its all about attitude,? Zaraga said. ‘I think if you see 20-minute parking, two-hour parking, no parking here, it’s just making it like we have a parking problem here and we really don’t. There is always somewhere to park.?