A majority of downtown businesses would like to see enforcementof two-hour parking rules and limits on parking space usage bycontractors and apartment tenants in the area, according to resultsof a survey presented during Tuesday night’s Board of Aldermenmeeting.

Just Kiddin’ toy store owner Joe Fleming said the seven-questionsurvey was sent to 22 downtown businesses and he received 19responses. He said the survey was only a reflection of the feelingsof the business owners in the area.

“There are no bad answers to the survey,” Fleming said.

Summarizing results, Fleming said downtown retailers understandand support the need for building renovations, but have concernsabout how they are handled. Also, owners believe their businesses’presence benefits the area and only want to co-exist better withoffice personnel and tenants.

“Likewise, most downtown retailers feel an improved policepresence would be a great benefit for the area by making retailers,office personnel, tenants, customers and clients feel safer,”Fleming said.

Among question responses, 78 percent favored enforcement of thetwo-hour parking limit already in place. One respondent said itshould only be enforced fully during business hours Monday throughSaturday.

However, 63 percent also favored “exception cards” to allowparking for longer than two hours in front of a particularbusiness. One respondent indicated the cards could be used by abusiness owner looking to park in front of his business – a problemothers have cited as a deterrent to attracting customers.

Creation of a permit system to govern contractors placingequipment in front of downtown businesses garnered a 68 percentapproval rate. Question responses noted the potential safety hazardof unattended equipment but also acknowledged the equipment wouldonly be in place a short period of time in an effort towardbettering downtown.

Two questions that received 80-plus percent approval involvedlimiting construction dumpsters to alleyways, 84 percent, andrestricting apartment tenants from parking in front of anestablished business, 89 percent. Respondents indicated the tenantparking restrictions should be in place only during business hoursMonday through Saturday.

Fleming said business owners want to feel safe downtown. Onesurvey comment suggested they would be more willing to park in lotsbehind the businesses or in alleyways if they were “clean, lighted,paved and drainage was done properly.”

“We’re asking the board to please help the retailers with thisissue,” Fleming said.

During Tuesday’s meeting, Mayor Les Bumgarner indicated therecould be some difficulty in crafting parking rules for a downtownarea that has a variety of businesses and developments.

“Almost every street has a different set of variables, problemsand solution,” he said.