The Wayland City Council Monday night took no action on a proposed agreement to continue snow plowing services for the parking lot between Aqua In Vino and Henika Library on South Main Street.
This means the city no longer will remove snow from the private parking lot, owned by Aqua In Vino owner Arne Rodriguez. Rodriguez has maintained that though he owns the parking lot, city workers have plowed it for many years and it is used extensively by the public, including city employees.
“I’m just asking for the city’s support for the downtown,” he said.
City Manager Josh Eggleston said the Downtown Development Authority reimbursed the city for the plowing, but now has walked away from the agreement because there have been more expenses than just plowing.
Eggleston said he is opposed to continuing the lease because philosophically he doesn’t think the city should be responsible for maintaining private property.
Though Rodriguez has argued that the lot helps open up parking spaces for resident in the downtown, Councilman Rick Mathis said he personally walked the area and found 165 spaces available.
“I can’t in good conscience vote for that (continuing the lease agreement for plowing)… I can’t see how we can do this for one (local business), but not for all.”
Mayor Pro Tem Jennifer Antel said, “Just because citizens use it doesn’t mean it’s the city’s responsibility (to have the lot plowed).”
Councilwoman Tracy Bivens, however, commented, “I’d still like to see it plowed, but the agreement needs to be fixed.”
No motion was made to continue the agreement, so the city’s intent to drop the service stands.
In other business at Monday’s meeting, the council:
• Noted city recycling pickup dates for all of 2022 with Republic have changed from every other Tuesday to every other Friday.
• Decided to have staff draw up a list of surplus office equipment located in the fire barn intended to be sold at a auction-style garage sale next year. The items include computers, monitors, staples, desks, chairs, etc.
