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City Council to revisit issue at its Jan. 15 regular meeting
Supporting a new local business in the community, the City of Globe agreed to let a mobile sports and equipment rentals business rent part of a downtown parking lot “from time to time.”
When E-Volve Adventure Rental applied for a business license last year in Globe, city staff learned that the plan was to park a trailer in the “Old Dominion” parking lot as a drop off/pick up point for the sports equipment that customers book online.
“The idea sounded good for the downtown district but because of the use of city property to run the business, the city needed to protect itself,” said Director of Development Services Chris Collopy.
Now, Globe City Council is being asked to weigh in on a proposed amendment to current city code should other companies also want to use designated city parking lots to conduct business, limiting the number of parking spaces being used.
The issue is scheduled to be up for a vote at the next regular council meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 15, at the Gila County Board of Supervisors meeting room, 1400 E. Ash St., Globe.
At the Dec. 3 meeting, council members thanked E-Volve Adventure owner Darryl Griffin for bringing a new business to Globe.
A mobile-based e-bike, kayak and stand up paddle (SUP) board rental company, E-Volve Adventure is allowed to rent a few spaces of the city parking lot at the northwest corner of Broad and Sycamore Streets.
Councilwoman Charlene Giles also expressed concerns about the parking issue, calling the “huge lack of parking” a problem downtown, especially on Fridays.
“Two or three spaces is fine right now,” Giles said. “But what if there are three more businesses that say, ‘You let him do it. Why not me?’”
As a result, city staff put together an ordinance which would amend existing city code.
Proposed ordinance No. 861 states that, while city council believes it’s in the city’s best interest to allow vendors to rent public parking lots, too many vendors could impose a hardship on merchants as well as visitors looking for parking spaces.
If approved, the proposed ordinance would limit vendors to renting 20 percent of available public parking spaces in any single city parking lot, except for special events.
In addition, access would be limited to “first come, first allowed.”
The vendor would also be required to have with them at all times a current copy of their license agreement, proof of insurance and a time-stamped electronic photo documental their arrival time that day.
City parking lots designated as part of a special event permit are excluded from this requirement, the proposed ordinance states.
On the subject of special events, such as Globe’s annual Cinco de Mayo celebration that takes place in the Old Dominion parking lot, City Manager Paul Jepson said, “We want to have the right to say that we need these spots right now.”
Award winning journalist with over 18 years experience in covering local news and issues affecting rural communities. Married 37 years, my life has taken me from Phoenix to Willcox to Globe. My husband and I are both overjoyed to find ourselves in Globe-Miami, with its rich history and sense of community. This is truly home.
