Helms elected chamber president. James Helms, Jr. was elected president of the Arcadia Chamber of Commerce. Jim Clarke is vice president and president-elect. Clarke is owner of Clarke Directory Publications, Inc. Other officers are treasurer Dick Closson and budget director Lyle Cunningham. Carol Libby and Roy Long will be honored as Citizens of the Year. See hard copy of newspaper in Box 51.
Public parking, which is becoming increasingly scarce in the downtown area, was given close scrutiny at the May 18, 1976 City Council meeting. Most Council members seemed to favor a parking structure to alleviate the situation. Comparative costs were given.
Several plans to add additional parking spaces to the downtown area were outlined to interested businessmen. The proposals included re-striping of the existing area and narrowing Wheeler Street, permitting that section to be added to parking lots.
On November 8 the City Council adopted a design for public parking in the City's downtown business district which left no one particularly happy. Assessments will be worked out beginning at the December 6 meeting. Estimated cost of the project is $241,957.
The City Council has agreed to pay $83,770 of the total $241,957 cost of the new parking district, thus making each of the 62 property owners' assessments smaller.
The City Council amended the Municipal Code to specify that violation of handicapped parking restrictions on private, off-street parking facilities is an infraction of the Code.