Steamboat Senior Center not happy with parking proposal

Burlington, Ia (The Hawk Eye)-  The Hawk Eye reports that members of the Steamboat Senior Center on Monday asked the Burlington City Council why it is considering taking away their parking passes.

At a work session last week, the council discussed doing away with parking passes and holding to the three-hour parking limits that are standard throughout downtown. The parking passes, which are held by the senior center and by the city of Burlington, entitle holders to park in timed spots without being required to move.

According to members of the senior center, many activities last more than three hours. They also said seniors might not be able to find a parking spot when trying to move.

Last month, the Burlington parking commission suggested the city make the parking lots near the senior center free, to give the seniors a place to park.

But Marilyn Leight of the senior center argued even asking the seniors to park a block away can prohibit seniors from being able to partake in center activities. Saying they have many people who cannot walk that far.

According to council member Jon Billups, the city council is considering holding off on plans to change parking until a better solution can be reached. Stating that they “have not forgotten about our seniors.”