After two postponements, public hearings were held by the Sisters city council March 14 on two ordinances intended to clarify confusion about the city's "parking district development fees" and the "parking development in lieu fee."

The confusion was not resolved, however.

City Attorney Geoffrey Gokey brought the ordinances stamped "draft" to the meeting with the idea, he said, that the council would look them over, comment, and he would put them in final form before any hearings would be held.

Gokey said the revisions are for clarification only and do not alter any terms of the original Ordinance No. 254 which was adopted in 1992.

But what seemed to be a "housekeeping" effort stirred up concern from the council and people from the business community about the boundaries of the parking district, how funds are spent and who, if anyone, is exempt.

Simply stated the ordinances set up a parking district around the current business district and assess a fee on businesses in the district. Businesses are to provide parking spaces but may pay an in-lieu fee instead of providing all of the required spaces.

Funds raised through assessments are to be used for "parking improvements, including but not limited to paving, striping, development of curbing and the development of storm water drainage and catch basins," according to Gokey's revisions.

Businessman Ray Buselli was concerned about what is happening to the money raised by assessments. Buselli was on the committee which studied and recommended provisions of the 1992 parking ordinance. He said he understood there would be a parking district board to run the district.

"A condition we looked at was it would be run by a board...Another thing," he said, "as a businessman, I contribute to a fund, but I don't see any action coming out of that fund. I checked a year ago and the fund had $100,000. I see no long range planning for off-street parking and improvements."

Buselli said a number of parcels of land have been available in the "last several" years. He said several parcels could have been purchased to provide off-street parking.

Developer Steve McGhehey said he believed the district boundaries should be expanded and that he, too, was concerned about the $100,000 and "plans for it."

City Attorney Gokey reiterated that the revisions to the ordinance represents "no change," that they are to "clarify language."

Despite Gokey's comment, McGhehey urged the council to "take a serious look at the ordinance."

Council members agreed. Jean Cooper said she would like sidewalks included in the improvements section. Mayor Dave Moyer said he wanted to have land acquisition included.

Councilwoman Sheryl Whent said, "We should sit down and go through all of this and put things in that need to be in. We could be here all night."

Councilwoman Kathy Pittman joined in, "I thought the whole purpose here was to clean up the language of these ordinances." She said the council should adopt them and change them later after they have been studied.

City Attorney Gokey said, "That was my understanding, too. I suggest you pass the ordinances next time and then look at more holistic changes."

Councilwoman Jean Cooper said, after a little more discussion, "Is this clearly resolved? Do we know what we are doing?"

Gokey gave her an affirmative.

Whent, who had expressed a concern earlier about ordinance language using the word may when shall would have been more appropriate, asked Gokey to "change the `mays' to `shalls.' "

Gokey said, "Sometimes it is better as `may.' "

"Well change the `mays' that should be changed and leave the others," said Whent.

In other business the council agreed to consider a request for money by the Kids Center of Bend. The request was made by Bend Rotary Club President Jan Wick. He said the center, which provides services to about 10 children a year from Sisters, provides care and assistance to abused and neglected children.

Wick said medical assessments have been provided by volunteer physicians, but the work load is too great for the volunteers. He said the center wants to pay a physician to augment the work of the volunteers.

He said the average cost to serve one child is $600.

Councilman Gary Miller moved that the request be included for consideration in budget hearings beginning April 17.