Crowd Packs City Hall on Donkey Creek and Millville Issues

was jam packed Monday night as nearly 80 residents piled in to attend an unusually weighty – and potentially contentious – city council meeting that included an open house and two public hearings.

Over the course of the four-hour gathering, council members handily approved without much discussion new ordinances dealing with panhandling, graffiti and downtown restaurant parking issues.

But most of the crowd was there to listen and talk about two high-profile proposals – one dealing with design options for the Donkey Creek daylighting project and the other a proposed ordinance that would allow small restaurants in the Millville District to extend their business hours and sell beer and wine.

A clearly divided city council put off a final decision on Donkey Creek, following public discussion that pointed out safety, aesthetic and ecological concerns of the so-called “pocket-park” design, the central focus of the debate because it is the only one of four day-lighting designs that meets the project’s $2.8 million budget.

Representatives of the raised the possibility of expanding their easement with the city as a means of dealing with the shortcomings.

In the end, the city council voted to take the other three options off the table. Then it turned the pocket-park proposal back to the planning department with instructions to “sharpen their pencils,” pin down costs, and pursue potential enhancements to the design that would make it more palatable.

Gig Harbor residents squared off on the first reading of the proposed Millville ordinance later in the evening. It would allow restaurants smaller than 1,200 square feet to close at 9 p.m. It would also allow them to sell beer and wine. Rules in place since the early 1990’s have barred establishments in the historic downtown residential district from selling alcohol or staying open past 7 p.m.

Nearly 15 Millville and other residents spoke on the issue, but the input provided little in the way of a consensus for the city council chew on. Those in favor pointed to business, economic and property value benefits that an ordinance change would provide. Those against believed it would it would disrupt the peaceful and historical character of the neighborhood that has remained residential by design. 

Stanley and Judith Stearns, who have large property holdings in Millville, including , originally proposed the ordinance change. The , which has been struggling under the limitations of the existing rules, is a tenant and would be an immediate beneficiary of the rule change.

“The Red Rooster is an extremely family friendly restaurant,” said primary owner Jamie Radcliffe. “There is nothing that would draw in a rowdy crowd."

She added, however, that she has potential customers who come in daily and don’t stay because they can’t have a glass or wine or beer with their meal.

Many of the proponents of a new ordinance were mindful to note that could also take advantage of new rules. Interestingly, Michael and Susanne Tunney weren’t on hand at the meeting to offer their point of view.

Check back for updated coverage of the Donkey Creek and Millville issues.