After a discussion at last week’s meeting, the Winthrop Town Council will review the town’s parking code to see if it can accommodate more visitors and customers. They are also considering a proposal from Methow Rafting for a kiosk near the existing library for float trips.
At the May 18 meeting, the council discussed downtown parking after Lance Rider, owner of The Outdoorsman, expressed concern that merchants and employees are occupying parking spaces that should be reserved for customers. The code sets a four-hour limit from May 1 through October 15.
The town recently advised merchants of the restrictions but, because there are many new owners, some may not be aware of the restrictions, Rider said.
The council plans to revisit the code at their June 1 meeting to see if the maximum time should be reduced from four hours and if restrictions should be extended to include other months, since Winthrop is busy in other seasons too.
Winthrop seeks new councilmember
Winthrop town councilmember William Kilby submitted his resignation, Winthrop Mayor Sally Ranzau reported at the May 18 council meeting. Kilby said he thinks the council needs “a more energetic voice,” Ranzau said, noting that they appreciate his dedication and many contributions.
The council is soliciting applications from people interested in filling the remainder of Kilby’s term, which runs through the end of 2023. Anyone interested must reside within the Winthrop town limits and be a registered voter. The individual would have to run for the office in 2023 to remain in the position.
To apply, contact town clerk/treasurer Michelle Gaines at 996-2320 or winthropclerk@townofwinthrop.com. The council hopes to interview candidates at their next meeting on June 1, or on June 15 if they need more time to review applications.
Brandon Bertelsen, co-owner of Methow Rafting, submitted a proposal to the town to set up a semi-permanent kiosk in the parking lot at the existing Winthrop Library to rent tubes and rafts to customers, who launch their float trips in the river near the Winthrop Barn. Methow Rafting picks up tubers at the end of their float at the Winthrop KOA campground.
Methow Rafting has been shuttling customers from its offices on the south end of Riverside Avenue near the Spring Creek bridge to the launch spot, which contributes to parking and pedestrian congestion in town, Bertelsen said. The kiosk would also be used by customers to book whitewater trips, although those trips leave from the lower valley.
Methow Rafting hopes to use the parking lot and kiosk this season, from July 1 to Sept. 16. They are interested in renting the library building as an operations base and office space starting next summer, Bertelsen said.
The library property is part of adjacent Mack Lloyd Park, which was donated to the town specifically for recreational use, according to the deed for the property, clerk/treasurer Michelle Gaines said.
Winthrop is trying to balance two things — preserving access to the park for recreation and allowing Methow Rafting to use part of the area without making a gift of public property to a specific business.
A state law provides protects any property owner who allows people to use an area for recreation from liability for unintentional injury as long as there’s no fee. But the town can’t allow a business to use town property for free without running up against laws barring a gift of public property.
The town and its attorney are studying options to reduce the liability of the town while allowing more recreational uses, Gaines said. One possibility would be for Methow Rafting to pay Winthrop a $1 fee per customer but to clearly block off part of the parking area while still allowing the public to use the rest of the park for free, she said.
Council members were mostly in support of the proposal, but discussed safety concerns and compliance with the Westernization code.
In other business, Mayor Sally Ranzau reported that Michelle Parsons started last week as the new manager at the Winthrop Barn.
Winthrop’s attorney is reviewing a draft agreement with Wenatchee Valley College allowing the college to use half of the community room at the new library. The council will go over the agreement after the lawyer is done, most likely at their June 1 meeting.
