Merchant squares off with city over parking

CLOVIS - Downtown business owner Robert Vilandry believes his customers deserve reserved parking spots in front of his business. City of Clovis officials have told the merchant known as Bullet Bob that the spots in front of his store belong to the public.

The issue started when Vilandry noticed the parking spots in front of his Main Street antique and collectibles shop were seldom taken by his customers, but by patrons of the new Bandolero Brewery.

For the benefit of his customers, who skew older and have difficulty walking long distances, Vilandry posted signs reading, "Reserved Parking Bullet Bob Has It Customers Only Tuesday-Saturday 9 a.m.-5 p.m."

After a few days of bringing the signs in and out each day, city officials told Vilandry the signs didn't belong there, because the parking spots are city-owned. Edits to the signs, Vilandry said, removing the words "reserved" and "only," didn't sway the city.

"It's public parking for anybody and everybody to use for whichever business they would like to go to," Clovis City Manager Justin Howalt said. "There is no designated parking for any particular business."

Vilandry took his concerns to the Clovis city commission on Thursday night, and the commission decided after a spirited discussion the Public Works Commission should tackle the issue further.

Vilandry has no dispute with the brewery or owner Andrew Logan. Not only does Logan not mind the signs; he suggested Vilandry put them up in the first place.

"I think he should have the right to have some parking spaces in front of his building for his customers," Logan said. "I don't think it's fair that his handful of customers have to walk two blocks to get to his business. Some of his customers are older and they have a hard time walking long distances."

Both Logan and Vilandry said the city needs to evaluate its parking situation downtown, given new businesses. They envision the problems will only deepen with Roosevelt Brewing and Red Door opening a block north.

The city has a public parking lot at Sixth and Mitchell, but the lot is a three-block walk to Bullet Bob Has It and Vilandry said there's no signage letting citizens know about that lot.

The commission was sympathetic to Vilandry's pleas to allow him to keep up the signs, but said it was a slippery slope to greenlight private ownership of public property, even if it's only for a few hours on weekdays.

Mayor Mike Morris said he didn't want to discount Vilandry's issue, but countered the root issue is increased economic activity in the downtown and parking is a price of progress.

"We've got to lose the mindset we're going to be able to park in front of a business," Morris said.

Commissioner Gary Elliott, who was opposed to Bandolero receiving a distance waiver because of its proximity to downtown churches, said parking was an issue brought up by the churches and the commission should have addressed it before granting waivers for Bandolero, Red Door and Roosevelt Brewery.

Mayor Pro Tem Chris Bryant said he understood Vilandry's frustration, but was concerned that any concession the city makes to Bullet Bob Has It must also be extended to every other business. Vilandry didn't imagine more than a handful of stores would take advantage of such a concession.

"I don't see what the problem is with my signs,' Vilandry said. "They're more of suggestions."

The upcoming Public Works meeting had initially been canceled due to lack of agenda items, but Thursday's discussion changed that. The commission is back on for an 8:30 a.m. Wednesday meeting at the Clovis-Carver Public Library's North Annex.

Editor Kevin Wilson contributed to this report.