A divided Wichita City Council turned down a public hearing on a petition submitted by Old Town businesses related to parking.

The businesses wanted to create a Community Improvement District with a two percent sales tax that would provide funding for operations and maintenance of parking, as an alternative to a paid parking system that the city is working to put into effect.

Assistant City Manager Troy Anderson said the petitions were determined to be valid, since they were signed by the owners of 78 percent of the land area and 79 percent of the assessed value in Old Town.

Council member Maggie Ballard raised a concern that the sales tax would not generate enough money to maintain Old Town parking, because the tax cannot be assessed on liquor sales, and there’s a significant amount of liquor sales at Old Town restaurants and bars.

The Council voted 3-4 for the public hearing.  Vice Mayor J.V. Johnston and Council members Becky Tuttle and Dalton Glasscock were the only yes votes.

The city will begin a paid parking system downtown in July.