Jim Thorpe Borough Council is trying to put the finishing touches on a permit parking ordinance for West Broadway and High Street, but several questions remain before the governing body puts it up for a vote.

The draft ordinance would allow residents of Broadway, West Broadway, High Street, Race Street, Hill Road and Quarry Street to purchase an annual permit that allows them to park from 5-515 W. Broadway or anywhere on High Street without receiving a ticket. Motorists who do not have a permit and park in those areas would be subject to a $50 fine. The ordinance does permit the borough to issue guest passes valid for a 24-hour period.

During Thursday night’s council workshop, however, council discussed whether a person who owns a business in the permitted parking area, but does not live on one of the qualifying streets, would be eligible to purchase a permit. Several businesses, including the Levy and Fenick Law Offices, Mauch Chunk Opera House, and the Marion Hose Bar, fall into that category.

“I know we were talking about residential all along, but I really didn’t consider that there were actual businesses there,” said Councilman Mike Yeastedt. “I would think we would have to consider at least giving them a way to get a parking spot so they can park in front of their business.”

Michael Rivkin, president of the Jim Thorpe Tourism Agency, said while he supports the ordinance, it shouldn’t be crafted in a way that drives business away.

“We’re blessed here in Jim Thorpe where we have no vacancies and businesses survived COVID-19. We don’t want to be a California where you get so tough that businesses say ‘screw it, we’re going elsewhere.’ ”

Yeastedt said he didn’t think there was opposition to a business owner in the permitted area having a pass.

“I think the idea was we didn’t want all the customers parking on West Broadway,” he said. “So I think we probably need to review this again.”

Marion Hose Bar owner Andrew Roberts cautioned council that not including the top block of Broadway or Race Street in the permitted parking areas will put more pressure on those areas from tourists and those without permits.

“I’m generally for this, I’m not against it, but I think a couple things were missed,” Roberts said.

Yeastedt said Race Street wasn’t included as a permitted parking area because it is more of a commercial district where cars are in and out for the businesses there.

Those issues, among a few other questions, is sending Jim Thorpe back to the drawing board. Borough Manager Maureen Sterner told council she expects a few more comments on the ordinance at this Thursday’s meeting, which starts at 6:30 p.m. at Memorial Hall.

“We’re trying to make parking better for the residents,” Councilman Kyle Sheckler said. “That is the whole reason we’re doing this. We’re not trying to alienate anyone or tick anybody off. We want to make things better for the people who live here.”

Residents in Gettysburg, a tourist town similar to Jim Thorpe, can purchase a local privilege parking pass for $35 a month, Mayor Michael Sofranko said.

“I just traveled there and they have designated streets that are for residents or those with this pass,” he said. “Anywhere on those streets, whether it’s in a regular space, a metered space, a kiosk space, you name it, only the pass holders can park. It’s really well done.”

The original timeline, Sterner told council, was for the ordinance to go into effect at the beginning of 2022. That, she said, would allow for signage to be installed.

“Nobody,” Council President Greg Strubinger said, “was under the illusion that this was going to be simple, but we did want to try to do something to give our residents who live in that area a better chance to park there.”