The Pella City Council received an update about the potential future of Central Business District parking at a work session this week. City Administrator Mike Nardini discussed potential expansion of parking lots near the Pella Police Department and the old Second Christian Reformed Church building. The city recently acquired the parking lots next to the church building, which totaled just over 50 new spots. A potential $200,000 addition of up to 35-40 spaces to already existing city lots could add a total of nearly 90 parking spots in the downtown area. A house now owned by the city next to the church building could be demolished to add some of those additional spaces as well. This potential addition comes ahead of the Oost Poort alley infrastructure project in 2020, when up to 80 parking spaces in downtown Pella will likely be closed for construction, so the mayor and council were hopeful the additional spots south of Liberty Street could help offset the loss. No formal action was taken, however, council supports getting something done in the spring of 2020 before the Oost Poort alley project begins early in the summer. Council also has to consider the future expansion of the Pella Public Safety Complex, as in a recent city facilities plan completed by Short Elliott Hendrickson, the current spot occupied by the Second Christian Reformed Church was identified as a potential place to expand resources for Pella Police, Fire, and Ambulance services. The parking project will be considered at a future meeting, with additional discussion likely this fall.