The Montpelier City Council held a special meeting Wednesday night to discuss the proposed downtown parking garage adjacent to the new Hampton Inn & Suites.

The open work session with City Manager Bill Fraser begins the next phase of planning, which includes pinning down specifics City Council would like to see in final plans.

Several councilors expressed concern about the pace at which the project is moving.

Glen Coburn Hutcheson said he wants City Council to keep the discussion open as long as possible.

“It would be nice to have enough time to come up with the perfect idea that could pay for itself and make it not only a useful parking garage, but a draw,” Coburn Hutcheson said.

Councilors discussed the possibility of a roof level on the garage with a pool or basketball court.

Mayor Anne Waston said she is skeptical of the idea because it could add to the overall cost of the project and be difficult for police to patrol.

Steve Dale, chair of the Christ Church Housing Committee, spoke out during the public comment section of the meeting, expressing concern that the larger garage proposal is closer to church property.

“This garage is 2-3 feet closer to Christ Church than the previous,” Dale said “We need time to understand what’s being proposed here before, and we would hope the city wants answers to these questions, before forging ahead and putting this on the ballot.”

Councilors also voted unanimously to repeal Montpelier’s panhandling ordinance, following in the footsteps of Bennington, which repealed their ordinance last week.