LEWISTON — A proposal to eliminate parking along the entire Bates Street side of Kennedy Park this week turned into a debate over how best to solve ongoing drug dealing and other criminal activity in the north end of the park.

As part of a larger city effort to crack down on crime and improve the image of Kennedy Park, city administration proposed eliminating parking along the Bates Street side of the park, where police say there is ongoing drug distribution, drug use and public drinking stemming from parked vehicles there.

City Administrator Bryan Kaenrath described the proposal as a small step that could make the park feel safer, which is something he’s heard repeatedly since he took the helm in Lewiston two months ago. He said the area of the park is “frequently an area of disturbance and police response.”

But, concern from a few business owners left councilors hesitant, with some councilors also questioning how removing parking would address crime.

Several people who own businesses or work along the Bates Street stretch doubted that removing parking would stop drug dealing or other issues. They’ll simply park somewhere else nearby, one person said.

Chris L’Hommedieu, a Lewiston attorney that owns a building at 190 Bates St., said if the city eliminated parking along the stretch, clients for his six tenants would “have nowhere to go.”

L’Hommedieu said the issue is drug dealing at the north end of the park near Trinity Church, which he sees daily when he walks his dog. But, he doesn’t believe eliminating parking is going to change it.

“I still go out in the park and enjoy it,” he said. “The drug dealers are a pain in the butt, but let me ask you councilors, if you ban parking are the drug dealers going to say ‘we can’t park here so we’re not going to deal drugs here any more?’ If crime is occurring, how about arrest the criminals.”

Councilor Scott Harriman said he agreed that public safety is Lewiston’s top concern, but said, “It’s not parking. It’s public safety. The answer isn’t to take away the parking, it’s to address the crimes that are happening there. I’m just tired of these half measures and dancing around the actual issue. Enforce the laws.”

Councilor Josh Nagine agreed, saying the city can take away all the parking it wants, but in the end it’s laws that have to be enforced. But, he also said police shouldn’t be expected to enforce parking given current priorities.

Police officials said in a memo to the council that during the months of May and June alone, the department responded to a large number of incidents in and around Kennedy Park that resulted in over 40 criminal and/or civil charges, including public drinking and drug possession.

Councilor Tim Gallant defended the police department, stating, “They’re doing their job, but they can only do so much.”

He said with over 40 citations, it’s clear police are a presence there. “I don’t think calling them out is the right thing,” he said.

In response to the concerns from businesses, Councilor David Chittim made an amendment to only remove parking along Bates Street between Spruce and Walnut streets, which police have cited as the main source of issues. Police Chief David St. Pierre estimated there are between 10-15 spaces along the entire stretch. Chittim said his amendment would retain about six spaces that businesses closer to Pine Street rely on.

Mayor Carl Sheline said Thursday that it’s “not as simple as going up and arresting someone.”

“Building drug trafficking cases is labor intensive and takes time. With our police department stretched thin at this very moment this small change makes a lot of sense. I’m happy with the compromise that was reached,” he said.

Billie Jayne Cooke, owner of the Agora Grand, agreed with Chittim’s compromise of only eliminating parking on half the stretch.

She said she’s seen positive signs since the city began its recent effort to crack down on negative behaviors in the park. Up until recently, she’s dealt with a rash of customers upset over neighborhood conditions.

“Last weekend was the first weekend I’ve been able to breathe a sigh of relief in a long time,” she said. “I’m struggling right now. I’m desperate. But this week was fantastic.”

At one point during the long debate, Sheline suggested tabling the issue to get more feedback from area businesses. When asked about the idea, Kaenrath responded that his proposal is an example of bold steps and ideas for change that many people have told him they want to see to address public safety. He said more proposals are forthcoming.

“If we’re going to spend two hours on tiny little things and debate them to death, I think we have a lot of work to do,” he said.

The council ultimately voted 5-2 in favor of the amended proposal, with councilors Harriman and Eryn Soule-Leclair opposed. Soule-Leclair was in favor of the original proposal to eliminate parking along the entire stretch.

“Like the administrator said, we have to make some tough decisions, and not all of them are going to be popular,” she said.