Business might be able to allow on-site parking if the municipal parking system can’t accommodate their customers if ordinance 1289 is approved by council, said Community Development Analyst Tim Schmitt.

“My concern is the city could end up making a commitment to someone who makes an investment (and) subsequently, we find out we don’t have the ability to handle that short of expanding the municipal system,” Councilmember Vic Loomis said. “Maybe that’s the answer. I don’t know.”

The hearing was set for 7:30 p.m. May 21 at City Hall.

Earlier in the day, council held another work session to discuss the human services, capital improvement and parking funds of the fiscal year 2014 budget.

The preliminary budget for human services is $163,706, a drop from $166,882, capital improvements is $355,235, a drop from $360,636, and the parking fund is $5,060,440, a drop from $5,455,564 from the previous year’s fiscal budget.

East Lansing Planning, Building and Development Director Tim Dempsey said one of the trends he’s noticed in recent years is the increase permit parking spaces.

“We’re trying to make sure we keep a balance between spaces allocated for permit users and spaces allocated for daily parking,” he said. “If we have too many permit users, then there’s not enough space for daily parkers, and we want to make sure that we keep a good balance there so that businesses have sufficient parking.”

Council also re-set the public hearing for Jonna’s 2 Go, 210 Michigan Ave., to May 21 from its original date of May 7. The store is asking for a special use permit to sell liquor in addition to beer and wine.

Jonna’s application for the permit was approved by the East Lansing Planning Commission at its March 27 meeting. The store opened in early April.