TRACY — Landlord Rosemary Martin’s plans to extend full parking privileges to her new and future tenants at one of her buildings was put on hold Monday night’s council meeting.

Martin had purchased the old chiropractic office next to the municipal liquor store on South Street last year with the intent to provide affordable housing in the form of two apartments, one on the main floor and one upstairs.

Martin remodeled and painted the new apartment building and was able to rent out the downstairs soon after it was done. That apartment includes a store front from which the rentors will be operating a children’s book store, Martin said, adding value to to the community.

When Martin first approached the city council last month about obtaining the rights to a square section of parking space behind the liquor store, the council said they might be willing to sell it straight out to her.

After taking some time to think about it and research the easement the city has with her regarding a nearby stretch of property that they use for city traffic, Martin made a counter offer: They could just trade easements or she could revoke hers, especially since the city had broken the agreement by using her parking space as an alley.

Martin’s lawyer had informed her all she had to do was file a motion of termination and the easement would be voided.

“This could be a messy deal,” City Administrator Kris Ambuehl said.

“I don’t want to make this a messy deal,” Martin said. “I pay taxes on the traffic easement, too, but I want a place for my renters to park. I need protection for my people to park for the entire term of the easement.”

“If the property is sold,” Councilman Tony Peterson said, “you’d get first refusal, and the parking permit would cease if the property is sold.”

Council person Jeri Schoens had other concerns regarding Martin’s proposition.

“I’ve had people come to me and ask if others put in apartments above main street businesses, will the city give them parking in the back, too?” Schoens said.

“I would hope the city would embrace the opportunity to work with other landlords. I’m hoping people will become interested in doing something with those empty buildings so they don’t turn into expensive green space.”

“Give us time to get our ducks in a row,” Schoens said. “Tabling this doesn’t mean ‘No’.”

Martin felt she got nowhere with the city council, however, she reported later that she had received a call from Ambuehl who told her he would be looking in to the matter further.