In an unexpected twist of events Tuesday night, the Bowling Green City Commission actually voted on the downtown parking garage that has sparked so much controversy in recent weeks.

The Commission voted 3-2 Tuesday night to approve the proposed structure's move... with only Mayor Elaine Walker and Commissioner Joe Denning opposing the move.

Yet there is some dispute about why the ordinance that was originally not on the agenda for the meeting was allowed to be voted on.

"We got to a point where we needed to know where we are going to build it cause we're going to build it in one of two places," says Kevin Brooks, attorney for the Warren County Economic Development Authority.

So Brooks lobbied the Commission to vote on at first sight Tuesday evening.

Commissioner Brian "Slim" Nash helped put the last-minute item on the agenda.

"We literally walked into the meeting and were presented with an ordinance we were going to vote on and had never seen it before," says Walker.

She's disappointed with the Commission's decision to vote on the matter without hearing public sentiment.

"To have a discussion without public input. To take a position on something and then say "Oh well we can hear from the public down the road is a little bit disingenuous to me," says Walker.

"My intention of placing it on the agenda last night was because I assumed it was going to be on there and because we're moving the project forward and it still allows the public 2 weeks worth of input," Nash explains.

Tuesday's vote doesn't solidify the parking structure's move here to the 1300 block of Kentucky Street.

A second vote is needed for that, which walker says its unlikely a City Commissioner will change sides within two weeks.

Nash says the quick vote will keep the project going and get the project closer to the much-ballyhooed $150 million threshold.

"The only way we get to the $150 million threshold is by keeping the project moving forward by continuing to have dollars invested into the project," notes Nash.

However, Walker feels Tuesday night's vote isn't about the money or the threshold anymore.

"It really casts a bad light on the TIF project. Yes, you can say we're moving forward but in which direction?"

During Tuesday's work session the Downtown Authority did provide the city several of the materials it asked for regarding WKU's participation in the project.

Brooks says if the city does vote again to approve the move, physical evidence of changes near the university may happen within the next six weeks.