Let’s try to simplify the Butler downtown parking debate by focusing on two questions: What’s it worth to you, and what are you willing to pay for it?

There’s a temptation to complicate this debate, in part because each individual, business, organization or other entity has its own stake in the availability of parking around the pending Centre City development in downtown. It’s worth something to everybody involved, but the worth — and willingness to pay for it — varies widely.

The planning also bogs down because every entity involved has its own needs, resources, strengths and unique approach to getting things done. What might seem like an impossible obstacle to one might be regarded by another as a minor problem with a workable solution.

It should make all of us wonder why there isn’t more communication and cooperation among the city’s decision-making and planning bodies; why they don’t send a representative or appoint liaisons to each others’ meetings to keep abreast of developments in overlapping projects, and to offer feedback and suggestions.

The most recent organization to weigh in on the parking issue is the Butler County Chamber of Commerce, which urged city officials to build the three-tier parking garage originally planned as part of Centre City. The city recently abandoned plans for the garage in favor of a cheaper, 75-space surface lot, which will be for exclusive use by the new Marriott Springhill Suites hotel that will be the centerpiece of Centre City.

Chamber Chairman Brian McCafferty sent a letter to Mayor Tom Donaldson, city council and the city parking authority requesting reinstatement of the plan for a 225-space garage.

Officials say the city doesn’t have the $4.5 million it would take to build the garage, and neither does its parking or redevelopment authorities, both of which have a stake in Centre City. McCafferty disagrees with that assessment. He says the city can afford to finance the garage and even make a profit, although city treasurer Jeff Smith says the chamber’s calculations don’t add up without a substantial increase in fees for monthly parking permits.

In the interest of keeping it simple, it’s time for a parking summit — a meeting to include city council, its parking and redevelopment authorities, the Centre City developer, the chamber, Butler Downtown and anyone else with a stake in downtown. Since the absence of some parties always complicates the discussion, it only makes sense to simplify things by gathering everyone for occasional meetings.

This should have been going on already, but it’s not too late to start.

It also makes sense to foster better communications between the city, its boards and authorities, and other organizations that serve a public interest. It’s vital for a community to cultivate a shared vision for its future and instill pride in ownership. Good communication will help build a shared vision.