MONROE - Charles Koch thinks it's too early to be deciding how to make up for not having parking meters in downtown Monroe.
"Over the years, for 40 years or more, there has been the feeling by merchants that paid parking has been detrimental to business. We don't even have the meters out, and already we're talking about controlling parking," the alderman said Monday during a Public Safety Committee meeting.
The committee was presented a plan Monday by Police Chief Fred Kelley for a controlled parking system.
In an effort to beautify the Square, the Monroe Main Street Board of Directors recommended parking meters be removed. Business owners wanted the meters removed also, because they deterred customers from coming downtown, they said.
Koch wants to try free parking without time limits, to see if merchants were correct about the meters' effect on businesses.
Alderman Paul Hannes also agreed Monday that there's no need to rush into a decision.
The committee had asked Kelley to propose a plan that regains some of the revenue lost by removing the meters. The city budgeted to receive about $60,000 from parking revenue and overtime parking tickets this year.
"Revenue is a problem, but not an extended problem," Koch said. "It'll be tough this year, but we will have to come up with something creative (to replace the funds) next year."
Kelley proposed a free system, but with two- to three-hour spaces for timed parking, with permits for long-term parking in lots and the parking ramp near the Square for employees.
Kelley said certain cars always are in certain parking spaces on the Square.
The city has three to four permits sold, down from the usual 10 to 15, Kelley said.
"Rentals went down when parking went free. Understand, timed parking (on the Square) is free parking," Kelley told the committee.
Parking in lots and the ramp has been free for years, but Alderman Jan Lefevre said she didn't like that those lots are being used all day by employees or nearby businesses, while the city picks up the tab for maintenance.
Alderman Keith Ingwell disagreed.
"But what happens when you charge for lot permits is they go downtown where it's free," he said.
Kelley proposed permits for lots at $100, $125 for ramps, $150 for reserved parking spaces in lots and $175 in the ramp.
Removal of the parking meters brings another problem for Public Works - where to attach signs, such as speed limits, no parking after a two-inch or more snowfall to allow for snow removal, or for the Farmer's Market. Signs had been attached to the meter posts or lamp poles.
Kelley is proposing a computerized license plate recognition system to enforce time limits on parking. He estimated about $19,000 in labor will be saved in marking tires. That savings could be used to pay for a computerized system that uses a drive-by approach to identify cars parked in one spot too long.
Monroe Main Street recommended a license plate recognition system in lieu of any pay-to-park ticket system, which would require mechanical devices on the Square.
"Over the years, for 40 years or more, there has been the feeling by merchants that paid parking has been detrimental to business. We don't even have the meters out, and already we're talking about controlling parking," the alderman said Monday during a Public Safety Committee meeting.
The committee was presented a plan Monday by Police Chief Fred Kelley for a controlled parking system.
In an effort to beautify the Square, the Monroe Main Street Board of Directors recommended parking meters be removed. Business owners wanted the meters removed also, because they deterred customers from coming downtown, they said.
Koch wants to try free parking without time limits, to see if merchants were correct about the meters' effect on businesses.
Alderman Paul Hannes also agreed Monday that there's no need to rush into a decision.
The committee had asked Kelley to propose a plan that regains some of the revenue lost by removing the meters. The city budgeted to receive about $60,000 from parking revenue and overtime parking tickets this year.
"Revenue is a problem, but not an extended problem," Koch said. "It'll be tough this year, but we will have to come up with something creative (to replace the funds) next year."
Kelley proposed a free system, but with two- to three-hour spaces for timed parking, with permits for long-term parking in lots and the parking ramp near the Square for employees.
Kelley said certain cars always are in certain parking spaces on the Square.
The city has three to four permits sold, down from the usual 10 to 15, Kelley said.
"Rentals went down when parking went free. Understand, timed parking (on the Square) is free parking," Kelley told the committee.
Parking in lots and the ramp has been free for years, but Alderman Jan Lefevre said she didn't like that those lots are being used all day by employees or nearby businesses, while the city picks up the tab for maintenance.
Alderman Keith Ingwell disagreed.
"But what happens when you charge for lot permits is they go downtown where it's free," he said.
Kelley proposed permits for lots at $100, $125 for ramps, $150 for reserved parking spaces in lots and $175 in the ramp.
Removal of the parking meters brings another problem for Public Works - where to attach signs, such as speed limits, no parking after a two-inch or more snowfall to allow for snow removal, or for the Farmer's Market. Signs had been attached to the meter posts or lamp poles.
Kelley is proposing a computerized license plate recognition system to enforce time limits on parking. He estimated about $19,000 in labor will be saved in marking tires. That savings could be used to pay for a computerized system that uses a drive-by approach to identify cars parked in one spot too long.
Monroe Main Street recommended a license plate recognition system in lieu of any pay-to-park ticket system, which would require mechanical devices on the Square.