MONROE - In an effort to effectively provide short-term parking on each side of the downtown Square, the city has taken steps to set a fine and finalize the time restriction.
Members of the Public Safety Committee agreed to a $20 parking fine for anyone parking longer than 10 minutes in a timed stall on each side of the Square. The spots will be in the center of each block near the crosswalks.
After attempting to approve the resolution putting each parking spot in place during the Nov. 7 Common Council meeting, questions arose about when the time limit would be enforced and how much a ticket would charge for violating the restriction.
The committee decided the schedule briefly discussed during council proceedings was adequate, which enforces the time limit Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Alderman Tom Miller said the hours made sense because a goal behind enforcing select timed stalls was to create more turnover. They also hope to make room for people who need to pick up dinner or a prescription.
Committee members Rob Schilt and Chris Beer agreed to the timeframe.
"After that, parking isn't really an issue, unless there's something going on," Beer said.
Monroe Police Chief Fred Kelley explained the process of timed parking fines and said city code was put in place years ago specifying that the fine was earned because the driver violated conditions of posted signs. He noted that $20, which is widely used for fines throughout the city, would be an adequate amount.
"Everything else tends to be 20 bucks, which we have found to be a deterrent," Kelley said. "I think people will not do it then. It's never going to be pay for itself, and it's never going to work out that way, but you want to try to set an amount that will work to keep people following the rules, and $20 seems to do the trick."
The committee recommended the fine amount to the Judiciary and Ordinance Review Committee, which will allow for the ordinance specifying the deposit schedule to be changed to accommodate for the newest $20 forfeiture. Beer noted the review committee has a meeting scheduled for next week.
Members of the Public Safety Committee agreed to a $20 parking fine for anyone parking longer than 10 minutes in a timed stall on each side of the Square. The spots will be in the center of each block near the crosswalks.
After attempting to approve the resolution putting each parking spot in place during the Nov. 7 Common Council meeting, questions arose about when the time limit would be enforced and how much a ticket would charge for violating the restriction.
The committee decided the schedule briefly discussed during council proceedings was adequate, which enforces the time limit Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Alderman Tom Miller said the hours made sense because a goal behind enforcing select timed stalls was to create more turnover. They also hope to make room for people who need to pick up dinner or a prescription.
Committee members Rob Schilt and Chris Beer agreed to the timeframe.
"After that, parking isn't really an issue, unless there's something going on," Beer said.
Monroe Police Chief Fred Kelley explained the process of timed parking fines and said city code was put in place years ago specifying that the fine was earned because the driver violated conditions of posted signs. He noted that $20, which is widely used for fines throughout the city, would be an adequate amount.
"Everything else tends to be 20 bucks, which we have found to be a deterrent," Kelley said. "I think people will not do it then. It's never going to be pay for itself, and it's never going to work out that way, but you want to try to set an amount that will work to keep people following the rules, and $20 seems to do the trick."
The committee recommended the fine amount to the Judiciary and Ordinance Review Committee, which will allow for the ordinance specifying the deposit schedule to be changed to accommodate for the newest $20 forfeiture. Beer noted the review committee has a meeting scheduled for next week.