MONROE - The downtown parking meters will be gone - all of them.
That was how the motion to remove the parking meters downtown was made by Public Safety Committee member Keith Ingwell at the committee's Monday meeting.
The motion was seconded by Paul Hannes and was passed on to the Monroe City Council unanimously. The council is expected to vote tonight on the resolution.
If a majority of aldermen approve, all meters, even on side streets off the Square, will go.
Chairman Charles Koch noted the unfairness of leaving meters in front of businesses that will be just outside the new Streetscape project.
"If you don't get rid of all of them, people will be jumping," Alderman Charles Schuringa said.
The street reconstruction will extend about halfway down side streets coming off the Square. The extensions give water and sewer utilities the advantage of doing replacements now, rather than having to uproot the new streets at a later date.
The approval of removing the meters will create revenue shortfalls in the city budget.
The committee also approved refunding half the cost of yearly permits issued for Square parking.
"We don't' have a choice," Hannes said.
Police Chief Fred Kelley said about 31 yearly permits were issued, which would result in refunds of about $1,500 to $2,000. Revenue from permits are counted in the Police Department budget.
A more serious revenue shortfall comes from the loss of about $20,000 annually in meter money, which goes to the Street Department, and about $40,000 in parking fines, which goes to the Police Department.
Street Department Supervisor Tom Boll said he would try to absorb the shortfall in his budget, by using the personnel in other areas of his department.
The Police Department is looking at options, including selling license plates and permits, said Kelley.
Other shortfalls in the budget were outlined by City Treasurer Kathy Maurer during Monday's special council meeting.
Maurer said "from an expense side of the general budget, department heads are doing very well" staying within their budgets though April.
Where the city has problems is on the revenue side; anticipated revenues are not coming in as expected, Maurer said.
Parking meter revenues are down and will disappear when the meters are removed, which will create a shortfall of more than $14,000. Revenue from parking fines also is down, with a potential $20,000 loss.
That was how the motion to remove the parking meters downtown was made by Public Safety Committee member Keith Ingwell at the committee's Monday meeting.
The motion was seconded by Paul Hannes and was passed on to the Monroe City Council unanimously. The council is expected to vote tonight on the resolution.
If a majority of aldermen approve, all meters, even on side streets off the Square, will go.
Chairman Charles Koch noted the unfairness of leaving meters in front of businesses that will be just outside the new Streetscape project.
"If you don't get rid of all of them, people will be jumping," Alderman Charles Schuringa said.
The street reconstruction will extend about halfway down side streets coming off the Square. The extensions give water and sewer utilities the advantage of doing replacements now, rather than having to uproot the new streets at a later date.
The approval of removing the meters will create revenue shortfalls in the city budget.
The committee also approved refunding half the cost of yearly permits issued for Square parking.
"We don't' have a choice," Hannes said.
Police Chief Fred Kelley said about 31 yearly permits were issued, which would result in refunds of about $1,500 to $2,000. Revenue from permits are counted in the Police Department budget.
A more serious revenue shortfall comes from the loss of about $20,000 annually in meter money, which goes to the Street Department, and about $40,000 in parking fines, which goes to the Police Department.
Street Department Supervisor Tom Boll said he would try to absorb the shortfall in his budget, by using the personnel in other areas of his department.
The Police Department is looking at options, including selling license plates and permits, said Kelley.
Other shortfalls in the budget were outlined by City Treasurer Kathy Maurer during Monday's special council meeting.
Maurer said "from an expense side of the general budget, department heads are doing very well" staying within their budgets though April.
Where the city has problems is on the revenue side; anticipated revenues are not coming in as expected, Maurer said.
Parking meter revenues are down and will disappear when the meters are removed, which will create a shortfall of more than $14,000. Revenue from parking fines also is down, with a potential $20,000 loss.