MONROE - The first step in dealing with downtown parking management, in preparation for the new streetscape design being planned for this spring, is to remove the old meters.
But the City of Monroe Public Safety Committee believes it needs a parking system ready to take its place before ripping the old meters out.
During a meeting Monday, the committee discussed a proposal to change the parking management plan for the downtown business area.
A system of kiosks that dispense "pay and display" tags or "pay for space" was expected to be used after the downtown reconstruction design had been finalized in November.
Now, included in the proposed options of parking management is the newest technology, a computerized license plate recognition system that can read and record license plates and identify when vehicles have been parked over the posted time limit. The system also could be used to identify license plates of wanted vehicles for the Monroe Police Department.
The Monroe Main Street Board of Directors has endorsed and recommended to the city the computerized License Plate Recognition (LPR) system,
Unlike the kiosks, the LPR system eliminates the need for underground utilities; however, some kiosks can run on batteries.
The cost of one system, the Auto-Vu, runs about $70,000 to $80,000.
Police Chief Fred Kelley distributed a printed copy of a PowerPoint presentation of all the parking management options to committee members and aldermen present at the meeting. The committee expects LPR vendor presentations at its next meeting.
But the City of Monroe Public Safety Committee believes it needs a parking system ready to take its place before ripping the old meters out.
During a meeting Monday, the committee discussed a proposal to change the parking management plan for the downtown business area.
A system of kiosks that dispense "pay and display" tags or "pay for space" was expected to be used after the downtown reconstruction design had been finalized in November.
Now, included in the proposed options of parking management is the newest technology, a computerized license plate recognition system that can read and record license plates and identify when vehicles have been parked over the posted time limit. The system also could be used to identify license plates of wanted vehicles for the Monroe Police Department.
The Monroe Main Street Board of Directors has endorsed and recommended to the city the computerized License Plate Recognition (LPR) system,
Unlike the kiosks, the LPR system eliminates the need for underground utilities; however, some kiosks can run on batteries.
The cost of one system, the Auto-Vu, runs about $70,000 to $80,000.
Police Chief Fred Kelley distributed a printed copy of a PowerPoint presentation of all the parking management options to committee members and aldermen present at the meeting. The committee expects LPR vendor presentations at its next meeting.