MONROE - Time is running out for the City of Monroe to get a downtown parking enforcement system into the city codes, or risk a sizable budget hole, according to Monroe Mayor Ron Marsh.
At the Public Safety Committee meeting Monday, he suggested the body get an ordinance drafted and put the issue on the Judiciary and Ordinance Review Committee agenda immediately.
"Otherwise, you'll have to go out and find about $80,000, or it'll blow the budget," he said.
Alderman Mark Coplien also recommended the parking control issue be settled.
"The budget needs revenue for Fred's (Police Chief Fred Kelley) budget," he said. "Why aren't we getting Fred to get a program down and get it started?"
The removal of downtown parking meters this spring, to make room for the Square reconstruction project, pulled about $60,000 out of the 2009 budget. About $40,000, from parking fines, went to the Police Department, and the remaining $20,000 in meter money went to the city's Street Department.
Public Safety Committee member Paul Hannes wanted business and building owners to police themselves.
"If they policed themselves, no doubt they'd have plenty of parking," he said.
But Police Chief Fred Kelley said that is not working out. He continues to receive complaints from business owners about tenants, owners and employees from other businesses parking in prime spots in front of their businesses.
Chairman Charles Koch said he'd prefer to move slowly.
"Eventually, we'll have to do something, but I've listened to this (complaints) for 20-some years. They wanted the meters off the Square. We tried to tell them, we need meters to control parking. They realize (now) we do need some kind of parking control," he said.
Without parking meters in the downtown district, Kelley said police have no way to control parking.
At the Public Safety Committee meeting, Kelley made several suggestions for parking enforcement.
Kelley recommended making parking on and near the Square free, but with a time limit. Members agreed to making the time limit four hours.
Monroe Main Street Director Barb Nelson agreed that four hours was a good time limit.
Kelley also recommended a six-hour permit for longer parking in lots and the downtown parking ramp, and a designated space for an additional permit fee.
"I recall past (committee) talk about lots and ramps subsidizing free parking, and the need for something to pay for lot and ramp upkeep," Kelley said.
Kelley suggested the city utilize an under-used lot by First Federal (Associated Bank in the 1400 block of 11th Street) for permits up to seven days, but said owners would need to move their vehicles when snow was over two inches, for lot cleaning.
Kelley suggested parking permit fees start in the range of $125 to $150.
He laid out the limited parking boundaries from 9th to 13th Street and from 15th to 18th Avenue, each one block off the Square. Parking lots and the ramp would be names specifically for their parking control.
Nelson was advised that lots and the Square would need signs to indicate the parking terms. Monroe Main Street Design Committee recommended downtown signage.
A proposed computerized program attached to a designated police vehicle can handle the different parking terms, Kelley said. To prevent a ticket, drivers need only move their vehicles to a different row of parking space, he added.
Revenue from over-time parking tickets is estimated in the 2010 budget, but Kelley said it was difficult to judge how many tickets might be issued and how much Council will set the ticket fee.
"There was an 'explosion' when overtime parking tickets went from 35 cents to 50 cents, and then a dollar and then two and finally five," Kelley said.
Kelley said he looked at Gelena's parking control system for guidance in developing his recommendations to the Committee.
Changes in the city parking ordinances will come as repealing and recreating section of the current ordinances.
"Typically it takes about a 30- to 60-day period to bring an ordinance through (committees)," said Kelley.
Thurston Hanson, alderman for the downtown ward, said he has not had calls about parking issues.
"I have mixed feelings," he said. "I know business owners are not wanting anything, but I see, it makes sense to have timed parking. I agree we need something for the parking lots to get some money coming in."
At the Public Safety Committee meeting Monday, he suggested the body get an ordinance drafted and put the issue on the Judiciary and Ordinance Review Committee agenda immediately.
"Otherwise, you'll have to go out and find about $80,000, or it'll blow the budget," he said.
Alderman Mark Coplien also recommended the parking control issue be settled.
"The budget needs revenue for Fred's (Police Chief Fred Kelley) budget," he said. "Why aren't we getting Fred to get a program down and get it started?"
The removal of downtown parking meters this spring, to make room for the Square reconstruction project, pulled about $60,000 out of the 2009 budget. About $40,000, from parking fines, went to the Police Department, and the remaining $20,000 in meter money went to the city's Street Department.
Public Safety Committee member Paul Hannes wanted business and building owners to police themselves.
"If they policed themselves, no doubt they'd have plenty of parking," he said.
But Police Chief Fred Kelley said that is not working out. He continues to receive complaints from business owners about tenants, owners and employees from other businesses parking in prime spots in front of their businesses.
Chairman Charles Koch said he'd prefer to move slowly.
"Eventually, we'll have to do something, but I've listened to this (complaints) for 20-some years. They wanted the meters off the Square. We tried to tell them, we need meters to control parking. They realize (now) we do need some kind of parking control," he said.
Without parking meters in the downtown district, Kelley said police have no way to control parking.
At the Public Safety Committee meeting, Kelley made several suggestions for parking enforcement.
Kelley recommended making parking on and near the Square free, but with a time limit. Members agreed to making the time limit four hours.
Monroe Main Street Director Barb Nelson agreed that four hours was a good time limit.
Kelley also recommended a six-hour permit for longer parking in lots and the downtown parking ramp, and a designated space for an additional permit fee.
"I recall past (committee) talk about lots and ramps subsidizing free parking, and the need for something to pay for lot and ramp upkeep," Kelley said.
Kelley suggested the city utilize an under-used lot by First Federal (Associated Bank in the 1400 block of 11th Street) for permits up to seven days, but said owners would need to move their vehicles when snow was over two inches, for lot cleaning.
Kelley suggested parking permit fees start in the range of $125 to $150.
He laid out the limited parking boundaries from 9th to 13th Street and from 15th to 18th Avenue, each one block off the Square. Parking lots and the ramp would be names specifically for their parking control.
Nelson was advised that lots and the Square would need signs to indicate the parking terms. Monroe Main Street Design Committee recommended downtown signage.
A proposed computerized program attached to a designated police vehicle can handle the different parking terms, Kelley said. To prevent a ticket, drivers need only move their vehicles to a different row of parking space, he added.
Revenue from over-time parking tickets is estimated in the 2010 budget, but Kelley said it was difficult to judge how many tickets might be issued and how much Council will set the ticket fee.
"There was an 'explosion' when overtime parking tickets went from 35 cents to 50 cents, and then a dollar and then two and finally five," Kelley said.
Kelley said he looked at Gelena's parking control system for guidance in developing his recommendations to the Committee.
Changes in the city parking ordinances will come as repealing and recreating section of the current ordinances.
"Typically it takes about a 30- to 60-day period to bring an ordinance through (committees)," said Kelley.
Thurston Hanson, alderman for the downtown ward, said he has not had calls about parking issues.
"I have mixed feelings," he said. "I know business owners are not wanting anything, but I see, it makes sense to have timed parking. I agree we need something for the parking lots to get some money coming in."