The more Monroe officials discuss how to monitor parking and collect fines when meters are removed from the Square, the more it becomes apparent the best solution would be to let people park for free.
That seems to be the direction Monroe City Council members are heading after its Public Safety Committee on Monday rejected two parking management options.
"We don't like either system," committee Chairman Chuck Koch said of a license place recognition system and a proposal to place parking permit kiosks on the Square. The committee asked Monroe Main Street, which will have the meters removed during its streetscaping project, to come up with another option.
"Taxpayers will scream if we spend $100,000 on a system like this," Alderman Paul Hannes said. And he's right.
But the other option, having Monroe Police Department personnel walk the Square and chalk parked vehicles, also would cost the city money. Police Chief Fred Kelley said the personnel cost would be more than the revenue created.
As we've said before, because the streetscape efforts are intended to make the Square more inviting and accessible to consumers and visitors, so too should the parking system. Committee members Monday said they favored free, unrestricted parking downtown, at least in limited amounts. That would be the most customer-friendly approach.
It's also worth noting another positive development Monday - that the committee seems to be opposed to using Tax Increment Financing (TIF) district funds to pay for a parking management system. They should be opposed.
TIF funds are intended to improve blighted areas, turning them into tax-producing properties. Putting in parking kiosks or purchasing a computerized license reading system does not accomplish that task.
That seems to be the direction Monroe City Council members are heading after its Public Safety Committee on Monday rejected two parking management options.
"We don't like either system," committee Chairman Chuck Koch said of a license place recognition system and a proposal to place parking permit kiosks on the Square. The committee asked Monroe Main Street, which will have the meters removed during its streetscaping project, to come up with another option.
"Taxpayers will scream if we spend $100,000 on a system like this," Alderman Paul Hannes said. And he's right.
But the other option, having Monroe Police Department personnel walk the Square and chalk parked vehicles, also would cost the city money. Police Chief Fred Kelley said the personnel cost would be more than the revenue created.
As we've said before, because the streetscape efforts are intended to make the Square more inviting and accessible to consumers and visitors, so too should the parking system. Committee members Monday said they favored free, unrestricted parking downtown, at least in limited amounts. That would be the most customer-friendly approach.
It's also worth noting another positive development Monday - that the committee seems to be opposed to using Tax Increment Financing (TIF) district funds to pay for a parking management system. They should be opposed.
TIF funds are intended to improve blighted areas, turning them into tax-producing properties. Putting in parking kiosks or purchasing a computerized license reading system does not accomplish that task.
