The City of Monroe's desire to collect revenue from parking violations on the downtown Square is understandable, particularly given that funds are tight these days. But Monroe Police Chief Kelley said last November the city's meters have been operating at a loss since the 1980s.
Which means that the only ways to make money off parking rules enforcement are to reduce costs or increase fines. Particularly as the downtown enters a streetscaping period to enhance its image and attract more shoppers, increasing parking penalties shouldn't be a desirable option.
In fact, the priority of promoting commerce on the Square should take precedence over revenues from parking fines for the City of Monroe. Since the meters are going to be removed along with the streetscape project, now would be a perfect time to make parking free of fees and fines on the Square.
The city's Public Safety Committee on Monday continued discussions of how to deal with downtown parking management. The old meters are going to be removed when the streetscape design project begins, scheduled for this spring.
Unfortunately, the Public Safety Committee believes some sort of parking system needs to be in place before the old meters are taken away. At the very least, while streetscape work creates inconveniences to businesses and customers, the city should forego requiring shoppers to pay to park. Anything to help entice people to the downtown.
Taking the same approach in the long term would be best for businesses, whose success determines the vitality of Monroe's downtown. Still, the city seems determined to put some sort of parking system in place to replace the meters.
On Monday, the committee received the option of purchasing a computerized license plate recognition system that can read and record license plates and identify when vehicles have been parked for longer than a posted time limit. One of said systems costs as much as $80,000. The system also could be used to identify plates of vehicles wanted by the Monroe Police Department for other violations.
That prospect only can serve as a deterrent to downtown shopping, which we're sure isn't the intention of the city's leaders. The recognition system, like previous proposals to have kiosks dispense "pay and display" tags or to institute a "pay for space" system, would discourage - rather than encourage - people from coming downtown.
It's time for the city to decide the days of requiring patrons to pay to park downtown are over. In the long term, the city will benefit more from encouraging shoppers to feel welcome on the Square.
Which means that the only ways to make money off parking rules enforcement are to reduce costs or increase fines. Particularly as the downtown enters a streetscaping period to enhance its image and attract more shoppers, increasing parking penalties shouldn't be a desirable option.
In fact, the priority of promoting commerce on the Square should take precedence over revenues from parking fines for the City of Monroe. Since the meters are going to be removed along with the streetscape project, now would be a perfect time to make parking free of fees and fines on the Square.
The city's Public Safety Committee on Monday continued discussions of how to deal with downtown parking management. The old meters are going to be removed when the streetscape design project begins, scheduled for this spring.
Unfortunately, the Public Safety Committee believes some sort of parking system needs to be in place before the old meters are taken away. At the very least, while streetscape work creates inconveniences to businesses and customers, the city should forego requiring shoppers to pay to park. Anything to help entice people to the downtown.
Taking the same approach in the long term would be best for businesses, whose success determines the vitality of Monroe's downtown. Still, the city seems determined to put some sort of parking system in place to replace the meters.
On Monday, the committee received the option of purchasing a computerized license plate recognition system that can read and record license plates and identify when vehicles have been parked for longer than a posted time limit. One of said systems costs as much as $80,000. The system also could be used to identify plates of vehicles wanted by the Monroe Police Department for other violations.
That prospect only can serve as a deterrent to downtown shopping, which we're sure isn't the intention of the city's leaders. The recognition system, like previous proposals to have kiosks dispense "pay and display" tags or to institute a "pay for space" system, would discourage - rather than encourage - people from coming downtown.
It's time for the city to decide the days of requiring patrons to pay to park downtown are over. In the long term, the city will benefit more from encouraging shoppers to feel welcome on the Square.
