Contributor Opinion by Trapper Martin: Town Square Parking Changes

>An open letter from Town Center Action Team (TCAT) president Trapper Martin:

Madam Mayor and Council Members,

Last week, it was brought to my attention that changes were made to the fees and hours for parking in Town Center. Specifically, I understand that the Mayor and Council implemented a charge of $1 for unlimitted parking in the garages on Saturday and increased the fine for all parking violation to $40. It appears that these changes were done as part of the budgeting process without any public input.

As you are well aware the merchants and last Mayor/Council spent a considerable amount of time discussing and coming up with a plan that we all felt would increase revenue for the City without putting undue burden on or hampering the still fragile businesses in Town Center. We have seen parking usage continually rise since these changes were implemented.

The changes to the parking policy were discussed at the TCAT meeting held on May 18. While the members of TCAT did not object to implementation of $1 parking fee and would in fact support such a nominal fee, we believe the Mayor and Council must stop changing the parking fees so that visitors to town center can get used whatever fee is being charged. Otherwise visitors will start to become frustrated and avoid Town Center.

The members of TCAT did object the $40 penalty for parking violations. People who have received $40 tickets have sworn that they would not return to Town Center. There have been multiple stories this year about other jurisdictions raising parking ticket prices yet seeing a decline in actual revenue from this as people increasingly contest or just don’t pay their parking tickets. Therefore, TCAT voted last week to urge the Mayor and Council to reduce the parking fees throughout the City to $25.

Please continue to know that all the support that the City can provide to this area while it is still in its infancy is greatly appreciated.

Trapper Martin, TCAT President

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