Drafted legislation could favorably alter how people perceive Downtown’s parking situation by adding flexibility in how the City can implement its policies, officials said Tuesday.
City Council President Bill Bishop and Council member Don Redman met with City Public Parking Officer Jack Shad, City Office of Economic Development Interim Director Paul Crawford and others to discuss the legislation, which proponents said will increase Downtown’s economic development.
The current form of the legislation details methods that include, but are not limited to, graduated parking meter rates, installation of technology to show open meter spaces, offering free or reduced rate parking, dismissing parking tickets, offering valet parking, increase marketing and signage efforts and offering long-term leases at City-owned facilities. The drafted legislation does not yet have a bill number.
Shad said that despite the abundance of parking, the perception of a problem exists, an idea Crawford also stated.
“We do have this perception that parking is a big issue in Downtown. And perception is reality,” Crawford said.
“We recognize the need for a parking plan,” Crawford said, indicating it needs to include available tools instead of physical structures.
He said the changes in language would allow the City to favorably respond to major employers that are looking to relocate Downtown and request a large number of spaces and seek long-term parking leases. He said both are unavailable in the current ordinance code.
“It allows us to address the market,” he said.
For discussion purposes, Bishop “threw a grenade” in the conversation by suggesting the idea of eliminating fees for on-street parking, making it free for up to two hours. In addition, he also suggested an idea of charging private vendors $1 a year per each spot in their lots, with the funds going toward signage and a wayfinding system.
He said technology allows for easier enforcement of the two-hour window — or whatever time would be determined — and it would afford people visiting Downtown ample time to eat or shop.
Shad said such a policy would require stringent enforcement policies and that it is his impression that it’s not the cost of parking that dissuades people from coming Downtown, but something else.
“Nothing turns people off of coming Downtown more than parking tickets,” Shad said.
The language within the proposed legislation would ease fine accruals on tickets. According to the current language, no late fees will be applied to any outstanding fee invoices for parking in City facilities for the first 30 days. After that, late fees will calculated at 50 percent of the original invoice amount if paid within 60 days and an additional 50 percent of the original invoice amount if paid thereafter.
Pam Smith, representative for EverBank Center owner Elad National Properties, attended the meeting and said the parking policy changes are needed to change perceptions and attract people and business Downtown. That includes changing the perception of businesses that employees don’t have available parking.
“They just need it to be comfortable,” she said, referring to parking. “We have to compete with the suburbs and parking.”
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