By DAVID DUPONT
BG Independent News
With a parking task force report in hand, Bowling Green City Council decided that major changes were not needed.
The parking ordinance passed unanimously Tuesday night will increase the cost of parking to 50 cents an hour from 25 cents an hour. It will allow a maximum time to park to three hours, up from two hours, in lots. It will include free handicapped parking in premium spots.
The council also said it would replace the current kiosks with new models that are easier to use.
Council member Bruce Jeffers said that the task force made up of business proprietors and property owners looked at a number of options, including having property owners help pay for parking allowing for “free” parking.
While the property owners were amenable to “footing the bill up front” and then recouping those costs in higher rent, in the end the task force decided that such a change would be unworkable.
The goal, said Jeffers, was for parking to generate enough income to pay for the upkeep of the lots, which are need of repair, and paying for enforcement.
Council member Bill Herald advocated for also increasing fines for violating parking restrictions. As the cost of parking goes up, the threat of he fines becomes less, he said. The fines at this point, he said, were more “contributions.”
The higher fees would not be “punitive,” but simply in line with the higher parking fees.
But council member Greg Robinette said that parking fines were not covered in that section of the code, and should wait. He said it was important to get the ordinance passed to address the hole in the budget.
Herald then asked that the council not pull the ordinance off the table but instead announce it would at its next meeting to give the public a chance to “re-engage” with the issue.
He cast the only vote against taking the ordinance off the table. He then supported the ordinance.
Council member Sandy Rowland said that this should not be the end of the council’s discussions.
The city still has a parking problem, she said. Premium on the street parking remains free (and the time limit would remain at two hours). Though free, handicapped parking is too distant.
The city’s aging population was finding it difficult to come downtown to shop especially in winter. Council needs to continue to work to make parking work better for business owners, residents, shoppers, and visitors, she said.
The changes will going effect as soon as possible.
Assistant City Administrator Joe Fawcett said that the meters can be changed manually to allow for three-hour parking.
