City wants to ticket on Nights and Weekends

[BridgeTroll]

http://www.youtube.com/v/tzP8gTiovCA

[TD*]

Well I feel that this is being done because of tax cuts.. money has to come from somewhere. Its a harsh world.

[Lunican]

Thank you for bringing us your constituents’ concerns about the information floating around about downtown parking.  First and foremost I would like to let you know that we have no intention of filing legislation that prohibits weeknight or weekend parking.

They have no intention of prohibiting weeknight and weekend parking, but will it be free?

From what we understand, the rumors started from a City Note in the Daily Record that misrepresented information contained in an e-mail written by Bob Carle.

How was it misrepresented? There was an actual draft ordinance.

[thelakelander]

If the meters were removed altogether wouldn’t that limit parking during the day time hours as office workers WILL park there if it’s free. Then if you want to grab lunch, early dinner, shop, or go to the library you are out of luck.

No.  See this post I made earlier in the discussion.

The city does not have to make people pay to create turnover.  You can still enforce time limits without meters

Downtown Raleigh


Savannah's main retail street offers free time limited parking


Downtown Greenville offers free on-street parking


We can still have turnover without penalizing people for visiting downtown businesses.  These three cities above are examples of this.

[uptowngirl]

Now this idea I like, this is the best solution in my not very knowledgeable opinion!

[thelakelander]

(Forwarded to me in response to my email. Not sure if this is entirely supposed to put me at ease)

Subject: Downtown Parking Concerns

Councilmember Bishop,

Thank you for bringing us your constituents’ concerns about the information floating around about downtown parking.  First and foremost I would like to let you know that we have no intention of filing legislation that prohibits weeknight or weekend parking.

From what we understand, the rumors started from a City Note in the Daily Record that misrepresented information contained in an e-mail written by Bob Carle.   Bob Carle, Chief of Public Parking was tasked with evaluating new parking enforcement/meter technologies.  Some of the critical criteria for any new technology would be flexibility of payment by customer and enforcement flexibility for the City, merchants, residents and other stakeholders.  This flexibility is especially important during special events.  You may recall that Mr. Carle was looking at similar technology last year and it was his belief at the time that better technology and better pricing for the equipment were still in development.  Bob has been working only on the technology and future enforcement pieces of what would best be described as a ‘starting point for conversation.’

The plan has all along been to wait until after the budget process so that we may all focus on crafting an ordinance that makes sense from budget, policy and enforcement perspectives.  The legislation will be introduced on behalf of the Mayor as all Administration legislation is.  Public Parking will not have the only say.  JEDC will not have the only say.  DVI will not have the only say.  We will all work collaboratively to bring the Council an ordinance that makes sense and is sensitive to all stakeholders.

I hope this helps.  Most stakeholders have been aware that this discussion was forthcoming â€" just not so quickly!  k

Kerri Stewart

Deputy Chief Administrative Officer

City of Jacksonville

...The plan has all along been to wait until after the budget process so that we may all focus on crafting an ordinance that makes sense from budget, policy and enforcement perspectives...

This may be the root of the problem here.  All downtown ordinances should be developed in a manner that improves the Downtown Experience for the End User.  If enhancing the end user's visit to downtown becomes the top priority, the end result would be the complete opposite.

[Lunican]

I think they are upset that they got caught early on this. They prefer to have everything already decided, have two minutes of public comment at a council meeting, and pass it all right through without notice.

[ProjectMaximus]

Definitely. Good eye, MJ!!

I think they are upset that they got caught early on this. They prefer to have everything already decided, have two minutes of public comment at a council meeting, and pass it all right through without notice.

[JeffreyS]

Maybe any proposed ordiance change should have to be posted to the web for 10 days before the city council addresses the proposal. Great work MJ.

[Midway ®]

(Forwarded to me in response to my email. Not sure if this is entirely supposed to put me at ease)

Subject: Downtown Parking Concerns

Councilmember Bishop,

Thank you for bringing us your constituents’ concerns about the information floating around about downtown parking.  First and foremost I would like to let you know that we have no intention of filing legislation that prohibits weeknight or weekend parking.

Blah...Blah...Blah...

I hope this helps.  Most stakeholders have been aware that this discussion was forthcoming â€" just not so quickly!  k

Kerri Stewart

Deputy Chief Administrative Officer

City of Jacksonville

Perhaps nobody noticed, but this answer is completely non responsive to the original question.  It was shown to be true that the city was planning an ordinance to extend the hours of operation of on street parking meters, and other measures to 24 hours a day, seven days a week, not to prohibit parking on the street. So while the respondent is answering a question that was never asked, there is no answer to the question that was posed.  There is something very wrong with that answer that should arouse everyone's suspicions.

[ProjectMaximus]

Oh, I noticed. That's why I was saying at the top that the email wasnt really alleviating my concerns.

I'm just glad they now know that a lot of us are watching...

(Forwarded to me in response to my email. Not sure if this is entirely supposed to put me at ease)

Subject: Downtown Parking Concerns

Councilmember Bishop,

Thank you for bringing us your constituents’ concerns about the information floating around about downtown parking.  First and foremost I would like to let you know that we have no intention of filing legislation that prohibits weeknight or weekend parking.

Blah...Blah...Blah...

I hope this helps.  Most stakeholders have been aware that this discussion was forthcoming â€" just not so quickly!  k

Kerri Stewart

Deputy Chief Administrative Officer

City of Jacksonville

Perhaps nobody noticed, but this answer is completely non responsive to the original question.  It was shown to be true that the city was planning an ordinance to extend the hours of operation of on street parking meters, and other measures to 24 hours a day, seven days a week, not to prohibit parking on the street. So while the respondent is answering a question that was never asked, there is no answer to the question that was posed.  There is something very wrong with that answer that should arouse everyone's suspicions.

[chipwich]

Come on guys.  You are making a mountain out of a mole hill. 

Who needs downtown parking!  Seriously.  Just take one of our many metro lines into downtown.

Oh...wait. Yeah, I see what you are getting at here.



Very well then.  I guess the City of Jacksonville just really wants people to walk to downtown.

Let's all write emails thanking the City for looking out for our health and well-being.  When I loose some weight, I for one am sending parking enforcement a thank you card as gratitude. 

[rjp2008]

So it sounds like they would like to upgrade the parking meters technology - pay stations that dispense stickers perhaps - and to do so, it would obviously require EXTENDING PAID PARKING REQUIREMENTS into Nights and Weekends to pay for it.

[thelakelander]

If that's the case and its the only option, then we should not purchase smart meters.  The downtown district would be better off yanking all the meters up and selling or recycling the scrap metal.

[Ocklawaha]

Either scrap the meters or scrap the remaining buildings. Note that yesterdays revelation that their is no longer a single entry door or display window left between Duval and Union Street was incredible. So where are all the people? They are inside working. Why do they stay inside? Because there is nothing for them outside...

Yank the meters, regulate the times and jack up the garage rates... simple. In the end, the city recovers much more as parking division employees can be reassigned as community service officers, or given other choices, and the division phased out and absorbed by JTA. JTA could then regulate the garage rates so that parking in the urban edge and using transit, would be a savings over parking in the core. We then earn extra income from tax paying and thriving downtown businesses once again.

Meanwhile, with limited hourly, 2 or 3 hour parking, the shop keepers could knock some doors and windows back into the blank walls of the downtown canyons. Besides, I miss that "STAND AND SNACK" Chicken Salad sandwich, the shoe shop and the juice guy...

OCKLAWAHA