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Committee discusses timed parking, enforcement and incentives to steer drivers to new deck
Summary
Committee members discussed a package of measures — timed parking, stronger enforcement, signage and retailer incentives — to address parking congestion in downtown blocks, and agreed to place timed‑parking (residential/2‑hour) proposals on the next council agenda for further action.
The Homewood Finance Committee spent a portion of its Sept. 24 meeting discussing parking pressures in the downtown commercial blocks and measures to shift parking demand to the city’s new public deck.
Committee members reviewed several complementary approaches: targeted parking enforcement using dedicated parking/traffic officers, clearer signage indicating timed parking, resident decal programs for restricted residential blocks, and voluntary retailer incentives such as discounts for customers who use the deck. One member reported a conversation with Hunter Williams of the City of Birmingham, saying his advice was to begin enforcement with “one officer” as a visible deterrent rather than immediately deploying advanced technology.
Staff and members noted the upcoming opening of the parking deck and the recent hiring of two traffic‑focused officers as tools that could be used in combination with timed parking and higher fine schedules to change behavior. Councilors discussed easier, lower‑cost pilot steps — signage and enforcement — before investing in license‑plate‑reader technology or more sophisticated systems.
The committee agreed to add a timed‑parking proposal (e.g., two‑hour limits in defined blocks) to the new‑business agenda for the full council meeting Monday so the council can consider ordinance language, signage needs and enforcement resources. Staff said any timed‑parking changes that require an ordinance or formal restricted‑parking area will follow the city’s standard referral process to the public‑safety department and legal staff for drafting and enforcement planning.
No final policy was adopted Sept. 24; committee members emphasized a phased approach of signage plus enforcement and retailer outreach to encourage use of the nearby parking deck.
