Wheaton holds first reading on downtown parking changes, proposes three-hour customer limit and employee "blue dot" permits

Wheaton city staff presented a first reading Feb. 3 of an ordinance proposing changes to downtown parking regulations: a three-hour time limit on customer parking from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, and a new "blue dot" program for employee parking.

Under the proposed blue dot program, employees of downtown businesses would park in designated spaces while working in excess of posted time limits; businesses would purchase permits from the city and provide them to employees. The annual fee would be $50, prorated for the first year because the effective date would be July 1. City staff noted blue dot spaces would remain available to the public, but drivers without a blue dot permit would be subject to the posted time restrictions.

City Attorney Didier said the item had been discussed at a January 13 planning session and that this Feb. 3 presentation was a first reading. "Changes to the city's downtown parking were discussed at the January 13 planning session. These changes include, imposing a 3 hour time limit on customer parking during the hours of 8 a. M. To 6 p. M. Monday through Friday and creating a blue dot program for employee parking," Didier said. "The blue dot program consists of identifying parking spaces where employees of downtown businesses can park while working in excess of the posted time limit. The businesses would purchase permits from the city and provide the permits to their employees. The annual fee would be $50 but it would be prorated for this year since the effective date would be July 1."

No vote was taken on Feb. 3; the item is scheduled for the council meeting of Feb. 18, when council will consider adoption. The transcript does not list the number of spaces proposed to be designated as blue dot or the enforcement mechanism for violations beyond the fee and time limits described.