Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Parking Policy topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Parking authority and council spar over curb-management ordinance; authority proposes extended hours to create about 350 spaces
Summary
The Newark Parking Authority presented a curb‑management proposal on Sept. 3 that its executive director said could create roughly 350 on‑street parking opportunities downtown by extending hours and increasing turnover.
The Newark Parking Authority and city staff presented a proposed curb‑management ordinance on Sept. 3 that would extend on‑street restrictions and hours in parts of downtown and the central business district to increase turnover and create what staff estimated to be about 350 new parking opportunities.
For the record, the executive director of the Newark Parking Authority (unnamed at the meeting) said the ordinance is a collaboration among the authority, Department of Engineering and the business administrator’s office and is intended to improve turnover in areas where commuters park for long periods. “This ordinance amendment will, in our estimation, create approximately 350 new parking opportunities throughout the downtown district,” the executive director said, adding that the changes aim to reduce congestion and create a higher presence of officers in areas with reported car break-ins.
Council members supported a citywide parking study to identify other areas that function as informal park‑and‑rides and to inform any zone‑parking or permit expansions. The executive director said a citywide parking study was already being planned in collaboration with Invest North and the Newark Alliance.
The proposal prompted objections from some council members. Councilman Silva said the changes would harm residents who rely on street parking and said he would oppose the measure: “You guys are already out there killing my residents. Every day, I get complaints... I don't see any benefit in it... I'm voting no on us,” he said.
Other council members suggested the parking authority should consider expanded enforcement tools such as booting, towing and a dedicated tow lot or tow‑yard; the authority said acquiring property for towing and bonding for tow operations were among future options to explore.
The item was presented for discussion at the premeeting; the council did not record a final vote. Staff committed to provide the council with a formal parking‑study timetable and to return with a draft ordinance and implementation details, including any impacts on resident permit parking and enforcement capacity.
Ending: Council members asked for resident protections, a clear timeline for a citywide study and estimates of the authority’s potential costs and revenues if it were to expand towing, booting or permit programs.
