Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Downtown Parking City Vehicles topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Commissioners raise downtown parking concerns over city vehicles occupying metered spaces
Summary
Commissioners discussed complaints that city vehicles, including public-safety cars, occupy metered downtown parking spaces and reduce access for the public; the DIA was identified as the logical party to evaluate reserved-space options.
Commissioners raised concerns that city vehicles parked around the federal and city courthouses are occupying metered spaces that the public could use, reducing nearby customer parking for downtown businesses.
Commissioner Alexander Hoffman said city law-enforcement and fire vehicles frequently occupy spaces near the Federal Courthouse and along Julia, Adams and Monroe streets, and that those vehicles sometimes do not pay the metered rates visible in the ParkMobile app. "When I go downtown to eat, I can't park anywhere around noon because there's JSO cars parking everywhere," Hoffman said.
Staff and commissioners said the Downtown Investment Authority (DIA) — which oversees on-street parking downtown through its parking division — is the appropriate body to review reserved-space options. Jeff (city staff) recalled the issue had been raised previously in a council committee by Council Member Ron Salem and in budget hearings, and said the DIA had been asked to look at establishing reserved spaces for public vehicles near high-demand buildings.
A DIA representative, Guy Perlman, confirmed the agency had been asked to examine options and said the agency would be the logical group to brief the commission on potential reserved or designated spaces for city public vehicles. Commissioners asked staff to invite parking administration or the DIA parking manager to a future meeting to discuss options and competing interests.
Why it matters: Commissioners and downtown business owners said unrestricted city-vehicle parking reduces turnover and access for customers of downtown businesses and could shift demand to garages or private lots.
Ending: Staff agreed to follow up with the DIA and the parking division to request a future briefing and potential options for reserved spaces or policy changes.
