Council opens hearing on downtown meterless parking; orders assessment preparation

The Jackson City Council opened a public hearing Tuesday on a proposal for downtown meterless parking and later approved a resolution ordering the preparation of an assessment roll to fund the system.

John C. King and other speakers urged the council to adopt meterless parking and said earlier controversy over meters did not reflect current business sentiment. "For Candid's Busy Bee Cafe... that wasn't having to do with metered or meterless parking," King said, urging a long-term move to meterless parking.

Kevin Thompson, representing the Jackson Downtown Partners, thanked staff for cooperation but asked the city to explain recent cost estimates. Thompson said the meterless parking program cost was $113,155 two years ago and that the projected cost for the upcoming year is $238,375 — roughly a 45% increase — and asked for the basis for that jump. City staff member Jonathan Green explained the parking fund is cyclical — the city saves parking revenue and later uses it for striping, sealcoat, lot work and plowing — and said the recent increase reflects putting saved funds into reinvestment projects.

After public comment, council moved to consider a resolution ordering the preparation of an assessment roll to fund the downtown meterless parking system; council moved and supported the resolution and the clerk recorded the vote. The meeting record shows the item passed unanimously.

The motion to order preparation of an assessment roll authorizes staff to assemble the assessment documentation needed to determine property owner obligations; the vote does not itself levy assessments. Council members and downtown property representatives asked staff to provide a clearer cost breakdown and to report back with documentation on the projected increase before assessments are finalized.