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University and students urge council to delay paid-parking plan, citing heavy impact on SUNY Cortland
Summary
University and Student Government representatives and local residents told the council the proposed Article 11 parking changes would largely affect streets around SUNY Cortland, disproportionately burden students and risk excluding key voices because public comment periods fall in summer.
Officials and student leaders urged the City of Cortland to slow down a proposed change to Article 11 of the city code that would allow council to adopt street-by-street paid-parking plans.
Michael Bersani, who introduced himself as interim director of communications and a city resident, said the draft paid-parking plan "appears to focus primarily on the city streets surrounding the university" and warned that students would be among the people most directly affected. He said proposals that treat campus-adjacent streets differently from Main Street could "place a disproportionate burden on our students," many of whom face financial constraints.
Holly Fazigati, vice president of the SUNY Cortland Student Government Association, told council the SGA "does not support the proposal," arguing the measure would not remove long-standing parking challenges and would add a new financial barrier for students. Fazigati urged more inclusive outreach and said decisions that affect students should allow the student body to participate when classes are in session.
Several residents and campus-affiliated speakers raised related concerns: one asked whether the college had considered preventing freshmen from bringing cars; another said blocked driveways and all-day parking in two-hour zones frustrate longtime residents. A faculty senate member and alum, Amanda S., said she had repeatedly heard accessibility concerns and warned the proposal "feels extremely predatory," asking the council to table action until faculty senate and students can weigh in.
City staff and council members clarified that adopting Article 11 would not itself enact paid parking on any street. Staff member explanation to council emphasized that the local law would "only give council the opportunity to do so by resolution," and any paid-parking program would still require a second, street-by-street action by council. Staff also described a likely grace period when enforcement begins and said council could tailor resolutions to address ADA-accessibility or other local concerns raised during public comment.
The council kept the public hearing open and agreed to continue the discussion at the next meeting so additional affected parties can participate. No formal vote on changes to Article 11 occurred at this session.
