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Committee to prepare rate-change package after debate over enforcement and downtown turnover
Summary
Committee members said parking must become more revenue-generating to cover new costs and enforce turnover; they instructed staff to compile a data-backed 'plan A' and 'plan B' to present to council, including options for stronger fines and faster towing.
The Middletown Parking Committee agreed to prepare a packaged proposal for the city council that would justify incremental parking rate increases and stronger enforcement to protect short-term customer spaces.
"We have to generate some revenue so we can offset," the Chair said, urging the committee to produce bullet-pointed justifications and backup data before returning to the council. Committee members described examples of employees or court visitors occupying short-term stalls for hours, reducing turnover for nearby businesses.
Members debated enforcement tools. One committee member argued that small fines do not deter repeat overstays: "If it's a $10 ticket, then no," the committee member said, urging meaningful fines and faster towing. Members discussed time-limited parking at chargers and short-term stalls and noted that the committee's prior, unsupported request to raise rates failed at the council level because it lacked documentation.
The committee agreed to assemble research and a two-plan approach (plan A and plan B) showing the rationale for incremental rate changes, targeted customer incentives for lot parking, and a schedule for enforcement changes. Staff will prepare materials, including usage and revenue figures from the committee's Dropbox documents, for review at the next meeting.
The committee approved the January minutes earlier in the meeting and adjourned after the committee vote to end the session.
