There may be some problems with parking Downtown. What seems to be missing is a bona-fide solution.
That's what spectators would presume from Wednesday evening's Downtown parking committee meeting at the Holiday Inn, 102 S. Third St. About 25 people, nine of them committee members, gathered at the public forum to discuss how to fix parking problems Downtown.
"We want to identify concerns people have with parking Downtown," co-chairman Larry Buck said. "But instead of throwing ideas out, we're going to do just the reverse."
When asked if anyone had any questions, the room was mainly silent until Mr. Buck gave enough encouragement for someone to ask a question.
Issues discussed included city parking services employees or, as they were referred to, "The Ticket Nazi." Some questioned whether the parking services employees were beneficial to Downtown.
"When people come Downtown and get a ticket, it is a negative feeling. People don't want to come back," said Jeff Daum, vice president of Universal Guardian Acceptance, 702 Felix St.
The possibility of a more friendly experience, where first-time parking offenders get a warning, was discussed.
"Don't ticket those who go a few minutes over. Make it a goodwill-type thing," Teresa Fankhauser, executive director of the Allied Arts Council, said.
Mr. Daum also touched on employee parking. At his business, he pays for his employees to park at a garage a block away. Yet his employees still like to park in front of the store, which leaves less parking for customers.
"Some of them seem to think it's (going from the garage to the workplace) like climbing Mount Everest," he said.
Though Mr. Daum said he's thankful that he's not running a retail business, those who do said it's a major problem.
As expected, the prospect of installing parking meters to combat the issue at high-traffic areas came up.
"There are certain areas that are crowded at certain times. But if you go to a parking lot a block away, it's empty," said Bill Guenther, owner of Artcrafts Engraving Co., 224½ S. Eighth St. "Meters in that block tend to even it out for everybody."
Other topics included concerns about parking-garage security, increasing the area that parking services tickets, and getting a consistent fixed rate at all Downtown parking spaces.
A final decision on what will be suggested to the City Council won't be made until December. It's unclear if there will be a permanent choice.
"This will go on forever. This committee will not come up with something that won't be re-examined five - 10 years from now," a member of the audience said.
Though not quite agreeing, Mr. Buck suggested there's not a single answer to the problem.
"There's not a definite solution to this," he said.
Andrew Gaug can be reached
at andrewgaug@npgco.com.
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ApparentlySo says...
And going downtown to find cars parked in the spaces all day and not having a space available in front of the business you want to go into isn't inviting either (and impossible to provide). A first time warning is seriously one the dumbest ideas. Is it a first time warning for the vehicle, for the license plate, for the person? And really, how easy or cheap do you think that is going to be to track that while being able to access the information in the field?
And let them off for a few minutes over? Define a few minutes over. Is that 2, 3, 30? So the meter maid drives by and it's only a "few" minutes over. She isn't back by there for at least an hour. Now you're complaining because someone's car is sitting there blocking your establishment and nothing is being done about it.
I say remove all of the meters on the streets, get rid of parking enforcement (except at the garages), and let it just sort itself out. Keep in mind that these are public streets and that no property owner has the right to restrict parking anywhere in the area. But don't come back bitching and crying how the street parking is unavailable and somebody is parked in front of your establishment all day preventing your customers from parking right in front of your place.
The reality is that everyone knows that parking is limited on the streets. Everyone knows that going over the time is a violation and subject to penalty. At least one of you concede that even your employees want to be able to park right in front of your business, taking spaces away from customers. The reality is that there will never be enough parking in front of you establishment and regardless of what type of parking control is there or not there, you will all be complaining.
September 10, 2009 at 8:21 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
devinbroncs123 says...
Actually their current systems can track the warnings. I was at a lunch meeting with many of the people in this article about six months ago. It's seems like many of the same ideas we proposed to them then. I hope something get's done. The system they have is far more advanced than you think.
I don't have time to get into it but here's the article. http://www.stjoenews.net/news/2009/ja...
I'm Devin by the way... LOL
September 10, 2009 at 2:03 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
apmastrangelo says...
There are solutions to the downtown parking problems but they are going to take a serious commitment in order to have a successful resolution.
The issue of citations is a sore spot with nearly every person this subject is discussed with. While enforcement is necessary the areas in which such restrictions are necessary need to be reviewed. Blocks where demand for space is nearly nonexistent should have limits extended or in some cases removed all together.
Capacity is also a problem and this is where the city must become creative. By changing parallel parking to head-in spaces on a variety of streets an increase of 25% or more in the number of spaces could be realized.
Another idea previously mentioned was the use of a shuttle throughout the immediate downtown area making it convenient to reach any sector.
I can speak first hand on the negative impact the current downtown parking system has had on encouraging business growth. Fixing the problem is probably the one most significant action the city can take in helping the location prosper.
September 10, 2009 at 3:08 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
karen says...
Apmastrangelo, love the "head in" idea. Immediate benefit, if the streets are wide enough there. All it would take it repainting the lines and taking down signs. I also agree with less enforcement. I shun downtown businesses because of the heavy-handed approach to ticketing. If my large, old car is just over the line in front of me, I get a ticket. If I park back end first, there's a ticket. Parking in an alley, even for five minutes, is a ticket. Maybe a sign in front of businesses directing people to the nearest garage is one answer. Also, are all the garages free? I bet some think the one next to Civic Arena is charge only.
September 10, 2009 at 3:37 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
heritage_sarahhochschwender says...
there has been a suggestion on the table for some time to take some of the two lane one way streets and make them 1 1/2 lanes to accommodate angled head in parking. also, there will soon be triple the parking in front of coleman hawkins park ( DON'T FORGET THIS WEEKEND IS THE FESTIVAL) when the city does the final work on felix.
i say it often, the problem is walking. people will walk from the far hinterlands of the parking lots at wal-mart, but won't walk a half a block downtown. go figure.
September 10, 2009 at 4:43 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Thecitizen says...
We have a parking structure at 8th and Felix that needs to be torn down. The darn thing cant be used as parking on the top level because the designer didn't do a good job. It is unstable. It has enough spaces for maybe a hundred cars. It is just going to waste. Either tear it down or put some basketball courts on the top of it. Just more bad planning. Whats new?
September 10, 2009 at 5:18 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
insideout says...
The concept that downtown has a parking problem is almost laughable to me. The real problem is laziness and wanting (or expecting) something for free. Having lived in other cities, where there was no street parking downtown, the garage rate was 8-12 dollars per hour, and your parking spot was a good 5-10 real city blocks from your destination: our downtown parking looks heavenly.
As for the proposal to narrow or remove driving lanes...why? So, when (or if) business ever returns, then we can complain about traffic congestion.
As for the downtown business owners, although I admire your passion for reviving the downtown area, you should have known going into your business adventure that employee and customer parking was or would be an issue. If you did not realize that during your research, then why I am to believe that your research on resolving the parking issues deserves any merit?
The law is the law, if you're 30 seconds over, then it's a ticket. If you're blocking an alley, then it's a ticket. If you're interfering with the flow of traffic, then it's a ticket. You have options...pay to park, pay the ticket price, or park elsewhere and get a little exercise. But I'm not convinced there's a "parking problem" downtown or anywhere else in the community for that matter.
September 10, 2009 at 10:05 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
devinbroncs123 says...
The areas where parking is nonexistant (where you mentioned apmastrangelo) should be free without time restraint. What that would do is encourage people to park in those areas. Placing time restrictions in heavy trafic areas would encourage people to park elsewhere (maybe intricately placed free zones). Just a thought...
September 11, 2009 at 11:23 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
devinbroncs123 says...
What does that do for businesses? It free's up parking in front of their stores. I would like to elaborate on the pay zones. Place meters in those zones. Good to see your S.H. (heritage). LOL
September 11, 2009 at 11:27 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
apmastrangelo says...
Hello insideout - If the downtown area of Saint Joe were on par with many other established historic locations I might agree with you, but it is not, and until it is adjustments need to be made. Even the free parking at the garages carry a 4 hour limit; that is absolutely insane given the environment.
Businesses and yes the people patronizing them look for and want convenience and that is a sorely missing commodity in the area as it now exists. This may change in the next 3 to 5 years and that will then mean a more aggressive and profit driven profile can be established but you must have the ingredients before you can make the cake.
We agree and have exchanged ideas on wanting to see serious changes to the landscape of the city. Considering all aspects effecting growth and revitalization in the area it is going to take more than just sitting around and waiting for it to happen.
September 11, 2009 at 2:12 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )