Meter rates higher, longer, stronger (financially)
by Andrea Ruse On-street parking meter rates will increase from 75 cents to $1.25 per hour as a result of action taken by the City Council Tuesday night. The council also acted to extend meter enforcement hours by two hours. Morning enforcement will be pushed back from 9 a.m. to 8 a.m. Evening enforcement will be extended from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m. The rate increase will be effective June 1. The longer enforcement hours will be implemented sooner, as soon as staff is able to change signage. The changes are part of a Downtown Parking Management Plan that was adopted in 2008 in an attempt to pump money into the city’s parking fund, which this year is projected to produce $1,711,832 in revenue. “We are in a problematic situation with the parking fund,” city finance director Bruce Moe said. “We are not meeting our reserve requirements. We can’t do necessary projects or maintenance on the lots. We are bleeding.” Mike Zislis, the owner of Shade Hotel and downtown restaurants Rock N’ Fish and Mucho’s, challenged how the city framed its parking-related financial problems. “There is no parking deficit,” Zislis said. “It’s how you allocate the money. Don’t say that downtown isn’t paying their…
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