When the City Council approved a new parking ordinance governing downtown last year, it was clear that the document was a work in progress, after a number of councilors said they would like to see minor changes made to the ordinance.
Now, a memo from Department of Community Development and Planning Director Curt Bellavance sent to councilors ahead of their regular meeting on Thursday, Feb. 22, offers a look at some of the immediate changes that could be coming to the document.
The memo, dated Feb. 15, lists four potential changes or updates to the ordinance, each of which were discussed when it first came before councilors late last year.
The memo proposes the ordinance be amended to allow two municipal lots to offer all-day parking with a fee that covers the 12 hours the lots are open. Community Development suggested the council employ the Mill Street and Railroad Avenue lots for that purpose and set a $12 fee.
Councilors will also consider amending the document to allow residential, non-commercial vehicles to park in the municipal lots overnight and bar vehicles from parking on Main Street overnight. Doing so, Bellavance wrote, would allow the Department of Public Services to sweep Main Street any night it sees fit.
The memo also suggested councilors eliminate the residential-sticker program because allowing residents to leave their cars in the lots overnight would eliminate the need for an overnight sticker. And, Bellavance noted the city has never sold any stickers because residents are allowed to leave the vehicles on the street overnight.
The final change to be considered Thursday is the elimination of the business-sticker program, which would enable employees to park in lots at the same rate the general public does. Bellavance suggested employers could cover the cost of parking, or otherwise make parking the responsibility of the employee.
