Monroe City Council initiated discussion on the existing parking regulations in the downtown area of the city on Tuesday, Oct. 21 at the regular business meeting of the Monroe City Council. Currently, the majority of the parking along Main Street has a 2-hour time limit, as does much of the parking in the immediate downtown core.
Members of the business community spoke up regarding the two-hour time limit, which they don't feel is conducive to a welcoming shopping environment.
Randy Oesch, owner of Players Music Mart located at 126 E. Main St., told councilmembers that he's paid four parking tickets in the last year, two of which were given on days where there happened to be a significant number of available parking spaces.
"I'm a little frustrated that they're being written; although I understand that a law is a law,GÇ¥ said Oesch.
He expressed concern over a situation involving his business accountant who typically works in the store one day per week. He explained that, on one occasion, she happened have been in the store for just over two hours, and when she got to her vehicle she had a parking ticket. Alarmed, she immediately drove to city hall to pay the ticket, and while doing so, she sought advice about where to park in the future.
Oesch said that she was advised to park in the nearby residential area, where there are no parking restrictions, and walk to Main Street on foot.
"Well that's not going to happen with the girls that work for me,GÇ¥ said Oesch. "They're not going to walk.GÇ¥
Oesch said that, based on his experiences in the area and watching the people who walk through the alley behind his store, he did not feel safe directing his employees to walk. He said the streets are extremely dark at night, as are the areas around the buildings, and that Main Street could benefit greatly from additional lighting.
If a family comes downtown Monroe to eat at Adam's Bistro, explained Oesch, and notices an interesting shop, the 2-hour parking limit would likely serve as a deterrent.
"I don't believe that they're going to say, "Well let's go move our car so we don't get a parking ticket.' I think they're going to say, "Let's go,'GÇ¥ said Oesch. "And so there's another store that might have had a customer, that isn't going to have one.GÇ¥
Patti Gibbons, owner of Heavenly Soap located at 115 W. Main St., concurred with Oesch's comments. Gibbons is also the building manager for the Savoy Building on West Main Street.
"If you come to Monroe and you eat and go to the store, I don't want you looking at your watch to see if you have to move your car in 15 minutes,GÇ¥ said Gibbons. "I want you to keep shopping, to keep walking, to go into another store, to spend money. And if you do that, and you come back to your car and you have a ticket on it, you aren't going to come back to Monroe.GÇ¥
Gibbons advocated for at least a four hour minimum, or to eliminate parking restrictions entirely. She expressed her belief that lifting the restrictions could help facilitate the establishment of new businesses as well as increasing overall commerce in the existing businesses.
"Main Street is not only where my business is, it's also where I live,GÇ¥ said Gibbons. "I have seen a dramatic change in it in the last four years. I want nothing more than to see Main Street thrive and come alive.GÇ¥
After some discussion it was decided that city staff will prepare a resolution to temporarily lift parking time limits in the downtown Monroe area until February 1, 2015, at which point further discussion will be brought to the table to review the process and decide on a permanent solution.
The resolution will be presented at an upcoming council meeting.
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