The parking study that was completed last November made several recommendations, and an ad hoc committee of the Common Council ad hoc committee is pursuing those recommendations. One of them is eliminating parking meters in favor of a mobile payment application, which would be accomplished with QR codes and pay stations on every block.
At a meeting of the ad hoc committee last night, Kim Gaylord, the account clerk for the Parking Bureau, expressed reservations about what had been recommended. She warned that if a pay station went down, parking would be lost for an entire block. She also had reservations about relying on QR codes. As an alternative to what had been recommended, city clerk Tracy Delaney displayed a "smart meter," which she said was available from the City's current vendor.
Regarding any changes to the way parking revenue is collected, Council president Tom DePietro, who chairs the committee, said, "We don't have the money yet," but suggested that the income from the sale of 10-12 Warren Street and 429 Warren Street might be used to finance the new meters or a new system.
It was decided that the committee will continue to explore the smart meters to understand their potential.
COPYRIGHT 2023 CAROLE OSTERINK
"We don't have the money yet"? Where the blazes do all the ticket fines collected go to? We have to rely on selling properties to purchase parking meters?
ReplyDeleteCity Hall is run primarily by amateurs, especially at the common council, and it really shows at times like this. It's time for a business administrator, city manager, ANYONE to get City Hall straightened out and stop the waste and poor "management" of the city. There should be no committee doing this work, just a parking bureau (without the city clerk, who has more than enough to do already) along with a city manager (not a mayor).
So basically 113K. And the city is looking to spend money it hasn't even got yet. Sheer genius.
ReplyDeleteThe good news is that the Common Council appears to be considering using money from the sale of capital assets (these buildings) for capital rather than operating purposes. The bad news is that there seems to be absolutely no process for identifying and prioritizing which capital projects (if any) we should be funding. Are new parking meters the best use of $113K-plus of City funds? Is there some better use? Who knows? The Council sees some money coming its way (IF these sales close) and, like the proverbial drunken sailor, just can't wait to spend it.
ReplyDeleteThese upgrades are a needed and worth while investment. And I agree that the funds from selling the properties should go to capital investments, rather than things like the Housing Trust(Slush) Fund or giving another raise to special friends.
ReplyDeleteQR codes and payment stations are the way to go. They will be cheaper to install, upgrade and much less labor to get the cash out, for those that would still pay in cash. There would also be flexibilty in how spaces are marked, as well as in changing fees and schedules. Plus, the fee is tied to the plates, so there would be no freebee leftovers for the next person. Why would we upgrade the already obsolete individual meters? Because a payment station may break? Well, it seems around 30% of our current meters are broken too. We should also take this opportunity to add paid parking to Warren, south of 3rd ST. There is plenty of commercial activity on lower Warren and we should encourage the revenue and turnover of spaces. Also, we should charge on Sundays when the town is full of tourists. If anything, make Tuesday's free to encourage business when the local crowd is around. Also, increase the expired meter ticket fine. $10 is too low and many think the risk is worth not paying. If we're worried about the poor scofflaws, the mayor can do an amnesty every election season :)
The city code states that the 200 block of Warren is a metered parking zone, along with the 300-700 blocks and side streets. Only in Hudson could this be.
DeleteThe parking meters add "quirky" charm to this tourist destination. Leave them as is. And to Union Jack, below 3rd is happy with no meters. We are still primarily residential.
ReplyDeleteSo we should keep the broken, obsolete, labor intensive parking meters because they are "quirky?" I'm sure the tourists find it charming when they realize they don't carry quarters and cannot pay the meter. Our sidewalks are quirky too.
DeleteAlso, can I borrow your time machine? The frontage on Warren below 3rd is majority commercial now and moving more and more so. I'm sure those businesses would appreciate parking turnover for customers rather than being your private driveway.
You are absolutely correct on every point. I will also add that electronic pay stations which use license plates or print out tickets to place on a dashboard can be rolled out at far fewer locations than individual meters.
ReplyDeleteHopefully Council members are looping in the City Treasurer to step out processes, explore market options and ensure an effective rollout. Heather Campbell is a smart cookie and her insight and expertise could be very valuable for any decisions involving such a big chunk of Hudson’s revenue stream.