Whippersnapper: The no-free-hour decision was bad when they made it last year, and still is. I think the free hour (or two at 3rd St.) was to sell the idaea of commercializing city parking and partly in deference to local people who like to go to IP or Tubbs to walk/jog/play for short periods, assuming that out-of-towners and tourists would likely stay longer for their activities. Now it's "screw the locals, make more money". Thanks, Coeur d'Alene and Diamond parking. Just another sign that old Coeur d'Alene is gone.

DFO: The loss of the free hour at the Independence Point lot ticks me off, as I have said before. Originally, the locals could count on two free hours of parking on the waterfront. Of course, that was a switch-and-bait game played by the old City Council, to begin charging residents for parking in the Third Street lot. Now that the camel has its nose in the tent, City Hall is slowly pecking away at the remaining free parking. My guess is that the museum lot will be next under the same excuse that it'll force users to come and go more often.

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