Parking Meters’ Time May Come Council Hears Proposal To End Downtown’s Free Parking
The meter may be running out for free parking in downtown Spokane.
City Council members heard Monday about a proposal to bring back 300 parking meters that were taken out three years ago.
The city had hoped removing the meters would boost downtown shopping, but problems have developed, Assistant City Manager Bill Pupo told the council.
Free two-hour parking has been nearly impossible to enforce. Downtown employees have gobbled up the best spots before others have gotten a chance. Spaces haven’t turned over nearly as quickly as expected.
Reinstalling the meters is part of a larger proposal planned by business owners for revitalizing downtown Spokane.
At least 500 business and property owners recently signed a petition in favor of creating an improvement district for the downtown core. About $675,000 raised in property assessments would be used to attract shoppers and increase security and maintenance.
A hearing on the improvement district is scheduled next week.
The city would give about $200,000 of the $1.2 million raised from reinstalled meters to the improvement plan. The city also would pay about $20,000 in assessments on two downtown buildings - City Hall and the library.
About $600,000 of the meter money would be used on downtown capital improvements, such as increasing accessibility and adding sidewalk lighting, benches and drinking fountains.
Also Monday, the council:
Approved the Manito/Cannon Hill Specific Plan by a 5-1 vote.
Council members had voted a year ago to limit construction in some parts of the historic neighborhood to duplexes and single-family homes. But they never passed the ordinances necessary to put the plan into effect.
The neighborhood includes the area west of Monroe Street and south of 14th Avenue.
The council excluded from the plan the area bounded by Cedar Street, Seventh and 14th avenues, where it recently passed a ninemonth moratorium on multifamily development.
Heard about City Hall Link, an interactive computer information system designed by Spokane residents Matthew Wood and Eric Smith to help citizens gain access to city information.
The connection allows residents to look at the city charter, agendas and meeting minutes.
Computer users can access the Internet connection at http://www.eznet.com/cityhall/cityhall.html.