Policy Would Let Downtown Shoppers Dodge Parking Fines Officials Hope Measure Will Boost Downtown Shopping

The Coeur d’Alene Downtown Association’s parking advisory board on Friday released a draft of its policy allowing shoppers to get out of paying tickets.

The report, which was prepared at the request of Mayor Steve Judy, was discussed Friday at a meeting of the Parking Agency. That board advises the Coeur d’Alene City Council on parking issues.

The parking validation system is part of an effort by the downtown association, which manages downtown parking for the city, to combat the perception that it’s hard to find a parking space in the downtown area.

“What we want to do is not penalize people doing business in the downtown area,” board member Ken Burchell said.

Under current practices, shoppers who get a ticket for staying in a parking space longer than the two-hour limit can appeal the $10 fine to Malcolm Johnstone, the downtown association executive director.

Instead of having local businesses pay the fines, Johnstone has been making those fines go away and in some cases, apologizing to the shoppers for the ticket.

“This will encourage more on-street parking and longer parking,” Johnstone said.

The question is how that policy affects ticket revenue that eventually is placed in the city’s general fund.

The city pays Diamond Parking Service $29,800 a year to enforce parking rules and it pays the downtown association $50,000 a year to manage parking.

“The way our contract is structured, you could excuse every on-street ticket and it would not affect us,” said Dan Geiger, regional vice president for Diamond Parking. “All we are paid to do is enforce the program.”

Asked whose revenue is affected, he replied: “The city’s.”

Mayor Steve Judy wants more information about the system and has asked Johnstone to present a written policy about parking enforcement.

Judy also wants an opinion from the city legal department about the city’s contract with the downtown association and its parking enforcement.

The city finance department also will report about possible impacts of the parking policy on parking ticket revenue.

Those reports are scheduled for April 4 before the City Council, City Clerk Susan Weathers said.

Johnstone’s draft parking enforcement policy includes a validation system for parking lot users, warnings for first-time offenders and an enhanced public relations program to handle complaints.

“I’m not in favor of it,” board member Bill Reagan said. “I would rather put money in a valet parking system than folks who don’t follow the prescribed rules.”

Reagan said he wants to form a subcommittee to determine whether some businesses and restaurants would pay money to allow valet employees drive the patrons’ cars back and forth to the city parking lot near the Third Street boat dock.

“Even if this costs some money, it would be a huge marketing tool,” Reagan said.