Follow-Up Meeting Scheduled for Benton-Stephens Neighborhood February 17

A follow-up Information Gathering Meeting for the Benton-Stephens Neighborhood Residential Parking by Permit Only (RPPO) program has been scheduled for February 17, 2016 from 5:3 0 to 7:00 p.m. in City Hall Conference Room 1A. The purpose of this meeting will be to finalize an option(s) that will be submitted to Council for review.

Given the interest level shown in this subject and ideas generated so far by various parties, there may be more than one option. Staff will attempt to convey the sentiments provided by various stakeholders, and public input will be a key factor in making sure the staff is able to adequately express those views. The goal of this meeting will be to achieve a recommended approach that establishes a sustainable program and balances the needs of the various stakeholders.

At this point, there is still known opposition to meters within the area to help pay for the program. There is also some support for the concept if there is not another option. In previous meetings the goal was to provide a no-cost RPPO permit for residents by finding tolerable ways to defray the cost of the program.

For information purposes, here are some other things staff has been working on recently. Over the past year, the City has been partnering with a private company, ParkMobile, to provide enhancements for parking related services. Two locations near the core of the city were piloted as ‘Pay by ParkMobile Only' parking. The first location is on University Avenue between College Avenue and Hitt Street, and the second is on 5^th Street between Elm and Stewart. These areas were previously designated as metered spaces, but the meters have been replaced with signs and customers must use a smart phone application if they wish to park there.