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Visitors to downtown Roseburg may eventually have to face more expensive parking rates and higher fines. Then again, they may get to park for free.
Faced with increasing costs to the city, the Roseburg City Council picked up the issue of off-street parking at a work session Monday night.
"Revenues are trending downward," said Jim Johnson, city consultant. "Expenditures are trending upward."
The off-street parking fund in the city's approved budget for 2006-07 included a deficit that the council plans to try to bring into balance.
Ideas for beginning the process to make changes were put on hold Monday night, however, to give city staff the chance to come up with more information to present to the council.
Some initial suggestions from staff included raising meter rates to 25 cents for 40 minutes, rather than the 75 minutes now allowed for the same change. That would fall more in line with other cities, but would also require Roseburg to replace its mechanical meters.
The council could also appeal to the city's municipal judge to raise parking fines, something that hasn't been done in an estimated 30 years. Fees that are now $5 could rise to $10.
The council would also have the option of slightly raising the rates for monthly parking space permits, which are used by those who work downtown, and changing some of the free spaces in the city's parking garage to monthly permit spaces.
Councilor Mel Cheney pondered, however, what might happen if the city gets rid of all or most of the downtown meters.
"Maybe that would add an attraction," he said.
Johnson said that could pose a problem with downtown employees taking advantage of prime parking.
Councilor Stacey Crowe said she doesn't believe downtown visitors would mind increased ticket fines because a $5 fine hardly seems worth their time anyway.
Crowe said the most important goal in managing the parking system is to ensure it runs smoothly and aids in the flow of visitors throughout downtown.
One option councilors seemed to like was to contract out off-street parking services to a private company. That could save money because private employees wouldn't cost as much as city employees, for example.
"The benefit costs are quite a bit different," Johnson said.
* You can reach reporter Chelsea Duncan at 957-4246 or by e-mail at cduncan@newsreview.info.
Faced with increasing costs to the city, the Roseburg City Council picked up the issue of off-street parking at a work session Monday night.
"Revenues are trending downward," said Jim Johnson, city consultant. "Expenditures are trending upward."
The off-street parking fund in the city's approved budget for 2006-07 included a deficit that the council plans to try to bring into balance.
Ideas for beginning the process to make changes were put on hold Monday night, however, to give city staff the chance to come up with more information to present to the council.
Some initial suggestions from staff included raising meter rates to 25 cents for 40 minutes, rather than the 75 minutes now allowed for the same change. That would fall more in line with other cities, but would also require Roseburg to replace its mechanical meters.
The council could also appeal to the city's municipal judge to raise parking fines, something that hasn't been done in an estimated 30 years. Fees that are now $5 could rise to $10.
The council would also have the option of slightly raising the rates for monthly parking space permits, which are used by those who work downtown, and changing some of the free spaces in the city's parking garage to monthly permit spaces.
Councilor Mel Cheney pondered, however, what might happen if the city gets rid of all or most of the downtown meters.
"Maybe that would add an attraction," he said.
Johnson said that could pose a problem with downtown employees taking advantage of prime parking.
Councilor Stacey Crowe said she doesn't believe downtown visitors would mind increased ticket fines because a $5 fine hardly seems worth their time anyway.
Crowe said the most important goal in managing the parking system is to ensure it runs smoothly and aids in the flow of visitors throughout downtown.
One option councilors seemed to like was to contract out off-street parking services to a private company. That could save money because private employees wouldn't cost as much as city employees, for example.
"The benefit costs are quite a bit different," Johnson said.
* You can reach reporter Chelsea Duncan at 957-4246 or by e-mail at cduncan@newsreview.info.
