Public meetings planning on downtown parking proposal
The city is hosting two public meetings on March 20 to discuss the proposed changes to the downtown parking program.
The first meeting is at noon in the Gibson Room and the second at 6 p.m. in the City Commission chambers, both at the Civic Center.
City staff and the Parking Advisory Board will present the PAC’s recommendations to gather community feedback.
In February, the PAC voted to recommend increasing meters to $1 per hour throughout the downtown, make courtesy tickets once per lifetime of a license plate and slightly modify the graduated fine structure for time violations to a $5 ticket for the first offense after the courtesy ticket, $10 for the second subsequent offense and $20 for every subsequent time violation. The number of offenses per license plate resets every January.
Any change to the rate or fine structure requires City Commission approval and the PAC is planning to take their proposal to an April work session. That puts any vote on the proposal into May and the PAC is hoping to implement the changes beginning July 1.
For background on the parking proposal, funding for garage repairs and other parking issues, read our previous coverage:
$2 meter rate hike proposal is dead, parking board recommending more modest increase
Great Falls parking primer: Challenges, ideas and proposals 2017-2018
Board recommends rate hike for downtown parking meters to fund garage repairs
Great Falls parking board recommends taking on debt for downtown parking garage repairs
Parking discussions have been similar for years, some action might be taken this fall
Garage security a priority for city parking program
Parking board continues strategic planning effort
Parking meters could return to 2nd Avenue South after yearlong test
Parking board beginning strategic planning process
Commission approves parking fee increase; training requirement for elected, appointed officials
City staff working to address continued parking woes
