A more strict parking enforcement program and a possible change to the city’s parking meters dominated the discussion at the city commission’s Wednesday study session.
The city currently is sitting on over $10,000 worth of uncollected fines from parking tickets, and commissioners are looking into developing a more aggressive enforcement and collection program to increase collections.
Previously, it was the city’s policy to tow cars owned by people who owed more than $50 in fines, but last summer the city commission discontinued that policy. Since then, uncollected fines have been going up as there is currently no penalty for not paying.
Commissioners discussed separate aspects of enforcement, including towing or installing a boot, having fines increase if they are not paid off in a certain amount of time, publishing the names of those who haven’t paid and sending unpaid fines to a collection agency.
“I definitely think we need to do something about collecting those past due tickets,” said Commissioner Jim Kessler. “We’ve got to start somewhere.”
Through the summer, the city instituted an amnesty program in which people were contacted about unpaid fines. The program was not successful, bringing in only about $300.
Much of the discussion revolved around using more penalties, like towing or booting, versus better collections.
Emporia Police Chief Gary Smith said that even when the city was towing, it still saw a large number of unpaid tickets.
“I think we’ve got separate issues,” said Mayor Jeff Longbine said. “Do we need an increased fine after a certain amount of time. ... Two, we need collection, whether it’s going forward (with developing a policy) or trying to collect the $10,501 that we’ve got now.”
Commissioners reached a consensus to devise a draft parking enforcement policy for further discussion.
Also up for discussion was the possibility of replacing the city’s mechanical parking meters with digital meters.
At the direction of the city commission, city manager Matt Zimmerman looked into different possibilities for the 211 parking meters downtown. Other possibilities that were discussed were leaving the meters as they are, replacing parts on the current meters to allow parking rates to be adjusted and getting rid of the parking meters altogether and regulating parking with kiosks.
Smith said new digital meters would cost about $31,600, and programming them would cost an additional $6,000, not including the cost of replacing the batteries every six to 12 months.
Used parts to alter the existing meters would cost $6,000, and kiosks would cost $20,000 per unit.
One issue brought up was the controversy between downtown offices, where employees need to park for an extended period of time, and retail businesses, where owners want a turnover of customers who don’t need to park for long.
After narrowing the choices down to leaving the meters as they are or upgrading them with used parts, commissioners decided to hold off on further discussion until input could be gathered from Emporia Main Street and the Chamber of Commerce.
A tentative agreement was reached on the location of an honorary street to be named in Clint Bowyer’s honor.
Commissioners decided the best location would be Graham Street, from Highway 50 south to the dead end.
Commissioners directed the city manager to move forward with coming up with a policy for honoring noted Emporians with street names, an idea that arose with the discussion of Clint Bowyer.
Comments
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Posted by barefootin (anonymous) on November 26, 2009 at 9:46 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Clint's street would be a dead end?
Posted by reddog (anonymous) on November 26, 2009 at 10:01 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Years ago an Emporia Attorney had over 100 parking tickets, but I never heard how all that came out. About 40 years ago, a police officer was taken off the police department because of an obsession to giving parking tickets. He spent the rest of his city employment reading water meters.
Posted by biscuitboy (anonymous) on November 26, 2009 at 10:06 a.m. (Suggest removal)
If you are going to name a street after somebody make it a street anybody ever drives on. What is the use in drawing attention to a local boy made good by using a street that draws no body's attention. About the only street in town that is less attractive or traveled that Graham is Funston and I'll bet Funston is not even happy about that street being named after him.
Posted by goodoleboy (anonymous) on November 26, 2009 at 12:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)
If they worried about attracting new industry as much as they "dithered" about the little things this town might actually start to turn around again.
Posted by dhcc66 (anonymous) on November 26, 2009 at 12:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)
you might take noted that bowyer's family business, flint hills towing, is on graham street....maybe that has something to do with it?
Posted by mslater (anonymous) on November 26, 2009 at 2:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Anyone who is contemplating moving downtown, make sure you take into account the $100+/mo in parking tickets you are going to get. I can't wait to move out of the downtown area, to a place where I don't have to pay parking tickets anymore. The cost and hassle of parking downtown really makes it an unattractive and expensive place to live, and unless the parking rules are changed, I highly recommend people don't live downtown, because of the parking hassle and expense.
That being said, Armor-All Foaming Tire Cleaner and Shine takes the parking chalk mark right off! Not only did it work on my car, it worked on every car in the parking lot! Why, I bet it would even work on yours!
Posted by biscuitboy (anonymous) on November 26, 2009 at 2:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)
dhcc66
I know where his families business is located. I however was under the impression the idea behind naming a street after a local celeb was to show him or her off to visitors. That won't very well be accomplished on Graham Street.
As to the parking meter issue. I've never heard anyone argue that parking meters were good to attract business. So a thinking person might assume that removal of the meters.....though a temporary loss of revenue.......might create additional revenue in the future due to increased business in the downtown area. Oh never mind...I did say a thinking person didn't I.
Posted by jmb232 (anonymous) on November 26, 2009 at 3:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)
This all depends on the reason for the meters and resulting enforcement. If it is for revenue only it is a poor choice because of all the assosiated costs.
Such as personnel, equipment, adminstration, collection a vicious circle.
If it is to discourage all day parking in a spot so that the public can have a chance to do buisness the motive is somewhat better. I vote against meters and just go with timed enforcement.
Posted by tbluma (anonymous) on November 26, 2009 at 6:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Why's it so hard to figure out how to collect unpaid parking tickets?
Write down the tag # (if you don't already), then when they don't pay there are some options.
1 Put a lien on the taxes, collect when they buy a tag next time.
2 Put out a bench warrant and throw them in jail.
DUH!!!!!!!
Posted by tbluma (anonymous) on November 26, 2009 at 6:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Which brings to mind something else. If the commissioners we have now can't figure it out, think how much trouble it would be if we double or tripled thier # as has been suggested in posts on other matters. Then they could argue about stuff even longer before they settled it.
Posted by methusla (anonymous) on November 27, 2009 at 9:48 a.m. (Suggest removal)
tbluma
Let me ask you. Do you feel that you are fairly represented by the current " Northwest Region " City Commission/Commissioners ?
Do you believe that you would be more fairly represented by a City Commissioner who was elected by you and the citizens of your area/district, who would know and listen to the concerns of those who live in the district they were elected from, as well as the City at large ?
Do you actually believe that a City Commission whose members are from one particular section of the City really is concerned and listens to all of the citizens of Emporia ?
Do you really believe that the influential, powerful citizens who live in that certain section of Emporia, that the present City Commissioners come from, Do not influence the way that Commissioners/City Commission votes or policy they enact ?
Posted by methusla (anonymous) on November 27, 2009 at 10:03 a.m. (Suggest removal)
tbluma
It is not hard to figure out how to collect parking ticket funds and yes the license tag no. is written down and known !
And your idea of collecting or adding parking ticket fines to tax collections, would be one way to collect what is owed. But may cause an excess of paperwork and time, which in turn would cost more, which in turn may cause a raise in everyones taxes, just to pay for the added work !
Throwing them in jail would only create more expense for the taxpayers.
Possibly, the City could have the Police find the violaters vehicle, have a parking boot device put on the wheel of the violaters vehicle, so they could not drive their vehicle until the ticket was paid and then the boot would be removed or if they did not pay the ticket within a certain length of time their vehicle would be towed, parking boot and all to an impound yard, until the ticket was paid !
Take away or threaten to take away a persons ability to drive their vehicle and you may be surprised how quickly parking tickets would be paid !
Posted by methusla (anonymous) on November 27, 2009 at 10:04 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Also, if the City is having trouble collecting parking fines, what good will new parking meters do !
Posted by tbluma (anonymous) on November 27, 2009 at 10:25 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Meth I agree about new parking meters.
As far as added expense you mentioned above, that isn't hard to figure out either, add it to the ticket just like court costs.
that sounds cheaper than buying a bunch of boots or towing fees.
Posted by dhcc66 (anonymous) on November 27, 2009 at 10:59 a.m. (Suggest removal)
hey biscuit...wasn't trying to be dumb about it, but it's the only reason I could think of with the location in mind
Posted by biscuitboy (anonymous) on November 27, 2009 at 11:12 a.m. (Suggest removal)
methusla and tbluma
If you two keep working at it you just might agree on something before long...... :-)
dhc66
Sorry about jumping defensive so quickly. :-)
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