Electronic parking meters?
Originally published 10:57 a.m., January 19, 2010
Updated 02:03 p.m., January 19, 2010
Comments about a proposal to install new electronic parking meters in downtown Emporia will be taken through Wednesday at the Emporia Main Street office, 12 E. Fifth Ave.
Main Street is compiling a list of comments, questions and concerns of its membership concerning the proposed change. The comments will be forwarded to the city as it reviews potential changes in parking enforcement policy.
The survey is online at http://survey.constantcontact.com/survey/a07e2mojhe3g1xs92gd/start
mastertroy (anonymous) says...
Ya, it didn't work for me either
January 19, 2010 at 12:11 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
tbluma (anonymous) says...
Why don't they just forward this forum to them?
We don't need the meters
January 19, 2010 at 12:13 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
booker5m (anonymous) says...
Told me I had already taken the survey. News to me
January 19, 2010 at 12:39 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
b3bill (anonymous) says...
The link worked for me, copied and pasted into browser. Just be sure the final period of the sentence isn't included.
January 19, 2010 at 12:42 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
koalemos (anonymous) says...
If I participate in this survey will the consultant firm who is being paid by us to tell us we need to buy the new meters like San Fransisco has going to pay me for my time?
January 19, 2010 at 1:05 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
blulitespecial (anonymous) says...
Link no work.I made the mistake of putting the link in google,and got 3 results-one the Gazette article.I went back and pasted in the search bar.It said I already took the survey,even though I never typed anything or "logged in".So it seems just opening the web page and logging your IP counts as taking the survey. Maybe the city will set the new meters up so just getting on the city website will triple your fine and deduct it from your checking account!
January 19, 2010 at 2:11 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
EmporiaMainStreetDirector (anonymous) says...
Try this link instead:
http://survey.constantcontact.com/sur...
Sorry about the confusion.
January 19, 2010 at 2:22 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
blulitespecial (anonymous) says...
Thanks- That link worked,and I took the survey.Might oughta post it in the article so it doesn't get buried in the comments.
January 19, 2010 at 2:31 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
methusla (anonymous) says...
Exactly what is wrong with the present, mechanical parking meters ?
Is this just another instance of wanting to be like some other City ?
I was always told, as a child, gowing up " If it ain' t broke, don' t try to fix it and Don' t try to keep up with or be like the Jones's " .
So, what is the real purpose of " Wanting " , not necessarily needing new electronic parking meters ?
Is it, just that " Want " exceeds " Necessity " ?
What will it cost to repair or replace an electronic parking meter vs. the cost of repairing or replacing a mechanical parking meter ?
And why does there need to be a survey of the people done. When the City Commission and City Manager are not going to listen to, " The People " anyway and only heed and listen to, just a certain few influential people in the first place and have never listened to the majority of " The people" ?
Why does Emporia absolutely have to be like or follow the example of some other City anyway ?
Will what works and is best for someother City, necessarily work for or be best for Emporia ?
Now, it would seem to me that, if the City Manager, City Commission and Lyon County Commission paid attention to and read the Gazette Forums, they may just get a handle on the thoughts of the citizens of Emporia and Lyon County. However they would, most likely, still pay attention to and listen, only to those few powerful and influential Citizens of Emporia and Lyon County .
January 19, 2010 at 2:40 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
blulitespecial (anonymous) says...
I don't see the need for these,either.I know of utilities that are hoarding older water and gas meters for parts- the new meters don't cut the mustard.
I don't think the cost of purchase,installation,a dual parts inventory and maintenance program is something we ought to take on right now.
It's also a move closer to a paperless society.No cash!
But in the end,it's still just a parking meter.Just as long as it doesn't "talk" to my bank....
January 19, 2010 at 2:55 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
justaflushaway (anonymous) says...
if they want to SAVE money get rid of ZIMMERMAN
January 19, 2010 at 3:12 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
hjcary (anonymous) says...
I agree with several others. There is no need for this. Put the money where it is needed.
January 19, 2010 at 4:46 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
bobhornet (anonymous) says...
My parents used those mechanical parking machines, I've used them all my life (except for the 12 years when I walked uphill both ways to school), so they're good enough for these darn young whippersnappers who like the new-fangled technology!
BTW, since when did the Luddites of Emporia start reading the Gazette online. :)
January 19, 2010 at 4:53 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
stevo (anonymous) says...
Quit wasting money...We don't need them... the old ones work just fine...if they break...put up an hour parking or 30 minute parking sign....they cost less and won't break....Get Real...The City Officials and Main Street Director need to know how to save money instead of emptying the bank and then make us pay...(of course, they will get a pay increase to pay for their extra tax bill)
January 19, 2010 at 5:28 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
biscuitboy (anonymous) says...
This plan is about as ridiculous as the pagers they have at Newman Regional Health. The ones they use to page patients when its their turn to see somebody....even though the patient is setting a few feet and in full view of the one doing the paging. Talk about a waste of money.
January 19, 2010 at 5:52 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
booker5m (anonymous) says...
Made me think I was at Famous Daves last time I was at hospital.
January 19, 2010 at 9:08 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
goodoleboy (anonymous) says...
When is the City going to get it? We already had a sales tax increase to pay for frivolous expenditures, now they want to buy these things(with our money) and charge us more in parking which will do nothing but negatively effect businesses downtown. Hell I would purposely avoid the things to spite the city, as I would wager many others would, great move for the downtown, maybe we can just doze it down and upgrade the courthouse.
January 19, 2010 at 9:09 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
koalemos (anonymous) says...
goodoleboy, To answer your question, Never! These people are career municipal parasites who have never had to make money the real way. One day a friend of a friend hooked them up with a job working in the municipal offices. They had no experience, no idea of what went on there and no desire to sweat for pennies. Once hired, they soon learned how the municipal system worked. The hard working tax payers getting home from a ten hour shift at the factory were too tired to go to the municipal meetings and as long as they kissed up to the commissioners and had a halfway decent sales pitch, their pet project was approved and they got to write themselves paychecks for watching other people do the work. They soon discovered that they didn't even have to watch the work being performed and they would still get paid. Watching the big bosses "managing" the municipality, they soon discovered that that was the job for them so they padded their resume with words they found on various websites and applied for a position as the manager for a medium sized town in Kansas. After traveling for an interview and a little kissing up to the powers that be, they were selected as the man for the job and so they loaded up the truck...oops, I stand corrected, they paid a mover and arrived to the new community and practiced what they had watched in their last municipal job. Everything was fine for a while but they have never experienced a downturn in the economy so the thought of tightening the belt never occurred to them. It was never part of their learning experience so they just kept going with what they know and that is take more from the working man/woman and give your pet project a higher priority. Of course there is the occasional buddy who needs a coattail to hold onto so they hire their friends and spouses and their wives and exchange insider information about grants and programs that are available and everyone gets paid but the working man. We will just buy some electronic parking meters like they have over in New Jersey and take some more money from the working stiff. Municipal Building Blues by koalemos.
January 19, 2010 at 9:44 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
citygirl (anonymous) says...
I appreciate being asked for my feedback and my opinion. However, if we don't know what the problem was to begin with, we cannot offer an educated opinion. Your survey asked for alternatives....but we don't know what we are offering alternatives for. Why do the meters need replacing? Is there a cost savings that has not been explained?
January 19, 2010 at 9:45 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
biscuitboy (anonymous) says...
citygirl
My guess is, if the truth be known, the person who distributes these new meters either has cultivated friendships, or is otherwise a member of the good ole boy club (sorry goodoleboy--nothing personal) that controls all local politics. As such there is some ritual back scratching going on while all members of said club will ultimately profit in the end.
That then brings us back to what we (the taxpayers) can expect to receive?.....short answer.......nothing!
January 20, 2010 at 3:57 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
Yup, this is the typical cousin-brother system. Somebody's cousin/brother is selling these parking meters and stands to make a bundle and we taxpayers get to pay and pay and pay and pay. They're banking on how much the populace likes new gadgets.
koalemos has it nailed.
January 20, 2010 at 8:17 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
barefootin (anonymous) says...
nothing wrong with the old meters, the city just wants to make more money by raising the price of parking.
January 20, 2010 at 8:24 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
biscuitboy (anonymous) says...
koalemos is a very smart person.
January 20, 2010 at 8:31 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
madpoet (anonymous) says...
Emporia is so busy "keeping up with the Joneses" that it's gotten ridiculous. Parking meters are a deterrent to parking downtown as it is. I agree with the idea of posting it all 30 or 60 minute parking and ticketing to get the money they seem to think they must have. I ate at Wheat State Pizza last month and had to scrounge for nickles to feed the meter. A pain in the butt! They want to promote dowtown, then get rid of the stupid right turn only islands and parking meters. When you have to go several blocks to turn around to park on the opposite side of the street and keep a bunch of change on hand to feed meters, it makes it less desirable to shop downtown.
January 20, 2010 at 9:36 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
nutsaboutools (anonymous) says...
I recommended an alternative; get rid of them all together, problem solved.
January 20, 2010 at 12:37 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
MisterO (anonymous) says...
I am FOR the new parking meters, but only under the following conditions:
1. Double the current fines for parking violations. The extra money from the doubled fines must be put into a separate account and not used for ANYTHING. When there is enough money in that account to pay for the new meters, then get them.
2. After the new meters are installed, drop the cost of the parking fines by 1/4. Keep those extra fees in a separate account and use them ONLY for maintenance of the new meters.
January 20, 2010 at 6:42 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
koalemos (anonymous) says...
Charge me to park my car and spend my money and if I'm not fast enough fine me. I will just keep on driving past thank you!
January 20, 2010 at 6:54 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
knute (anonymous) says...
A very long time ago, the meter-repair man told me that the city had many parking meters and that he used to scrounge parts from the meters that just couldn't be used anymore. Eventually, there won't be anymore parts anywhere and the meters will have to be replaced. Again, eventually. I am not convinced that the meters have to be replaced right now.
The electronic meters can, and will, be adjusted so that when a vehicle is moved from the parking stall, the meter returns to zero no matter how much time remains on the clock. Thus the next user has to 'feed the meter' . It sort of rubs me the wrong way; it's only a few cents, but that is MY few cents and if I elect to leave early and 'give' a few minutes to someone else, that should be my decision. Just another way the city can sneak in to grab any money in any manner possible.
January 20, 2010 at 6:55 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
koalemos (anonymous) says...
Charge me to park my car so I can spend my money and if I'm not fast enough fine me. What does that say about a town?
January 20, 2010 at 7:02 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
b3bill (anonymous) says...
I don't park at any parking meter spaces. I won't be bothered with that type of petty stuff and then have to be sure I'm back in a short time or risk a parking ticket. I'll park elsewhere and walk. I refuse to pay to park in Emporia. Not everyone can walk that easily, I realize, and they get screwed over.
I told Main Street on the survey that there isn't really anything downtown that I have to go there for, that I can't find away from there at places without parking meters (such as Waters, Bluestem, Walgreens, Walmart, etc), or out of town or online. If parking meters are such a good thing, then why doesn't every business have them? Why does downtown think having parking meters is necessary? It does nothing but discourage patronage there and it's nothing but backwards thinking.
Downtown Emporia needs all the positive help it can get. Ditch the meters, and then be able to say you can park for free downtown, just like anywhere else. There can still be time limits for parking that can be enforced without having parking meters.
January 20, 2010 at 9:42 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
methusla (anonymous) says...
b3bill
Right on, get rid of all parking meters, put up time limit parking signs ! And as for enforcing the time limit signs, shoot that little blue jeep that runs around downtown, already does that anyway !
January 20, 2010 at 11:25 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )