Thoughts on Parking Enforcement, Parking Garages and Pedestrian Safety

Parking enforcement, parking garages and pedestrian safety are all part of a larger conversation that our community desperately needs

Three months ago, this publication engaged our readers in a comprehensive discussion about downtown parking.  In our story, this publication went to great lengths to provide factual data that not only showed how much downtown parking enforcement costs ($62,411 is expected to be spent on this activity in 2024), but how much was being brought in ($2,380 of parking ticket revenue was generated in the first two months of the year).  Through the first two months of the year, parking fines covered roughly 23% of the cost of parking enforcement.  As of the end of May, that number has improved to 30%, as $7,710 has been brought in against estimated costs of $26,005.  

But these optimistic numbers can’t hide the fact that in 2024, parking enforcement revenues are simply not keeping pace as compared to previous years.  The first five months of 2022 brought in $9,750 in parking ticket revenue, while over the same period in 2023, that number was $11,560.  In 2024, $7,710 in parking fines have been received.  In fact, looking at the data a bit more specifically, the first five months of 2024 are showing a decrease of 28% in the number of parking tickets that have been written over the same time last year.  

It appears that if these trends continue, keeping parking enforcement as a budgeted priority is going to be a fiscal challenge moving forward, as revenues will more than likely not keep pace with the cost of the service.  

Proponents of parking enforcement are keen on saying that if there was no enforcement of parking regulations, the entire downtown parking system would be abused and something akin to pandemonium would set in.  Maybe, but skepticism should be exercised.

In May, one hundred parking tickets were written for the entire month; which may seem like a healthy sum.  However, breaking it down, on average 4½ parking tickets were issued each day.  Last May, one hundred and forty-three tickets were written, averaging 6½ tickets per day.  If the number of parking tickets have decreased by over 40%, on a year-over-year basis, are there reasons why?

It may be that residents and visitors are more than willing to adopt and follow the rules without strict enforcement.  And let’s be honest, strict enforcement is not a hallmark of law enforcement when it comes to traffic infractions.  The same report from the Police Department that showed there were 100 parking tickets written last month also showed that sworn officers wrote 138 traffic tickets in May and gave out 385 warnings; in other words, when an officer pulled over a driver, a ticket was issued in just over 25% of those interactions.  Perhaps it is time to keep the city’s parking rules on the books, but consider enforcing parking regulations on only the most egregious scofflaws?

Another explanation might come from the appearance that there is more parking in downtown than there has been in the past.  With the full opening of West Main Street just a few months ago, the angled parking in front of the old Courthouse has added new spots that are being utilized.  In addition, the parallel parking stalls along West Main Street appear to be plentiful at all hours of the day.  There is parking downtown, though it may not be seen as convenient.

And is it that convenience factor that makes parking a contentious issue.  Many people like to tell an old story, that borders on folklore, when it comes to downtown parking.  The city’s old Development Director, Tony Char, once quipped that it’s the same distance from the milk section at Meijer’s to the middle of their parking lot as it is from the Public Square to the old Courthouse.  Granted both distances are about 500’, but when I am traversing the Meijer parking lot, I don’t have to worry about people driving 30 mph, as drivers tend to do when downtown.  

The issue isn’t so much about convenient parking as it is about pedestrian safety.  The City didn’t help matters when it decided to remove the Cherry Street crosswalk, but the planned Public Square improvements in 2025/2026 can help bring some pedestrian safety measures into place – the dedicated traffic islands are a welcome, and frankly overdue, improvement.  Giving people safe options to travel by foot through downtown and across busy downtown streets are an imperative measure if this city is going to fix any parking problems, real or perceived.

There is also considerable conversation about creating a downtown parking garage.  Such conversations are not being dismissed out of hand; in fact, the City budgeted $100,000 this year for a “Downtown Parking Garage Analysis” and this publication is excited to see how the community will be engaged and what the recommendations of this analysis will be when it is completed.  

Whatever the analysis would show, there are opportunities for conversations.  There are ample sites around downtown for a parking garage, but many, if not all, would require conversations with downtown’s largest employer and downtown’s largest attraction – the Miami County Courthouse and Safety Building.  The County owns many scattered lots around the downtown area, these could be openings for conversations with the City on a garage that could meet the needs of the County, the City and the downtown business community.  

But, even these conversations will not gain any traction unless there are comprehensive conversations on pedestrian safety in our community.  If individuals don’t have access to, or don’t feel safe crossing a street, it simply does not matter where a parking garage will be built – it simply will not be used to its fullest potential.

What do you think? Is parking enforcement too strict? Do you feel safe walking downtown? If there was a parking garage downtown, would you use it? Feel free to leave your ideas and insights in the comment section!

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