Parking meter changes upheld, revisions could be made

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- New parking rules for downtown will impact how much you pay at the meter, but the recent changes might see some fine-tuning.

Last month, the common council unanimously approved the changes to extend meter hours in the central business district on weekdays from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. and extend meter hours to Saturday.

District 4 Alderman Bob Bauman sponsored the ordinance. He told CBS 58 public works said area businesses and residents supported the plan for downtown parking policy changes. After getting calls from constituents and discovering stakeholders were consulted by public works four years ago, Bauman said he wanted to give the public a chance to share their thoughts.

On Thursday, Bauman brought a repeal request to the Public Safety and Health Committee. He said this was an opportunity for residents and business owners to share their thoughts.

"That was to get a discussion, and that is exactly, I think, that's what we got. So, it worked as intended," Bauman said.

Business owners and residents shared their opinions at the meeting, some expressing concern about the app available to pay for parking.

"Bruce Springsteen was here on Tuesday, and that crowd is older. That crowd is not using an app," owner of Cream City Concepts Bobby Wiltgen said during the meeting.

One Third Ward Business owner tells CBS 58 she is for the changes if paying for parking were easier.

"They have two options: to pay at the meter or to use the app. [The app] is not very friendly to use. We give a lot of change to people every day," owner of Mainstream Boutique and Access Boutique Jeanette Devorak said. "Also, maybe create some pop-up change machines, so people aren't asking businesses for change all the time."

Others think it is better to charge for parking than to raise taxes.

"I feel like it's a way to make some money, maybe repair some roads and help out the regular people," Greenfield Resident Heidi Krenz said.

The ordinance is still in place as approved by the Common Council. However, Bauman is planning to propose amendments that could exempt residential areas and create a parking pass for those who frequent downtown.

"If someone has season tickets for Marquette or season tickets for the Bucks or the symphony and they know they're going to be downtown, they're going to want to park in the street 25 times a year. They can go in and purchase a visitor permit that avoids the need to plug meters. They pay a flat rate for the whole year," Bauman said. "If they underutilize it the city makes out a little better. If they overutilize it, they make out a little better."

Between updating all of the parking signs and making any potential changes to the ordinance, public works said it could be months to a year before you have to feed the meter extra money.