Monday, March 22, 1999
Free parking possible for High Street
Oxford council will consider April-July trial
BY RANDY McNUTT
The Cincinnati Enquirer
OXFORD — City council will consider a proposal to waive parking meter fees on High Street from April through July, to evaluate the impact of free parking.
Recently, Councilwoman Sally Southard asked the police department to determine how free parking would affect uptown businesses, residents, visitors and guests.
Police Chief Steve Schwein said that short of removing the High Street meters, “this trial project seems to be the most prudent means of determining whether the cost of parking uptown impacts, in a negative manner, the revenues due our merchants, and to what extent.”
Parking always seems to be an issue in this Butler County city, the home of Miami University and 16,000 students. Most High Street meters cost 25 cents per hour, with a two-hour limit.
City Manager Mark B. Roath said Friday the trial project will be discussed at council's March 30 session. A date for a vote has not been scheduled.
“Several council members thought this might be a good time to revisit the issue,” Mr. Roath said. “There was some discussion on it last year. A few merchants were opposed.”
If council approves the demonstration project, sacks will be placed over the meters during those four months, Mr. Roath said.
According to Chief Schwein's calculations, the city took in $14,000 from April through July last year from the High Street parking meters. He said the city could expect to earn an equivalent amount this year if the meters remained.
In his report on the matter, Chief Schwein said that “although the spaces would be offered cost-free to the public, the entire length of High Street should immediately become a two-hour limit zone to prevent long-term clogging of the streets.”
To accomplish this, he said, at least one officer should be on duty on High Street. The cost of keeping an employee there during the demonstration period would be $9,180, he said.
He said it is likely that people will violate the two-hour parking limit at the same level that they now fail to put money in the meters.
Overtime parking in the demonstration area would carry a minimum $5 penalty.
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