“It’s never going to make people happy. No one wants to pay for parking.”
But Grand Rapids Mayor Rosalynn bliss says parking fees are part of city life.
“It is just the reality of big cities.”
Included in the parking plan, city manager Mark Washington says the maximum special event fee will increase from 15 dollars to 25.
“Still well below other parking providers.”
But commissioner Lisa Knight thinks it may still be more than some want to pay for parking.
“I feel like it puts even more of a strain of bringing people into downtown.”
Interim Mobile GR director Jennifer Kasper says monthly parking rates will also go up.
“This would have been the first time we would have increased the monthly parking rate, and it is only by 2 percent in 8 years.”
And the city will enforce parking meters until 7 pm, an extra hour. City manager Washington says the additional fees are needed for ramp and lot maintenance and security.
“Make sure they are clean make sure they are safe.”
And commissioner Drew Robbins says some will object to any price to park.
“Unless it is free it is always going to be too expensive for people.”
If approved as part of the new city budget, the parking rate increases take effect July first.
