Some Lots Unlikely Ticket Targets

PARKING POLICY DISCUSSED

By Skip Descant

Posted: May 4, 2010 at 5:35 a.m.

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FAYETTEVILLE — It’s not likely that Fayetteville parking officials will be allowed to write citations for cars with expired parking in privately-held parking lots in the Dickson Street Entertainment District.

The Arkansas Attorney General’s office said the city would need to enter into a lease agreement with the lot owners to manage the property, if it wanted to write citations or set parking rates. And running a private parking lot does not generally fall under the role of supporting a public purpose, the attorney general opinion states.

“It is unclear how the City would realize any benefit from such an arrangement, which would invite challenge as serving no public purpose,” wrote Jack Druff, assistant Arkansas Attorney General.

The only enforcement tool available to operators of the private parking lots is towing and booting, say city officials. Part of the reason for considering the broad changes to Dickson Street parking policies is to drastically reduce the number of cars towed and booted. It’s still unclear what other enforcement options may be considered.

“The city is still exploring some methods where we could provide some enforcement services,” Sharon Crosson, Fayetteville parking and telecommunications manager said Monday night during a town hall meeting at Riverview Baptist Church. “A recommendation will be coming forward.”

The Fayetteville City Council is set to hear a number of proposed ordinances at tonight’s council meeting that will transition the Dickson Street area into paid parking.

The money earned through the program will first be applied toward the $177,600 annual equipment lease for devices like the 19 pay stations arranged throughout the Dickson Street Entertainment District. But also, the parking fees and citations will assist in funding a multilevel parking garage and an allocation to the Walton Arts Center in exchange for city services, according to city documents. The city has proposed a $289,000 transfer to the Walton Arts Center, according to a detailed report of the program’s annual budget. A previous report suggested that the Walton Arts Center transfer was not part of the proposal coming before the City Council.

The Dickson Street parking program is projected to generate $997,000 annually, with expenses set at $120,400, according to city documents.

City Attorney Kit Williams has proposed that were the council to agree to giving the Walton Arts Center a portion of money generated by the parking plan, the council should stipulate that the WAC not build its new 2,500 seat theater outside of Fayetteville.

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