It is apparent that the parking situation is going to be a hot topic in the mayoral race in Fayetteville. Having founded Underwoods on West Dickson Street 55 years ago, I have had a bit of experience regarding parking in the entertainment district.
In an attempt to analyze what is really going on with city parking, I contacted the city requesting information and received a prompt and complete response from Sharon Waters, parking and telecom manager for the city
Total cost of the kiosk system implemented Aug. 16, 2010: $1,004,770.
Total revenue from parking kiosks: $1,820,071.
Total revenue from fines: $486,610 (27 percent of revenue).
Total revenue from phone payment with credit card: $29,407.
Total cost of policing and supporting the system: $2,171,337. ...
What we cannot do in this situation is to scrap the kiosks system and go back to the parking meter system, which I have been told will cost some $600,000 to $700,000 more. In that event, we would still have the unknown cost of policing and supporting the system.
I believe people accept the fact that parking must be paid for, and are willing to pay a fair price. What they strongly object to, and I agree, is that paying for parking is confusing and diffcult, and the fines are excessive and unfair, and they are at 27 percent of revenue. With the present system, it is inconvenient and difficult to pay by kiosk.
So if we are to married to the kiosk and credit card system of payment, what can we do to resolve the situation? ... I have observed countless times people standing in front of the kiosk for several minutes trying to figure out how to operate it. With only six total kiosks on both sides of the street, it means a person must sometimes walk more than a block or cross the street to use one, then stand in line. In inclement weather, that is a serious inconvenience. ... More kiosks could be installed but would be expensive.
Perhaps a better solution would be to expand the signage urging people to use their phone and credit card to pay for parking. They could sit in their cars and enter the space number, time to park and amount. It presently costs 35 cents to do that and perhaps that charge could be reduced with more usage. It would also enable them to extend their parking from the restaurant or club if they were running over time without having to go back to the kiosk.
To effect that, more signage would be necessary, but that would be relatively inexpensive. The signs “Pay by credit card” need to be redesigned. Good signage calling for action depends upon high contrast and readability. ...
There should be more of them and perhaps larger. ...
It seems to me this would be the best “first step” to try in solving the parking problem.
BILL UNDERWOOD
Fayetteville
Opinion, Pages 13 on 10/14/2012