Amador County – The Jackson Revitalization Committee tonight will consider a proposal to modify downtown parking elements, including the elimination of some meters and parking enforcement. The objective, as stated in a city memo, is to “implement parking modifications in Historic Downtown Jackson to improve customer service, provide easier in/out access of parking spaces and reduce the current speed limit for safer pedestrian movement.” The three proposed phases of the project include removing and storing meter tops of all Main Street meters, capping existing poles and leaving remaining meters in tact on areas of North Main Street, implementing diagonal parking with Amador County Transportation Commission recommended traffic patterns, creating planter boxes between parking curbs and sidewalk, periodically building steps from the street to the sidewalk, remove meter posts, reducing speed limits to 15 mph, and increasing parking violations from $11 to $30. Other options include reducing enforcement hours from 20 hours a week to 15 hours a week and augmenting those hours by implementing a “Neighborhood Watch” program. Fiscal impact studies will be conducted during different phases of the project. Other parking spaces, including those at Mel and Faye’s restaurant and next to El Dorado Savings Bank, will also be evaluated. The city currently has 154 metered parking spots within the boundaries of the study. Parking meter revenue between January 1, 2007 and December 27, 2007 was approximately $17,067 and $7,355 after distributions, compared to $46,445 between July 1, 2006 and June 30, 2007. Parking revenues are divided up into different city funds, including jailhouse construction, courthouse construction, equipment assessment, the State of California and the City of Jackson Enterprise Fund. “By far, the Police Department receives more complaints regarding parking enforcement issues over any other police enforcement program,” says Jackson Police Chief Scott Morrison. “Many visitors state they will ‘never shop in Jackson again’ after having received a parking citation. This is reflected by walk-in lobby complaints and many more complaints received via U.S. mail.” In addition, many downtown merchants are frustrated by the need to continuously move their vehicle to avoid a fine when parking in downtown metered spots. “It is expected that making these highly visible changes will improve public relations and affirm that the Economic Development Committee is serious (this time) about making significant changes,” says the memo. The Jackson Revitalization Committee meeting takes place Thursday, August 12 at 6 p.m. in Jackson City Hall. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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