This
page will be used to provide up to date news and information concerning
the ongoing debates and issues surrounding the City's position on Public Parking.
Parking In Winslow
Parking fines go up in Winslow Anyone planning to spend Cinco de Mayo in Seattle today might want to rethink the options if those plans included parking in downtown Bainbridge Island.
The city's new parking ordinance, which raises the possible fines for over parking from $20 to $60, takes effect today. "There were ferry commuters who were using downtown as a parking lot," said Kevin Dwyer, Bainbridge Island Chamber of Commerce executive director. "If you consider what it costs to take your car on the ferry and park in Seattle it's quite a bargain."
But it wasn't much of a deal for downtown merchants, who got used to seeing cars parked in front of their stores for hours on end. About a year ago, Bainbridge Island Mayor Darlene Kordonowy appointed members to a parking advisory committee to study how to discourage the commuter parking without negatively impacting merchants.
The committee brought its recommendations to the City Council, which approved the bulk of the ideas in February.
The most important change is in penalties. Previously those who overstayed their welcomes were fined $20 once. A single fine is the same amount today. Where the price goes up is in multiple infractions. If someone were to park
in a two-hour spot for six hours or more, three tickets of $20 each may be on the windshield upon return. "The whole idea is to keep traffic off Winslow Way for customers who are just going to go in and out of there," said Dwyer.
More: http://www.thesunlink.com/redesign/2003-05-05/local/140341.shtml
Progress on Parking. Most observers agree that adequate parking for employees and shoppers in a commercial center such as Downtown Winslow and the High School Road-Hildebrand Lane area is critical to economic success. We appreciate the City Council’s decision to set aside funds to hire a new parking enforcement officer for the Bainbridge Island Police Department and to consider putting more teeth into the existing parking ordinance. Our goal is work closely with the city and the business community to create short and longterm solutions to a challenge that isn’t easy to solve but can’t be ignored.
CITY OF BAINBRIDGE ISLAND
PARKING COMMITTEE FIRST REPORT
DECEMBER 4, 2002
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