Councilman to hold proposed parking changes chat on Saturday

As was reported by numerous news outlets last week and much to the dismay of countless residents and visitors, the City of Atlanta is considering extending parking enforcement hours at meters around the city. Some of these would include 24-hour zones.

This would be done in an effort to recoup approximately $4 million that the City will not receive as a result of an arbitrator’s ruling that PARKatlanta does not need to pay the City almost three-quarters of what it originally was contracted to pay. This came about after the City Council last year restricted the Milwaukee-based company’s operations with a moratorium on reduced hours and new meters.

It was reported that the $4 million difference would be enough to afford 50 police officers and the City Council’s Transportation Committee is set to discuss the legislation on Wednesday, May 2.

The proposed changes are not sitting well with many, including Midtown resident Will Acosta, who started an online petition this week against the city's proposal. The petition – “Atlanta City Councilmember H. Lamar Willis: Stop PARKAtlanta 24-hour Parking Enforcement” - had garnered more than 270 signatures by late Friday afternoon.

On Saturday morning, Councilman Willis will be conducting a Midtown coffee chat with residents concerned about the proposed parking changes. Willis will be at the , located at 1000 Piedmont Avenue near 10^th Street from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. All are welcome to attend.

Here is more from the online petition:

Atlanta Councilmember H. Lamar Willis has proposed legislation to increase already restrictive parking enforcement measures in the City of Atlanta. Willis' proposal would create 24-hour enforcement zones in most areas of the City and would expand PARKatlanta enforcement hours. 

We oppose this legislation because:

1- City residents and visitors would have to pay as much as $36 PER DAY to park, and would still have to move their vehicle every 3 to 4 hours. This makes it cost-prohibitive and unworkable for City residents to have friends and family to their homes.  

2- The restrictions would further erode property values and quality of life for City residents dependent upon on-street parking.

3- The restrictions would further negatively impact patronage of local businesses in the City who are already suffering the impact of current parking restrictions and costs.

4- This punitive, restrictive legislation seeks to solve the problems of the City’s contract with PARKatlanta by making City residents and businesses pay - literally - for those mistakes, and thwarts incentives for city residents and businesses to thrive.

5- The legislation does not address documented ongoing issues with predatory and fraudulent enforcement by PARKatlanta.

We understand the need for increased revenues. We support creative solutions to raise revenues and expand transportation options in the City of Atlanta, and we are confident that this can be accomplished; but not with this legislation.

Please sign this petition today, to STOP this legislation so that the real work toward livable, affordable solutions can begin. This legislation will be heard in the City Council’s Transportation Committee on Wednesday, May 2 at 10.30 am. The meeting is in Committee Room #2 on the second floor of Atlanta City Hall, 55 Trinity Avenue, SW. 

We need to have an impressive number of signatures to present this petition at that time, so please forward this petition freely now!  Your attendance at the meeting is greatly encouraged.

How do you feel about the proposed parking changes in Atlanta?