Highland Park Lowers Yearly Parking Fees at City Lots

Council members in Highland Park on Monday made it a bit more affordable for residents without parking to use the city lots all year-round.

An ordinance approved unanimously created a “combined commuter and overnight parking permit” at a rate of $300 a year, or $150 for low-income residents. Currently, residents have to pay $216 for “commuter” parking and an additional $120 for the “overnight” pass, equaling $336. The ordinance also allows for a $25 monthly pass to be purchased.

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Despite the approval, one Highland Park resident still took issue with the perception that it costs too much for residents to use the city lots.

“I’m frustrated that there’s been no creation of a residential permit that’s good for 24 hours a day and that we have to purchase these passes every four months,” said Ben Rosemarin, prior to an explanation from Mayor Nancy Rotering and City Manager Ghida Neukirch that the “CO Permit” approved during the meeting was in effect the “residential permit” he had been lobbying, and at a lower cost as well.

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“We created that one pass tonight,” said Rotering. “It costs for us to maintain parking and we are doing as much as we can to keep the costs for our residents as low as possible.

“You came here and lobbied, and we responded,” she said.

Even then, Rosemarin said he disagreed with the outcome.

“It’s $300 a year for anyone, that’s less than $1 a day and for people who qualify through HUD as low-income it is even less,” said Rotering. “That’s responsive.”