The Parking and Traffic Committee of the Downtown Improvement Board met today at 4:30 p.m. Not much was resolved, but tensions rose when the committee discussed possibly extending parking restriction times.
“Don’t penalize people for going downtown,†said Corbett Davis, owner of Jeweler’s Trade Shop. “I’ve got customers who pay $3 for parking to pick up a $10 repair.â€
As for parking tickets, the committee has decided to hire a hearing officer who specifically deals with civil traffic infractions. No concrete plans have been made yet. As the committee discussed the subject a gentleman stood up with photos in his hand. He was upset about a ticket he got when he parked in a handicapped spot.
“This is crap,†he said as he walked up to the committee.
The gentleman was trying to go to Merrill Lynch and could not enter the parking lot because of the Occupy Pensacola mob. He parked in the handicapped spot and by the time he came back to his red Ferrari he had a $300 ticket. He took pictures of the mob as evidence.
“It’s not about the money buddy,†he said.
The committee had a hard time deciphering why he chose to park there instead of finding more neutral ground. Aggravated, he threw cash on the table and stormed out.
“We have many handicapped veterans who need that spot,†said Deborah Dunlap, a member of the committee.
Parking downtown has become an issue because downtown has grown. The success has caused a parking war between everyone who wants a spot on Palafox.
“I should have t-shirts that say ‘Come to New York Nicks in downtown Pensacola, where parallel parking is a spectator sport’,†said Nick Zangari, owner of New York Nicks.
Another main issue is employee parking. Do we let waiters and waitresses walk four blocks to their car with a wad of tip money in their pocket? Or do we let them take up viable customer parking?
“I see people park their car at 3 p.m. and walk one block to work,†Dunlap said.
To combat parking issues for special events the committee is exploring the option of using an electronic system to sell parking spots before events.
Franklin Kimbrough, executive director of the DIB, presented a Powerpoint discussing the options. When it comes down to it, there are only about 20-25 special events in downtown Pensacola a year. That includes seven Gallery Nights, Broadway performances at Saenger Theatre and other sold-out shows. The system would also cost about $.60 per transaction. So it seems that it’s not worth the trouble.
The committee moved to continue exploration.
While the committee still has to work on the issues, they do have downtown’s best interests at heart. Committee Chairman Mark Bednar, an attorney, said he wants to get more opinions from downtown retailers.
“We’re not trying to make a profit,†Bednar said. “We’re trying to break even at best.â€
