City Council discusses revising previous changes to city parking

City Council members in committee. Photo by Nathan Hart.

Members of City Council met Monday night in committee to discuss revising previous legislation that modified the times when city parking meter fees are enforced.

Currently, parking meter fees are enforced between 8 p.m. and 8 a.m. If the council were to authorize the change, parking meter fees would be enforced between 7 p.m. and 8 a.m.

Last year, the council-amended parking meter fee enforcement, introduced by City Council President Chris Fahl, moved enforcement to 8 p.m.

Independent Councilmember Pat McGee, who was an opponent of last year’s parking policy reform, voiced his support for these changes and said that he would also support the city moving the window back to 6 p.m. — where it was before the council voted last year to move it to 8 p.m.

At-large City Council candidate Democrat Beth Clodfelter also relayed her support for the changes at the meeting.

“I think that moving the time back to 7 o’clock will allow for more people to go to a 5 o’clock movie or a 6 o’clock dinner without worrying about getting a ticket before they come back,” Clodfelter said.

The body also discussed modifying parking meter fees.

At-large Democratic Councilmember Sarah Grace, who is running for reelection, proposed that the city lower parking costs in handicap-accessible spots in high-traffic areas, such as Court Street, from $1 an hour to 50 cents an hour.

Council also heard from the Athens City Commission on Disabilities. The commission shared some of the progress it made in the past year, such as getting a handicap ramp installed in Arts West, the Athens community arts facility.