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Sandy added that changes were needed because existing parking regulations don’t support downtown businesses. “It’s enough of a struggle for them already and providing parking for that is one of the things that I think is our responsibility as a city.”
Morganton visitors and residents are expected to see the changes in downtown immediately as the faded and eroded parking and enforcement signs that dot downtown are replaced with bright, easy to read signage clearly indicating time limits, created by Main Street Manager Makenzie McGinnis.
WHY MAKE CHANGES?
In the spring, the city’s Main Street Office surveyed downtown business owners and employees. Jablonski shared the results of that survey for the first time at the city council’s meeting Monday evening. Of the 76 respondents, 63% view customer parking as essential; 59% do not require employees to use designated all-day free parking; 38% support increased fines and accountability for unpaid tickets; and 52% support eliminating all parking limits and fees.
“Unfortunately, the same people who find that it’s very important for the customer parking, do not wish to park where they should,” Jablonski said. “They still want to park where the customers park.”
Of the less than 10 residents that live downtown, five responded to the residential survey. The majority felt it was important to have parking permits for residents.
In The Paper’s parking survey, almost half of the 325 respondents were avid downtown visitors, and 13% were downtown employees. Most of the respondents are in downtown Morganton daily or a few times a week. More than half said they supported eliminating parking fees, while 33% opposed.
Jablonski said the parking committee considered eliminating all parking limits and fines but determined it wasn’t practical because employees and business owners were using spaces intended for customers. The committee chose to prioritize modern ticketing systems such as the chosen T2 Systems, better signage, consistent and impartial enforcement, and extended time limits and all-day free parking.
When talking to other municipalities about their use of T2 Systems, including Lincolnton and New Bern, Jablonski said they noted that parking enforcement is necessary to ensure proper turnover and convenient parking for customers and visitors.
“All business owners and employees should be parking in the all-day free lots. I can’t not say that,” Jablonski said, adding that increasing free parking was added as a balance.
INCREASED FREE PARKING AND ZONE CHANGES
- Timed Parking: Time limits for on-street parking spaces are increased from two hours to three hours weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Courthouse Square parking: Parking spaces located immediately around the Courthouse Square are designated for visitors and customer parking only. Residents may park around the courthouse, with the exception of East Union Street due to its proximity to businesses.
- Free lots: Lots currently signed as two-hour or four-hour parking will now be designated as all-day free parking. These lots include the lot between The Madness and Oak Hill Iron + Wood and the lot behind the Morganton General Store as examples. Certain lots that are already designated for free, all-day parking will remain that way. They include the lot behind the theater off East Union Street, the lot off King Street beside and directly behind Calvary Lutheran Church, the lot near Martha’s Park, and the lot on the other side of Oak Hill Iron + Wood, close to Meeting Street.
- Residential parking: Downtown residents who rely on on-street parking will be able to complete an online form so the parking enforcement officer can distinguish residents from nonresidents. The only area they will not be permitted to use is the section of East Union Street, due to its proximity to businesses.
CONSEQUENCES FOR UNPAID TICKETS
- Fines: Ticket fines increase from $5 to $10 for three- and four-hour parking areas.
- Loading/unloading zones: The fine for parking in a 10-minute loading/unloading zone is $30.
- Booting: Vehicles with parking tickets unpaid for more than 60 days, regardless of the amount owed, will be booted.
- Towing: If a booted vehicle’s tickets aren’t paid within five business days, it will be towed.
- Handicap interference: State law requires that unauthorized parking in a handicap space will result in a fine of $100 or more. Jablonski also noted that people are illegally parking in the striped area adjacent to the handicap space. Individuals parking in these areas designated for people with disabilities to get out of their vehicles will be fined $100.
The city will still enforce same-block violations, which means shifting your car to another spot on the same block does not buy you more time. “You can move yourself in the same block, but you’re still only going to get three hours in the same block,” Jablonski said.
HOW TO PAY
Anyone receiving a ticket will be able to pay online by scanning the QR code on their ticket, or by calling the number on the ticket to pay by phone. People will still be able to pay in person as well at Morganton Public Safety.
All parking payments, notices, and collections will be managed by T2 Mobile Systems, instead of Morganton Public Safety, though Jablonski said the city will still receive revenue through daily deposits from T2. People will still be able to dispute their tickets online by filling out a form.
“But all the information is in [the system] about your car,” Jablonski said. “If you have 10 tickets, they’re going to show you all those tickets with the dates when they were given, who gave them, and the whole thing.”
IMPLEMENTATION
Newly elected city councilwoman Molly McKay expressed concern about guests of downtown residents getting tickets, adding that it might be a headache for residents to have to fill out an online form every time they have a visitor. Jablonski said the city will look into providing residents with placards for their guests.
Ultimately the city council voted unanimously for the changes, which kicked off a month-long warning period for those who violate the new parking rules. While violators will still receive a ticket, it will not include a fine, but rather a warning message.
City Manager Sally Sandy noted that the warning period could be extended at the city council’s January meeting if the new parking officer needs more time for training.