On-street parking in Plymouth’s downtown area was a major topic of the Board of Public Works and Safety meeting Monday. Jeff O’Dell one of the downtown business owners said they had observed parking before they made the decision to open their store on Garro Street. They realized there were parking violations and thought after an officer placed notes on the cars the issue would cease. That warning didn’t make an effect on the residents living upstairs.
As he saw violators he would call the police department and ask for the civilian parking enforcement to address the issue. One of the calls to the PD ended with an officer saying they don’t respond to parking violations, they have more important things to do…he then told Mr. O’Dell to contact the mayor. He did discuss the problem and Mayor Senter said he too has seen some consistent violators.
O’Dell said the street signs say parking enforcement is Monday through Saturday from 9 until 6. Chief Bacon said parking enforcement is not done on Saturdays because the current ordinance only states Monday through Friday although civilian employees who handle parking enforcement only work Monday through Friday. Last year the city tried to use police officers to handle parking enforcement with little success.
Currently Becky Carswell handles parking enforcement. Over the years more tickets are being handed out but a ticket is a civil matter and not a criminal issue, although if not paid the issue is handed over to the city attorney for action in small claims court. In 2013 a total of 269 parking tickets were issued while in 2014 police officers handled it and only 75 tickets were issued. Chief Bacon said to date, 199 tickets have been issued with code enforcement doing patrols in the mornings and afternoons but not on a daily basis.
Casewll said she does her job and has talked to a couple of the violators, gotten them to move their vehicles but still continue to violated city code. She also noted that during Sidewalk Sales last week a couple of business owners told her to go back to the office.
Councilman Mike Delp asked it the building owners have addressed the issue. O’Dell said they have discussed it but not feel it’s their problem.
Mayor Senter asked council members if they would like to consider amending the current ordinance to include a vehicle impound clause if there is a third violation within a 30 day period specifically for those habitual violators.
A motion was passed to move forward with an ordinance.
