By Sadie Hunter
It’s hard to deny that parking downtown is a problem, but now residents will have the chance to give their input and recommendations for a solution in a 10-question survey, for a second time after a public forum and open house on April 15.
“While we’ve had public meetings and hosted an open house, we want to make sure we’ve reached out to everyone to state their opinion,” said Rick Taylor, Noblesville Common Council president and task force member. “This is such a hot-button topic that we are seeking input from as many citizens and businesses as possible. We want to be thorough and offer a number of outlets for the public to express themselves.”
The survey will include questions about the two-hour parking limit, metered parking, issues and priorities in the study area, and ways to improve the parking situation.
“We’re asking for a little more feedback from the taxpayers. One of the questions asked, ‘Are you willing to fund a parking garage?’ This lets us know where everyone is at, because if they want us to build it, it will come with a price tag,” Taylor said.
The Noblesville Parking Task Force kicked off their efforts in March, starting by meeting amongst themselves to identify all problems associated with parking, or at least as many as possible.
The task force, made up of 11 business owners, city officials and directors of local organizations, has focused on their specific study area for months now, with a north boundary at Wayne Street, a south boundary at Division Street, an east boundary at 16th Street, and a west boundary at the White River and Fifth Street.
Concern over a stricter implementation of the current parking rules has risen in the last year after the city’s purchase of a smart car to monitor a vehicle’s daily, accrued time downtown.
This would mean that a car is only allowed to be parked a total of two hours each day during regulated hours – 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday – even if the vehicle is moved to a different spot, or leaves the downtown area and comes back.
However, rules haven’t changed from what’s been on the books for a while.
City ordinance currently says these are the rules anyway, but the problem lies in enforcement.
If you’re ever downtown between regulation hours, you have probably seen the parking enforcement officer driving between parked cars and regular traffic on what looks like a motorized three-wheel bike with a cover, complete with chalk stick, marking tires.
This chalk of course wares off when the vehicle is driven, but for some, a wet rag works just as well.
The smart car is not currently in use, but with its technology, which has not yet been purchased by the city, it would keep track of vehicles, alerting the enforcement officer if the vehicle has been downtown more than two hours.
But this still does not address some big issues if the city chooses to start using the car.
What if you met a friend for coffee at Noble Coffee & Tea to catch up, but left your vehicle parked outside for more than two hours? What if you work downtown and obviously need to leave your vehicle parked in a space for longer than two hours?
Problems like these are exactly what the task force is trying to address for a final solution, but not without hearing public input.
Surveys were mailed on July 27 to every resident and business owner within the task force’s study area, but the survey is also available to those who live outside of the study area at www.cityofnoblesville.com.
Assistance is available for those that need it in completing or returning the survey. For more information, call 773-0086.
The city is asking that all surveys be completed by Aug. 10, and after results are gathered, the task force will present them to the Noblesville Common Council.
