By Michael Howell
The 90-minute parking time limit in downtown Hamilton will remain in place. After approving an ordinance on first reading that would have lifted the 90-minute time limit on parking, the City Council changed its tune on Tuesday, April 21, and voted the ordinance down on second reading, leaving the 90-minute time limit in place.
The Council heard from several downtown business people at the second reading of the ordinance and all of them urged the council to keep the time limits. Some suggested that the time be extended to 2 hours and the fines reduced, but that would take future action by the Council.
Councilor Ken Bell said that he did not believe that parking was the kind of issue that people were making of it. He said he toured the downtown every day for a week and found empty parking places every day.
“As far as I am concerned the best thing the city of Hamilton can do is get out of the parking business and leave it to those who think it is an issue to resolve it,” said Bell.
Council President Jenny West suggested that the time limit be extended and the fines lowered. She adamantly opposed lifting the time restrictions.
Councilor Joe Petrusaitis, who voted in favor of lifting the restrictions at the first reading, changed his vote on second reading. He said the restrictions are probably needed but that common sense should be used in enforcement.
Councilor Ron Pogachar agreed with West, Al Mitchell and Petrusaitis that the limits should be left in place. He said that lifting the restrictions and then trying to put them back in place when a Parking Commission was established would probably not work.
The ordinance failed on a 2 to 4 vote, with Councilors Bell and Bielski voting to lift the restrictions.
The Council approved an ordinance on second reading without any comment, making it an offense for any person to urinate or defecate in public.
The Council also approved the appointment of Travis Martinez to the Zoning Board of Adjustment on a 5-1 vote with Bell casting the dissenting vote.