City, lot owners continue talks on Dickson parking
Posted on Monday, September 29, 2008
Fayetteville's one step closer to ticketing and not towing cars that have overstayed their welcome in some paid parking lots on Dickson Street.
Gary Dumas, director of operations for the city of Fayetteville, said that city officials plan on meeting again in a week, after a successful meeting two weeks ago with three of four lot owners to discuss the initial ideas tossed around at a Sept. 9 City Council agendasetting session.
He said that representatives from the University of Arkansas, which owns the West Annex parking lot on West Avenue; University Baptist Church, which has lots off of Lafayette Street; and Mansfield Properties, which owns a lot by the old train station on the corner of Dickson Street and West Avenue, were all present.
"They were all interested in discussing (how the city ) could get more involved (with downtown parking )," Dumas said. "They were willing to continue the discussion."
Dumas said the idea of letting the city manage the private lots so that vehicles in violation would be given a parking ticket instead of being towed hinges on cooperation and legality.
"We may have to jump through a few hoops to make it happen," he said.
Garey Baxter, administrator for University Baptist Church, said he was intrigued by the city's ideas but the ultimate decision on what becomes of his church's lot will be made by church members.
"I think it's premature to make a decision on whether we're in favor of this or not," he said. "I did ask for more information, and I'd like to see the city's proposal."
Dumas said that the 60-day time window he originally gave on how long it would take the issue to come before the City Council is still accurate.
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