The council voted to approve the ordinance by a 9-0 vote. (Alex Eady, WTIU/WFIU News)
The Bloomington city council approved an ordinance Wednesday night that makes sweeping changes to the city’s parking regulations.
Some changes include adjusting the boundaries for neighborhood parking zones, reducing free parking in municipal garages from three hours to one hour, and increasing parking fines from $20 to $30.
Starting January 1, 2019, only the first hour of parking in downtown garages will be free. After that, the charge will be 50 cents per hour.
Prices for downtown metered parking will remain unchanged at 25 cents per 15 minutes.
Jim Blickensdorf is the chairman of the Bloomington Parking Commission. He says setting the right parking price ensures access by increasing turnover and the ability to share spaces.
There is also a plan to establish a new neighborhood parking zone in the Garden Hill neighborhood and to reduce the number of city permits allotted to residents of university greek houses.
The council voted to approve the ordinance by a 9-0 vote.
Blickensdorf says this is the first substantial update to the municipal parking code in more than 10 years.
Changes to parking permit fees
All changes go into effectAug. 15, 2019.
Residential permit: increase to $45 (current fee is $25)
"All zone" permit for residents: increase to $103 (current fee is $50)
Downtown employee permit: increase to $103 (current fee is $75)
Changes to parking garages
Parking in the 4th Street, Morton Street, and Walnut Street garages is currently free for the first three hours. After this, the charge is 50 cents per hour.
StartingJan. 1, 2019, only the first hour will be free. After that, the charge will be 50 cents per hour.
StartingJan. 1, 2021, there will be no free parking in garages.
Changes to parking ticket fines
The current minimum parking ticket fine is $20.
On or afterJan. 1, 2019the minimum fine will be increased to $30.
