How the City of Florence Defends Parking Meters

 

Are parking meters worth it? This is how the City of Florence defends the usage of those ubiquitous urban muggers:

No city, college, airport, hospital or other public institution is in business to make a profit on parking. But strict enforcement of parking regulations designed to improve traffic flow, business development, and efficient transportation can serve as a major disincentive to scofflaws and drivers who may be uncaring about blocking a fire hydrant or emergency lane. And the fines those drivers pay can help defray the need for higher taxes or reduced services.

While we don't believe the list is up to date, the City enumerates 14 locations where fines can be paid via Fine-O-Meter (pictured below). Two of these locations are in North Florence, while the remaining 12 are downtown.

Perhaps we should look on the bright side: Parking in Chicago costs $2.50 to $7.00 per hour. Let's hope Andy doesn't take any future inspiration from the Windy City.

FPD Warns of Downtown Parking Problems

 

With the loss of the downtown Florence parking deck and a long wait for its replacement, the City of Florence can expect parking problems. Now the police department has issued a press release telling would be violators their vehicles will be towed if parked on private lots owned by local businesses.

The population of Florence reached its peak in 2019. Since that time, the number of Florence citizens has shrunk by almost 1,000. So the downtown area may be "growing," but the city isn't. If the population isn't expanding, why is traffic downtown?

Forty years ago, perhaps even 30, you would have been hard pressed to find a place to eat on Court Street, especially after 5:00 p.m. Now the town's high street boasts more neon after dark than some Nevada communities. With these eateries comes alcohol. It's been well over a year since we've heard of any major problems resulting from alcohol sales downtown, but parking woes grow.

A manager at a local Subway told us months ago how difficult it was to keep the Court Street location's parking lot free from squatters. We can imagine it's even more so after the opening of Mugshots. 

Solutions? We're thinking downtown businesses need to hire their own monitors to enforce non-trespassing on private property. At least it's one deterrent. 

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A reader sent us a pithy thought on why the population of Florence is shrinking:

Maybe the exodus from Florence is driven by people with a burning desire to vote for the county Superintendent of Education?