Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/97647
Sarasota News Leader December 7, 2012 foundered first on public hostility and then on merchant antipathy. After nearly three years of study, debate, decisions, purchasing, installation, new signage and tougher enforcement, it is back to 2009 before all that began. Page 38 MEET MR. BOOT While the regulations are relaxing, the fines and fees are tightening. "Late fees" for parking tickets more than two weeks past due will be $15. Thirty days after that, the city will tack "We all acknowledge an error in applying the on an additional $15, and another $15 after a second month. same standards across the city," City Commissioner Paul Caragiulo said Monday evening. Motorists with unpaid tickets face the immobilization of their vehicles. City staffers have The return to old rules means the return of "parking boots" — technically called "wheel the original cause of the conflict — employee locks" — and are ready to use them. The cost parking. to get un-booted is jumping to $75 from $50 Keeping employees from using up all the con- — plus, you will need to pay the outstanding tickets and fines, of course. That will require a venient spots and pushing away customers trip to the Sarasota Police Department on Adwas a prime motivation for city commissionams Lane, and that could ruin your afternoon. ers to embark on tougher parking regulation and enforcement. The old arguments popped If you pull out your toolbox to take off the boot yourself, the act will cost you $250 if you right back up on Monday. are caught — more if you break the lock. And "How about permits for employees to use the because the boot crew makes a note of which [Palm Avenue parking] garage? That keeps boot goes on which car, it is doubtful you will evade detection. them off Main Street," said Caragiulo. Like many modern problems, the root of Sarasota's parking uproar is financial. Snyder repeated himself Monday, saying "We don't have a parking problem. We have a fiscal problem. Our biggest problem is who pays for parking Commissioner Shannon Snyder replied to garage maintenance?" Soto, "Downtown folks need to solve the emWhile the city's Parking Department should be ployee [parking] problem by themselves." "revenue-neutral" — bringing in as much as it City Manager Tom Barwin stuck his neck out costs to operate — that has not happened in and said, "We can put together a downtown years. "But that prevents a restaurant worker from coming downtown on his day off," replied Ron Soto, president of the Sarasota Downtown Merchants Association. employee parking program and bring it back "We're going to be in the red again this year," to you." said Deputy City Manager Marlon Brown. %