Downtown parking limits will be enforced (12/04/07)

City police will soon start cracking down on those who park downtown longer than the designated time.

"The police department plans on taking an increased enforcement of the two-hour (and) 15-minute parking downtown," Portland Police Chief Bob Sours told members of the Portland City Council Monday night.

Sours said the city's code enforcement officer, Shane Mann, would monitor the parking and write tickets for violators. Fines would range from $2 to $100.

"Over the last two months we've gotten complaints from business owners and citizens," Sours said.

He said that the downtown parking has not been heavily monitored during the last 15 years.

"We just want to discourage people from parking (downtown) all day," he said.

If a parking ticket is paid within the first 24 hours the fee is $2. If the fine is paid within 24 to 48 hours after the ticket is written, the fine is $5, Sours said. After that the case goes to Portland City Court and the fines range from $25 to $100, he said. Fines can be paid at the Portland police station.

In other business, council members discussed the possibility of reducing the water portion of water customers' water and sewage bills generated from water leaks.

The council reviewed a proposed amendment to the city's current ordinance, which would adjust the water portion of a bill in the same manner as the sewage portion currently is adjusted. Both the sewage and water would be reduced to a three-month average prior to the leak. The water leak must occur between the water meter and the house.

The idea of adjusting the water portion of the bills was proposed at the last council meeting by councilman Glen Bryant.

Council member Bill Gibson said Monday that $1,845.83 in water/sewage bills have been adjusted so far this year. There have been six adjustments, he said. If the water portion also had been adjusted the total would have been $3,228, he said.

"We're running a multi-million dollar water plant," Bryant said. Adjusting the water portion of the bills is not a significant amount "but could mean a lot to somebody.

"It seems like somehow we should give something back to our citizens," Bryant said.

Gibson suggested that the ordinance revision state that the adjustment would be made for single-family dwellings, and be adjusted according to a one-month average instead of three.

Bruce Hosier, mayor of Portland, urged council members to tell city attorney Bill Hinkle what they would like included in the ordinance.

"Why don't I get with (Hinkle) and tweak this a little bit," Bryant said. He then suggested the matter be tabled until the next meeting, which is set for Dec. 17 at 7 p.m. Council members took no action.

Also Monday, council members:

•Heard councilman Jim Sanders report that the stop signs have been installed at Lafayette and Franklin streets, making the intersection a four-way stop. Council members voted to make the intersection a four-way stop to make the area safer for children going to and from Milton Miller Park.

•Heard council member Jerry Leonhard ask when the city will stop picking up leaves.

Jeff Harker, street and park department superintendent, said collection would continue through December.[[In-content Ad]]