Downtown Elgin getting new parking rules

Parking regulations in downtown Elgin are getting a major makeover.

City council members discussed a list of comprehensive changes Wednesday, unanimously granting preliminary approval for the plan.

A core group of four Elgin staff members and Tonya Hudson, executive director of the Downtown Neighborhood Association, started meeting in April to provide recommendations to the council.

Hudson said the city and the downtown association had been independently working on various projects for several years, but it became evident a comprehensive approach would better serve the community.

“This comprehensive approach that we're presenting is aimed at addressing the varied needs of our stakeholders,” Hudson said.

The changes attempt to accommodate business employees, visitors and patrons in what will become a flexible plan that can respond to changing needs in the downtown area.

That means 54 new 30-minute “quick spots” outside businesses as well as consistent on-street parking limits set for two hours and elimination of the overnight parking ban. For the most part, 72-hour parking will also be instituted in all city-owned parking lots and decks.

If the new parking regulations cause problems for snow removal or street sweeping, the overnight parking ban may be reinstated.

City Manager Sean Stegall said that of all the recommendations, removing the overnight parking ban has the highest potential to create problems.

“I don't think there's any shame in experimentation,” Stegall said. “This is an ever-evolving process.”

Eight new spaces will also be added, the Downtown Parking Permit will be eliminated and regulations will be enforced only on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The changes will cost the city $12,400 in new signage, striping and mailbox relocation on Highland Avenue, which occurred for safety reasons. The city will also lose $18,000 in fees from the downtown parking permit.

In opening a council presentation Wednesday, Hudson said there is not a day that goes by she doesn't discuss the “p-word.” But in the end, Hudson said being tasked with improving a parking problem isn't so bad.

“Having a parking problem means we're doing something right,” Hudson said.

Once the plan is approved by the council and goes into effect, there will be a two-week warning period when people will not be officially ticketed.