Karen Sansone is livid over a parking ticket in downtown Clarkston.
‘Tickets like this will deter people from coming to Clarkston,” said Sansone, who received two parking tickets while visiting downtown businesses.
A two-hour time limit is not enough time to visit, said Sansone, who is a part of a knitting group at Basketful of Yarn.
She called the city to complain, and she was told all-day parking in the Main and Washington lot was gone.
City Council voted in January to set a two-hour time limit for parking downtown.
Two all-day parking lots remain, one behind the Mills Mall, and another by City Hall by Depot Park. Some visitors cannot make such a trip, Sansone said.
‘Most of our group is in our 60’s and 70’s,? she added. ‘We are too old to make that journey from the all-day parking lots.?
Although the city is issuing tickets, collecting the money from fines is an issue.
City Manager Carol Eberhardt said the city is not collecting enough fines for parking tickets.
City administrator Marcy Rotondo said 82 tickets have been issued since January, for more than $820 in fines. However, only 43 tickets have been paid, with $630 collected in fines. Fines are $10 for parking violations. Parking in handicap cost drivers $150 and parking in a loading zone, $35.
At a March 26 meeting, the council amended parking in the code enforcement budget to include a $1,200 increase due to supply needs and other budgeting issues. A budget amendment also included lowering the original amount the city projected collecting in parking tickets from $4,160 in parking tickets to $1,000.
The $1,200 increase to the fund includes spending $1,100 on parking ticket booklets for parking and other code violations, said Treasurer Sandra Barlass.
“These are supplies that will last for years,” she added.
Parking enforcement was approved by city council in January.
Enforcing those tickets is another issue with many council members agreeing sending the city attorney to court to fight for small ticket fines is too costly.
Eberhardt said in January, the two-hour limit at parking spots at the corner of Washington and Main streets was constantly violated, and spaces should be left open for people visiting the city.