When City Council members began tinkering with the controversial new parking law, some downtown merchants hoped the renewed negotiations would end in the abolishment of the measure. They were wrong.
The Economic Matters Committee yesterday rejected a petition to pull the parking meters from downtown Annapolis and instead approved modest modifications to the law.
Already, the criticisms and the threats are starting. "This fight isn't over," vowed Bob Rice, owner of Downtown Cycle Inc. "If the city doesn't change the parking law, then we'll take it to court."
But Ward 5 Alderman Carl O. Snowden, who chairs the committee, said the council had to act decisively despite some public opposition.
"What one has to do is govern, and sometimes that means taking positions that are fiscally unpopular," Mr. Snowden said. "We cannot operate the government by caving in to every special interest that comes along."
The committee is recommending that parking meter fees remain at $1 per hour and that tickets increase from $10 to $20.
However, the committee is proposing the lowering of parking fines from $20 to $15 if the amount is paid within two hours, and changing the start of meter-free parking to 7:30 p.m. instead of 8:30 p.m. The modifications also would include a 5-minute-an-hour grace period on all parking meters, more money to increase shuttle bus service and the addition of downtown retail representatives to the city's parking advisory committee.
The full City Council still must vote on these proposals, which could come as early as Monday.
Foes of the parking plan -- mostly downtown retailers -- said they would continue to pursue a possible lawsuit against the city to get the meters removed and the parking plan rewritten.
Mr. Rice said he'll hold the issue over council members' heads if they run for re-election or opt to mount a mayoral campaign.
"The issue may be dead with some council members, but it's not dead with the voters," said Mr. Rice. "These guys are all posturing to run for mayor, and when they do, I intend to let everyone in the city of Annapolis know these guys are the ones who tried to rip them off."
Mr. Snowden said the city's parking situation is so dire that most voters will approve of the council's attempt to change it.
"I have an issue I'll take to the voters, too," he said. "We took a parking situation that was horrible and we turned it around."