Shops on Maryland Avenue -- a strip of boutiques in downtown Annapolis battling competition from nearby malls and chain stores -- got a holiday gift from the City Council last night.
The council voted almost unanimously to cut in half, to 50 cents an hour from $1, the charge for parking outside the antique stores, clothing shops and other assorted businesses on the two-block strip from now until Jan. 31.
"The City Council is trying to respond to the concerns of the business community," said Ward 7 Alderman M. Theresa DeGraff, a Republican.
"We can take quick action."
Ms. DeGraff argued that because Maryland Avenue is farther from downtown parking garages than other Annapolis shopping areas, it is unrealistic to expect shoppers to lug their holiday purchases to cars parked anywhere but on the street itself.
Democratic Ward 1 Alderman Louise Hammond questioned that logic, saying the measure was unfair to businesses on Main Street and other downtown streets, which still will charge higher parking fees.
She was the only council member to vote against the measure, which passed 7-1 and takes effect immediately.
"Some merchants feel this is unfair because it is being done in one area and not another," Ms. Hammond said.
A few minutes later, Mayor Alfred A. Hopkins introduced a measure to allow free parking throughout the downtown area for the week before Christmas -- Dec. 19 through Dec. 25.
Mr. Hopkins also introduced a measure to waive the fee for the first hour of weekend parking in both downtown parking garages -- the Noah Hillman Garage and Gott's Court Garage.
The mayor's two measures were referred to the city's Finance Committee for consideration next week.
Maryland Avenue business owners were clearly thrilled by the results of last night's vote.
The shopkeepers argued that higher meter fees were driving away business and robbing the area of its charm by forcing every shopper and seller to race against the meter.
"You can't pay attention to your customer because the first question you're asking is, 'How's your meter? How's your meter?'" said Elaine Underwood, a partner in Elanne, a women's clothing store at 27 Maryland Ave.
Ms. Underwood delivered a petition to the City Council a couple of weeks ago urging a cut in the parking meter fee.
The petition had signatures from every business on the street.
"Business has not been great," she said.
"We don't need high meter fees to make it worse."
Ms. Hammond, who represents the entire downtown historic district, said it is logical to charge extra to park on Maryland Avenue because those are the city's premium spots.
"Areas like Maryland Avenue should be more expensive because there are so few spots there," she said.
"It's a supply-and-demand issue."
Some City Council members voted for the lower parking meter fee while raising concerns that it would cost the city too much money in lost revenue.
Ward 2 Alderman Dean L. Johnson estimated the loss at $45,000, although some city officials questioned that figure.
They said it was more likely to represent the cost of all three parking proposals, not just the Maryland Avenue measure.
City Administrator Michael D. Mallinoff said the lower fees at Maryland Avenue's 25 parking spots would cost $110 a day -- or more than $6,800 total through Jan. 31.
The city has not worked up figures on how much the two proposed reprieves in downtown parking fees would cost the government, he said.
Last year, the city also relaxed parking fees during the holiday season.
The year before, it distributed parking coupons to downtown Annapolis shoppers, Mr. Mallinoff said.