City approves parking permits for downtown

Carbondale leaders have resolved a running debate over downtown parking - at least for now.

At its Jan. 28 meeting, the city council passed measures establishing parking fees and permits for both city residents and employees of downtown businesses.

Under the newly passed ordinances. downtown employees will be able to purchase a parking permit for use in metered city lots for $2.50 a month, with a six-month pre-purchase maximum. The permit is non-transferable.

The city also approved a $25 annual parking pass for resident of Carbondale to use in the same metered lots. Citizens will have to prove residency in order to purchase a pass.

The new fee schedules effectively end, sort of, a debate that began in August 2018 when downtown employees presented to the city a petition asking for free parking downtown. From July through December of 2019, the city suspended the enforcement of metered parking downtown and issued parking permits to business owners, but allowed the meter enforcement to resume earlier this month.

Multiple members of the council said they remain interested in making downtown parking free on a permanent basis.