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Council could vote on new parking plan in 2 weeks

Sarah Ramsey

Cincinnati Council could be asked to vote on the latest version of a plan that will impact parking in the city.  There's a motion that would officially end the prior parking lease with the Port Authority that's been on hold since November.  

The new proposal would upgrade city parking meters and garages, but the city would maintain full control of all assets instead of leasing them to the Port, which in turn would have turned day-to-day operations over to private contractors.    

Mayor John Cranley said there'll be local control of all decisions.

“So if the neighborhoods and the businesses conclude that we are being too aggressive, or hurting business, we can dial back.” Cranley said.  “The whole point is to keep the public on an ongoing basis engaged and being able to change course if they don’t like the course we’re on.”

Any additional money generated by the new parking meters and better enforcement would be used to pay for basic service like police and fire.  

The port would issue bonds to pay for meter upgrades.  It would also lease the Fountain Square South parking garage, and use revenue from it to help finance economic development projects in the city.  

Right now four council members are supporting the latest proposal. That's one vote short of a majority needed for approval.  

A committee will discuss the plan in two weeks.

Jay Hanselman brings more than 10 years experience as a news anchor and reporter to 91.7 WVXU. He came to WVXU from WNKU, where he hosted the local broadcast of All Things Considered. Hanselman has been recognized for his reporting by the Kentucky AP Broadcasters Association, the Ohio Society of Professional Journalists, and the Ohio AP Broadcasters.