Benton Harbor City Commissioners have signed off on a plan to start charging for parking in some downtown lots.
At its regular meeting this past week, the city commission approved the purchase of two touchscreen kiosks to take payment for parking in lots near two marijuana retailers. Interim City Manager Alex Little said during a committee meeting this month the parking lots outside of the centers see a constant stream of traffic, and the city needs a way to pay for maintenance in them and others.
Commissioners on Monday approved the kiosk purchases with no comment. However, Commissioner Ethel Clark-Griffin said after the vote she’s not happy.
“I am totally against that in the Fourth Ward,” Clark-Griffin said. “I am totally against it for downtown. I think it’s going to negatively affect the business owners down there. It’s already limited parking. They’re having a hard time customers finding parking.”
The commission’s meeting packet for Monday says the two kiosks are intended to set up “the initial phases of downtown parking.”
The cost of the kiosks is $16,770, plus an annual terminal cost of $960 per terminal in the first year and $1,140.00 per unit each year after.
The city currently charges for parking at Jean Klock Park and nowhere else.
