Sometimes an attempted solution to a problem turns out to be worse than the original problem. So seems the case with Everett’s long-running struggle to corrall parking scoflaws downtown. As The Herald’s Julie Muhlstein reported in her column, “Doing the parking shuffle? It’ll cost you in downtown Everett,” a 2008 parking study commissioned by the city found that many people who work downtown were parking in public spaces, and simply moving their vehicles to comply with the 90-minute limit at most parking spots.
These “reparkers,” in theory, keep shoppers and others doing business downtown from being able to find a parking spot. (In 2007, however, the city reported that during most weekdays, about 70 percent of downtown’s on-street parking is filled. So empty spaces were available. What’s the percentage today? It may be answered when another city study is presented to the City Council on March 30.)
To combat the reparkers, as Muhltein reported, the city enacted a “reparking” code, which states that no one is allowed to repark within a core area of Everett’s downtown on weekdays between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m., unless, of course, they are shopping or doing other business. (Excluding employment and attending classes.)
So, how has this “reparking” law worked out? Terribly, in the sense that Everett’s parking enforcement officers have no way of knowing if any given car belongs to a downtown worker, or a valued customer of a business, or someone simply doing their job, which includes “reparking” at multiple places? Such was the case for Rachael Bowker, a Herald sales consultant, parked and stopped at two different businesses on Colby Avenue, within the space of 18 minutes, Muhlstein reported. After returning from her second stop, Bowker found a reparking “warning” citation on her car. (Which makes little sense. A downtown worker isn’t going to move his or her car every 15 minutes…) Other visitors to downtown are less lucky, and mistakenly receive a “reparking” citation, and must go to Everett Municipal Court to have it thrown out. Incredible. How many legitimate visitors to downtown have been put off forever by this blunt instrument?
“The repark ordinance is universally disliked by everyone — customers, the enforcement folks, the engineers and planners,” City engineer Ryan Sass told Muhlstein. At least everyone can agree on something. But the reparkers are a real thing, as are people who exceed the 90-minute parking limit. After years of floating the idea, it might be time Everett to install parking meters. The cost, and the fine for exceeding the limit, would have be enough to send the downtown workers to use parking garages or transit. But at least all that is up front. A person who has done nothing wrong won’t “mistakenly” be issued a ticket or warning. Let the city know what you think.
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