Document text
0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Woman says she found snake head in can of Western Family green beans ... Searchers scour Grants Pass area for missing man ... RCC to seek $20 million from taxpayers ... Woman says she found snake head in can of Western Family green beans ... Searchers scour Grants Pass area for missing man ... RCC to seek $20 million from taxpayers ... DOWNTOWN Medford council gets grief over parking Comment By Damian Mann Mail Tribune Follow @@reporterdm MailTribune.com By Damian Mann Mail Tribune Follow @@reporterdm Posted Feb. 18, 2016 at 5:39 PM By Damian Mann Mail Tribune Follow @@reporterdm Posted Feb. 18, 2016 at 5:39 PM » Social News The City Council received more grief over downtown Medford’s parking Thursday when merchants and the public denounced the one-hour time limit on Main Street. “I rarely shop downtown because of the parking,” said Rosemary Harrington, a former radio talk show host. She said the downtown faces a negative perception, particularly because of the short time limit on Main Street. The one-hour limit came about after many merchants complained that students were taking up many of the spaces when it was formerly two hours. “The one-hour parking in the downtown is just unfriendly,” said Phyllis Nelson, who owns a downtown building. She said merchants used to be concerned about students parking on Main Street, but the city now has many more parking options near Rogue Community College than it had in previous years. The issue of parking flared up recently when some Medford Rogue Rotary Club members received $25 tickets for parking in front of Limestone Coffee on Main Street after their meeting ran longer than an hour. Mark Millner, owner of Terra Firma on Main Street and a former member of the Medford Parking Commission, said he’s always been against one-hour parking but encouraged the city to look again at an option that was discussed many years ago: parking meters. Motorists would get the first hour free and have the option to pay for the second hour, he said. “We have to get this resolved as soon as possible,” Millner said. Many customers say it takes them longer than an hour to finish their business downtown, he said. He said he didn’t like one option being suggested, which is pay-by-phone. He said he’s tried it and found it a clumsy way to add time. He said it probably would not be embraced by those without smartphones or who have difficulty negotiating websites. Harrington's husband, Garth, also denounced the pay-by-phone option, suggesting that the city look at other options to make it easier for customers to extend the time limit beyond one hour. Councilor Clay Bearnson told Millner the city has plenty of other parking options. “The reality is there is a parking garage less than a block from where you want to go.” Millner said he understands there are other parking options, but the short time limit on Main Street has become the focus of attention by customers unwilling to come downtown. “It is a struggle,” he said. “It is insanity.” Councilor Chris Corcoran said the city had considered installing parking meters many years ago, but there was strong opposition at the time. “It’s a never-ending story,” he said. Reach reporter Damian Mann at 541-776-4476 or [email protected] . Follow him on Twitter @reporterdm . By Damian Mann Mail Tribune Follow @@reporterdm MailTribune.com By Damian Mann Mail Tribune Follow @@reporterdm Posted Feb. 18, 2016 at 5:39 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2016 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501