Last year, complaints about short-term parking abuses in the town square took Christiansburg council back to a previous decision to remove meters and allow unrestricted on-street parking (except in front of the Post Office). The meager meter income had been stripped from the 2007-08 budget, with meter heads removed when one phase of a downtown street improvement project began in November 2006.
That project was scheduled to last 12 months, due to be completed by Thanksgiving 2007, but work stretched out until June 2008 when the town sponsored a "grand reopening" ceremony during one of the four cruise-in events. Outside of that construction area, the meter poles remain like metal weeds sprouting from concrete sidewalks.
The outcome of the discussions resulted in an August 19, 2008 vote to restore parking restrictions in certain downtown areas effective November 1, 2008. Implementation two and a half months later would provide the Police Department time to determine enforcement methods and processes, and council agreed to revisit the matter in six months (May of 2009).
Needless to say, November 1 came and went without another word. Then December 1 passed by. In January the town told a reporter signs would be installed by the end of the month and a "help wanted" ad for a town parking enforcement officer was published.
Although parking regulations are addressed in Chapter 28 of the Town Code -- and minutes from July 1, 2008 council discussion of this matter stressed the "penalty phase" (ie, tickets for violations) was not included in reinstating downtown parking restrictions -- the newspaper article indicated violations would carry a $10 penalty. Hmmm, we thought public hearings and an affirmative council vote were required to change ordinances.
Lo and behold, by the end of February the new signs had popped up as silently as crocus in a spring snow.
So being nearly four months behind council's stated schedule, one might presume this shifts revisiting how well it's going until September. Even with this additional time, no communication (beyond the newspaper story) went to business operators, property owners, customers or residents. Nothing appears on the web site as a general notice, on water/sewer bills, e-alerts or anything indicating press releases went out. No updates during council meetings by the Street Committee, or during the Town Manager's "progress" report.
Council unanimously voted on a proposal put forth by an outgoing member, by a motion indicating the restrictions would apply "downtown" from 8 am until 5 pm, Monday through Friday. The signs seem to have modified the vote.
This change is believed to apply to South Franklin, from First Street to ... the town square, or Graham Street? From the Town Hall, on East Main and up to West Main to ... Hickok or Dunkley? Look for the signs. The very-short term parking at the Post Office is to remain, but other areas of Town Square are thought to have the 3-hour limit.
Guess the burden to be aware is on the individual. As a customer service issue in hard-times, it also behooves business operators they ensure any remaining patrons look up and notice the new signs. And check the time they leave their vehicles -- the property owners who donated the cost of a new street clock had no idea how valuable their gift to the community might become.