This Idaho city just became the second in the Boise area to authorize parking meters
Want to park up close and personal to your favorite Indian Creek Plaza restaurant? You will have to pay soon.
The Caldwell City Council approved an agreement with the Car Park, the same company that manages downtown Boise’s parking meters, to manage several blocks with metered parking in downtown Caldwell.
The parking options will be a combination of street parking meters and metered parking lots. Meters would be installed along several blocks between Cleveland Boulevard and Albany Street. There would also be an established area with free parking.
The reason? Residents said they need a downtown parking solution.
In a survey of 41 residents at an open house meeting Sept 15, 85% said downtown Caldwell has a parking problem.
The parking meters won’t add more parking spots to the area, but they will ensure that cars are not parked in the same spot all day.
“In our previous plan, without paid parking, you have way too many folks that are parking in stalls in this (downtown) core for way too long,” said Caldwell Economic Development Director Steven Jenkins during a City Council parking workshop Oct. 10.
Lane Blackmer, owner of Chreekside Hair Salon in downtown Caldwell, supports the meters.
“If we just had a turnover or a mandated turnover, where you move your vehicle after three hours and then pay for another three hours in a different spot, I think that allows more traffic and more movement in downtown,” Blackmer said at the workshop.
The council will discuss and implement parking details such as the cost of parking, the amount of free time allotted and the number of days of free parking.
Mayor Jarom Wagoner said during the City Council meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 17, that all parking spaces for people with handicaps will be free.
According to City Attorney Mark Hilty, the meters will cost the city $3,500 to operate each month. The expected parking revenue to the city is nearly $613,800 per year.
Jenkins said the number of meters and the cost to install them have yet to be determined.
A downtown Caldwell parking garage is possible, Jenkins said. He said he has heard public support for a downtown parking structure.
Jenkins said in an email that he believes that in Idaho only Boise, Coeur D’Alene and Idaho Falls have paid-parking programs.
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