Header Photo Above: "Parking Ambassador" on 11 May 2016 writing a parking ticket...
Northern Mich~Mash Preserve
~ PARKING ~
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just come back and visit the site often to view the photos.
The Header Photo and the photo just above taken about six years EARLIER
shows the SAME "Parking Ambassador" in about the SAME spot writing another parking ticket.
"Parking Ambassadors" are to monitor the parking to help spaces turn over regularly for visitors...
Notice in the photos, however, that whether spaces are available or not, makes little difference.
Supposedly, more important are the parking meter funds which do generate support for city amenities.
A 15 August 2008 Petoskey News Review article printed:
"In recent years, Petoskey's downtown parking system has been generating $400,000 or MORE annually to be used for various business-district expenses."
UPDATE: In Petoskey's "2022 Parking Fund Budget summary", the expected revenue is $1,119,300.00.
[The summary is posted toward the bottom of this same web page.]
It seems this fund could have generated enough over the many years to fund a city parking structure!
If only an annual line item existed in the budget, compounding funds, for a parking structure!!!
Welcome to Petoskey!
shows the SAME "Parking Ambassador" in about the SAME spot writing another parking ticket.
"Parking Ambassadors" are to monitor the parking to help spaces turn over regularly for visitors...
Notice in the photos, however, that whether spaces are available or not, makes little difference.
Supposedly, more important are the parking meter funds which do generate support for city amenities.
A 15 August 2008 Petoskey News Review article printed:
"In recent years, Petoskey's downtown parking system has been generating $400,000 or MORE annually to be used for various business-district expenses."
UPDATE: In Petoskey's "2022 Parking Fund Budget summary", the expected revenue is $1,119,300.00.
[The summary is posted toward the bottom of this same web page.]
It seems this fund could have generated enough over the many years to fund a city parking structure!
If only an annual line item existed in the budget, compounding funds, for a parking structure!!!
Welcome to Petoskey!
Two photos below from 1880 and from 1979 were taken in the same location as the two photos above... Note the traffic and parking situations ~ HA! In 1880 oxen were parking along the street...
Photo/Clipping Above: Another description of this same photo explained,
The ox team was bringing charcoal in to the Hotel in sacks, to be used in broiling the meat.
The ox team was bringing charcoal in to the Hotel in sacks, to be used in broiling the meat.
Elks Temple
1945
1945
Photo Below: 1924 was when Homer Sly's Garage was being erected on Lake Street. This building no longer exists. In 2021 the location is a city parking lot, located directly across the street from the Emmet County Building.
WWI Timeframe on Mitchell Street, Petoskey, Michigan
"The cars weren't thick enough to require parking meters, stop and go lights or traffic policemen."
"The cars weren't thick enough to require parking meters, stop and go lights or traffic policemen."
~ 1946 ~
~ 1947 ~
~ 1949 ~
~ 1948 ~
Parking Meter "Milking Machine"
Parking Meter "Milking Machine"
~ 1950 ~
~ 1951 ~
~ 1955 ~
~ 1956 ~
Most City Accidents from ANGLE PARKING area on Mitchell Street
(See 1946 Above)
Most City Accidents from ANGLE PARKING area on Mitchell Street
(See 1946 Above)
~ 1956 ~
Bay Street Parking Lot [Saville Lot]
Three Photos Below: Undated photos are on Bay Street as the large building to the right in the center photo appears to be the Chippewa Hotel which was on the corner of Petoskey and Bay streets before the hotel was razed. Houses beside the Chippewa Hotel were razed previous to the hotel having been razed, to make room for a city parking lot [Saville Lot]. The three photos below were labeled "city parking lot bay st." but were undated.
Two Clippings Below: Petoskey City Council meeting minutes posted in the Petoskey News Review revealed that Mrs. Elizabeth Reusch Mellon offered to see her home/property at 316 Bay Street to the City of Petoskey, and the councilmen approved the sale.
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Article Below: "Wok will start on the new Bay-St lot May 1"
|
~ 1956 ~
~ 1957 ~
~ 1957 ~
Preparing for the Darling Parking Lot
Preparing for the Darling Parking Lot
~ Darling Parking Lot ~
The location in the OLD 1904 photo below of the Darling & Beahan Seed Company
is known in 2017 as the location of the Darling Parking Lot on Michigan Street.
The straight street in the photo is Howard Street.
is known in 2017 as the location of the Darling Parking Lot on Michigan Street.
The straight street in the photo is Howard Street.
Photo Below: The Michigan Street Parking Lot was filled with businesses and houses in 1936.
The two obituaries below of Charles C. Beahan and Lucius Steele Darling give
reason for the Michigan Street parking lot being named the "Darling Parking Lot."
About 1893 Mr. Beahan entered the seed business being Darling & Beahan.
Mr. Beahan married in 1874 at Flint to Miss Ada Darling, sister of business partner Lou S. Darling...
Thus, the "Darling Parking Lot."
reason for the Michigan Street parking lot being named the "Darling Parking Lot."
About 1893 Mr. Beahan entered the seed business being Darling & Beahan.
Mr. Beahan married in 1874 at Flint to Miss Ada Darling, sister of business partner Lou S. Darling...
Thus, the "Darling Parking Lot."
Photo Below: Darling Parking Lot area location PRE-Parking Lot in August 1957...
The 31 May 2019 Petoskey News Review published their article titled: "City invites input on Darling Lot". Parking for the City of Petoskey is still unsolved because the city continues to hold off funding the project through parking meter funds; waiting for public financing through grants from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) or Michigan Municipal League (MML) or TIFs and Brownfield plans... all public money, and not just from meters, city residents, and/or business owners who stand to gain from downtown parking. The grants paid for Traverse City consulting firm, Parallel Solutions, aiding in planning and marketing of this Darling Lot. County taxes also can become involved in the payment of some of the mentioned funding mechanisms.
TOP
~ 1958 ~
~ 1958 ~
Parking Meter Patrol Scooter
Parking Meter Patrol Scooter
~ 1959 ~
~ 1962 ~
~ 1967 ~
~ 1968~
~ Plan for Traffic Changes and Parking ~
~ Plan for Traffic Changes and Parking ~
~ Plan for Changes in Traffic and Parking ~ Well in Advance ~
1968
1968
City Parking Plans Include Lake Street Lot
1969
1969
City purchased Lake Street Montgomery Ward property for parking, and it is used for parking in 2019.
1970
1970
~ Parking Plan and Protest ~
1973
1973
Two Photos Below: Municipal Parking Metered 2 Hr... located on the corner of Bay and Division streets (behind the county building in 2019)
1974
~ Asking for Parking Alternative Views ~
1974
1974
~ Parking Plan Outlined~
1974
1974
~ 1978 ~
~ City Council to Sign Parking Ramp Lease ~
~ City Council to Sign Parking Ramp Lease ~
~ Exclude Central Business District Residences in Assessment ~
1978
1978
~ 1978 ~
~ Parking Assessments Illegal, Attorney Warns ~
~ 1982 ~
~ Right Angle Parking OKd ~
~ Right Angle Parking OKd ~
~ 1997 ~
~ City May Buy Michigan Street Site for Parking ~
~ City May Buy Michigan Street Site for Parking ~
~ 1997 ~
~ Parking Plan Wins Praise from Downtown Board ~
~ Parking Plan Wins Praise from Downtown Board ~
~ 2016~
Photo Below: 11 May 2016 ~ "A new solar powered parking pay station was installed at the entrance of
the newly renovated Elks Lot on Lake Street," according to the 1 June 2016 Petoskey News Review.
Photo Below: 11 May 2016 ~ "A new solar powered parking pay station was installed at the entrance of
the newly renovated Elks Lot on Lake Street," according to the 1 June 2016 Petoskey News Review.
~ 2017 ~
~ Darling Lot, Bob Berg, and Emmet County Parking Lot ~
~ Darling Lot, Bob Berg, and Emmet County Parking Lot ~
~2017 ~
~ Parking SERVICES ~
Ironically, the "Parking Services" are located on PARK Avenue, Petoskey, Michigan.
~ Parking SERVICES ~
Ironically, the "Parking Services" are located on PARK Avenue, Petoskey, Michigan.
Photo Below: This 2018 "Downtown Petoskey Winter Festival" ice sculpture of
an ICE-COLD parking meter
in front of the Petoskey Downtown Offices (Parking Offices)...
says it all!
an ICE-COLD parking meter
in front of the Petoskey Downtown Offices (Parking Offices)...
says it all!
~ 2018 ~
City/County Parking Structure PROPOSAL...
City/County Parking Structure PROPOSAL...
On 9 July 2018 Petoskey's City Manager, Rob Straebel, appeared before the Emmet County Commissioners regarding the county joining the city to build a parking structure on the corner of Division and Lake streets. Presently, the lots there provide 105 parking spaces, and with the proposed $4.1 million investment 120 spaces would be added (on both city and county properties).
Funding sources for this parking structure require exploration... City residents would need to pay twice with both their city and their county taxes if those were the funding sources. Now, county employees park for free in the available county lot. With the new proposal, the county employees could be asked to pay a fee to make the payment on revenue bonds if that were the funding source. Then, that charge could become a "work perk" for the county employees, so the taxpayers would pay in the end anyway. The county residents who live in other areas of Emmet County who rarely come to Petoskey, would be expected to pay for the structure even if they received no value from the taxation.
Funding sources for this parking structure require exploration... City residents would need to pay twice with both their city and their county taxes if those were the funding sources. Now, county employees park for free in the available county lot. With the new proposal, the county employees could be asked to pay a fee to make the payment on revenue bonds if that were the funding source. Then, that charge could become a "work perk" for the county employees, so the taxpayers would pay in the end anyway. The county residents who live in other areas of Emmet County who rarely come to Petoskey, would be expected to pay for the structure even if they received no value from the taxation.
On 27 November 2018 the Downtown Management Board members decided to extend daily parking enforcement hours from 5PM to 6PM, rather than their proposed extended time of 8PM. Still no enforcement will happen on Sundays. Rates also increased for parking permits, hourly rates, meter bag rates, as well as the fines when a ticket is applied.
The Downtown Management Board members' decision is the first part of the process for "Changes to Downtown Parking Fees, Fines and Enforcement Schedule", with the City Council yet needing to weigh in.
The Downtown Management Board members' decision is the first part of the process for "Changes to Downtown Parking Fees, Fines and Enforcement Schedule", with the City Council yet needing to weigh in.
For the 25 February 2021 at the Petoskey City Council meeting, the minutes stated reflect that City Manager Rob Straebel included in his report: "City staff and the DMB Director met with Emmet county administration to discuss potential partnership to construct a one-story parking platform at Lake and Division Streets... City Councilmembers inquired on the difference between a parking platform and parking deck... The City Manager reviewed the platform concept vx. parking deck and that its is typically a one-story covered parking structure rather than multiple stories making up a parking deck and that discussing with Commissioners is fine as long as you are representing your personal opinion."
The governmental arrangement of PARKING in Petoskey is described
in the 31 December 2018 Petoskey's City Audit:
in the 31 December 2018 Petoskey's City Audit:
~ 2019 ~
The 8 April 2019 Downtown Management Board information below gives an idea of
the lucrative business of PARKING, including parking meters, in Downtown Petoskey.
Monetary figures for 2019 were lower with comparison to 2018 with mention of the colder 2019 winter.
the lucrative business of PARKING, including parking meters, in Downtown Petoskey.
Monetary figures for 2019 were lower with comparison to 2018 with mention of the colder 2019 winter.
During a 16 April 2019 7PM regular meeting, the Downtown Management Board passed a motion (one nay vote wishing for a 30 day trial) to go ahead and order the 450 new single meters (Civic Smart Liberty Next GN) for the on-street spaces; not for the parking lots.
Here are observations from the meeting:
1. no feeding meters
2. no parking on leftover time
3. count and monitor every car using the space
4. erases unused time from previous payer
5. tracks parking patterns
6. minimum amount for each meter, maybe a dollar, or whatever is programmed
7. fee for using credit card
8. monthly fee of $5.50 per meter paid to the meter company
9. cannot expect "no ticket" just because you are just a few minutes BEFORE the end of the time established by the Downtown Management Board
Here are observations from the meeting:
- The word “compliance” referring to the new meters was used at least 2 times, maybe 3.
- A minimum amount, like maybe a dollar, would be required for each meter deposit… members were vague on this, so perhaps this will not be the exact amount.
- The public would be able to use a credit card and/or coins. The use of credit cards as a convenience was the big promotion factor.
- At a previous Parking Committee meeting on 9 April 2019 the cost of meter batteries was voiced, but not at this 16 April 2019 meeting.
- Tom Neff, seller of the meters, Liberty NG, said a 10 to 15% increase in revenue could be expected based on other entities’ meter results (Different company than Charlevoix just recently chose).
- New extended times and raised fees, already previously set, will be implemented when the new meters are installed.
- Board seemed almost purposely vague regarding features of the meters the city plans to use… perhaps they had previously discussed this, or had it written on paper that the public was not privy, but it was not clear what features will be used in Petoskey.
1. no feeding meters
2. no parking on leftover time
3. count and monitor every car using the space
4. erases unused time from previous payer
5. tracks parking patterns
6. minimum amount for each meter, maybe a dollar, or whatever is programmed
7. fee for using credit card
8. monthly fee of $5.50 per meter paid to the meter company
9. cannot expect "no ticket" just because you are just a few minutes BEFORE the end of the time established by the Downtown Management Board
Below: Parking Committee Notes of 14 May 2019 posted on City of Petoskey's web site tell where the Smart Meters will be scheduled by the end of June 2019. The meter rate on Howard or Lake streets, for instance, could raise the cost of a cup of coffee for customers even just "running-in" by $1.00.
Below: Parking Committee Notes of 13 June 2019 posted on City of Petoskey's web site tells "The committee advised that staff should maintain a zero forgiveness policy on the new rates."
~ 12 July 2019 ~
Photo Below: It looked like a normal day on Howard Street between Mitchell and Lake streets...
with empty spaces waiting for business customers.
Photo Below: It looked like a normal day on Howard Street between Mitchell and Lake streets...
with empty spaces waiting for business customers.
12 July 2019... On closer approach, the new smart meters are being installed.
Two Photos Below: Where does driver of the DOUBLE, DOUBLE, PARKED delivery truck
put money in a meter?
Installers work diligently, replacing the innards of the old "dumb" meters with digital "smart" meters.
put money in a meter?
Installers work diligently, replacing the innards of the old "dumb" meters with digital "smart" meters.
The City of Petoskey never has followed through on their own initiative, or their own funding which would have been possible with a distinctive line-item in the Downtown Management Board's budget, to solve the decades-long voiced need for additional parking in the City of Petoskey. The city, consequently, is now in the position AGAIN of trying to negotiate funding for parking and/or a parking structure. That point was quite obvious at the 13 June 2019 Petoskey Planning Commission meeting when presented with a PUD plan for "The Hole". The developer wants to have buildings 90 feet tall which he sees as a scale of viable business necessity. The city's ordinance only allows buildings 40 feet tall, without a PUD. The city wants available parking. The city, through neglect of planning for their own parking needs, have placed the taxpayers in a weakened position for any negotiating regarding The Hole Development for their city ordinance restrictions.
See recent documented problems regarding Parking and The Hole by clicking HERE.
See recent documented problems regarding Parking and The Hole by clicking HERE.
~ 2020 ~
Article Below: Coronavirus Pandemic forces "goodwill gesture"
with a pause in parking fines enforcement.
Article Below: Coronavirus Pandemic forces "goodwill gesture"
with a pause in parking fines enforcement.
~ 2021 ~
"Finding Extra Space for Parking Revenues"
An appropriate metaphor was stated in the 22 July 2021 Petoskey News Review when reporting that
Petoskey's Downtown Management Board was considering, hypothetically thus far,
of using parking fee revenues for uses other than parking improvements.
"Finding Extra Space for Parking Revenues"
An appropriate metaphor was stated in the 22 July 2021 Petoskey News Review when reporting that
Petoskey's Downtown Management Board was considering, hypothetically thus far,
of using parking fee revenues for uses other than parking improvements.
In 2018 the board "forged ahead with an unpopular plan to increase parking rates in the downtown district." They went ahead with the increase" noting one of the reasons for the fee increases at that time was to raise enough money to finance covered parking. Of course COVID–19 was blamed for the recent loss of parking and fees. The parking revenue fund is expected to have a total of $1 million by the end of 2021. It is doubted that a line-item for a parking structure is on the parking budget, and any funds left at the end of the year are just "rolled over" to the next year... much as has been the scenario for years past.
~ 2022 ~
7 November 2022 ~ Parking Fund Budget Section of Agenda Packet for City Council Meeting Below: "Estimated revenues for 2022 are now expected to reach $1,119,300, which is nearly $371,000 more than in 2021." The report below states that "For several years and again this year, the Management Board has included funds towards the cost of a parking lot development project ($150,000) in the event a specific project moves forward."
It is impossible to see in the numbers provided in the report that the $150,000. is in a defined line item, and added to each year, or it certainly would seem that more would be available in the "Capital Outlay/Equipment" line than, $216,500.00 for use toward a parking structure/lot after several years!!!!
The report includes in that $216,500.00, other capital outlay projects of bike racks ($10,000), Livery and Petrie lots landscaping ($6,500), the Gateway design installation ($50,000) for a TOTAL capital outlay amount of $216,500... that leaves only $150,000.00 total toward any parking structure. How can city council allow this to happen; for the parking fund never to grow?
It is impossible to see in the numbers provided in the report that the $150,000. is in a defined line item, and added to each year, or it certainly would seem that more would be available in the "Capital Outlay/Equipment" line than, $216,500.00 for use toward a parking structure/lot after several years!!!!
The report includes in that $216,500.00, other capital outlay projects of bike racks ($10,000), Livery and Petrie lots landscaping ($6,500), the Gateway design installation ($50,000) for a TOTAL capital outlay amount of $216,500... that leaves only $150,000.00 total toward any parking structure. How can city council allow this to happen; for the parking fund never to grow?
Below information is from Petoskey's 2023 City Budget. Read the Parking Fund information and compare
to the previous 2022 budget above. Some figures do no make sense when comparisons are made.
to the previous 2022 budget above. Some figures do no make sense when comparisons are made.