By JOHN EBY

Dowagiac Daily News

Downtown merchants have been working together to review concerns expressed by their customers about downtown parking.

In fact, 33 business owners signed an Aug. 3 letter that City Council acted on Monday night by approving extension of the parking and vehicle ordinance allowable hours to park in the central business district from two hours to three hours.

City Manager Kevin Anderson said a recent survey done by police shows the number of parking spaces downtown “appears to be sufficient.”

Reasons cited for the change include economic impact, regional day visitors, parking tickets, repeat offenders and a positive, friendly message.

Economic impact

More than anything, the letter states, this is a dollar and cents issue. The longer a patron can park, the more money the person is apt to spend at businesses and within the downtown, which ultimately benefits the entire community.

Day visitors

Regional shoppers Dowagiac seeks to attract through paid advertising and marketing materials travel to town with money in hand and the expectation of spending the whole day. They may want to treat themselves to a manicure, explore shops and have lunch or dinner before returning home.

Two hours is not enough time for them to accomplish this, the letter states.

Parking tickets

No one enjoys gets a parking ticket, including local shoppers or regional day visitors who travel 45 minutes or more to come here.

Rushing through lunch may leave only an hour to shop.

A customer may spend 40 minutes or more at one store.

As a result, patrons are likely to leave Dowagiac without experiencing all it has to offer.

When their two-hour parking limit is up, they fear getting ticketed.

At the end of two hours, they are apt to return to their vehicle and simply head home.

Repeat offenders

Three-hour parking would enable one officer, on a random basis, to mark vehicles once in the morning and once in the afternoon.

Eventually, repeat offenders would be identified and eliminated.

As a result, downtown patrons benefit, as more parking spaces are made available for additional hours.

Friendly message

Merchants feel three-hour parking portrays a visitor-friendly community.

Regional shoppers need three hours to enjoy everything available, from a second generation of family-owned businesses and public art displays to new shops and those opening soon.

“Our customers need three-hour parking,” merchants write. “Merchants want three-hour parking. Please allow our customers and day visitors the opportunity to experience all that our community has to offer. Thank you for your consideration.”

Signers include: Debbe Meyers, The Hairitage; Jessica Sherman and Brian Fisher, Iconik Clothing; Sue Kazlauskas, The Marshall Shoppe; Larry Seurynck, Wood Fire Italian Trattoria; Jane Wright and Julie Johnson, Caruso’s Candy Kitchen; Jamie Saylor, Saylor’s Front Street Pizzeria; JimmiJune Fryman, The Mane Attraction; Laurie Kinzler, Laurie Anne’s; Jim Frazier, Vincent J Jeweler; Ray Piecyk, Zeke’s restaurant; Kris Lamphere, Who Knew? Consignment; Tom Underwood, Underwood Shoes; Kyle Belew, Wounded Minnow Saloon; Dawn Schlipp, Oh MY; Tammy Keller and Andi Weller, Markethouse Interiors; Andi Weller, Weller Wireless; Patty Booth, Booth’s Country Florist; Randy Melvin, D&R Sports; Jeff Neuman and Stacy Cloud, Farm Bureau Insurance; Linda Preston, Curves; Fred Kirsch, Kirsch Insurance; Cheryl Sharma, The Red Raven; Glenda Gibson and L. Headley, Meridian Title; Paul Pugh, Olympia Books; Charles Maher, Edward Jones; Brian Jenkins, Jenkins pc; Angie Pond, Headlines; John Magyar, Magyar Law Office; Charlie Ross, CPA; Natalie’s Restaurant; Wiltse Insurance; and Todd Marazita, John Scott Insurance.

Anderson recommended extending parking to three hours:

• Beeson Street, from S. Front to Depot Drive.

• Commercial Street, from W. Division to Depot Drive.

• Pennsylvania Avenue, from Main to W. Division Street.

• S. Front Street, from Main to W. Division.

• Public parking lots on the west side of Depot Drive to W. Division Street to Commercial Street.

Creative Vinyl Signs will be able to make a sticker for $2.76 per sign, allowing implementation of the ordinance for less than $70, the city manager said.

Article III, Section 78-51 states, “The automobile parking system of the city shall be under the supervision and direction of the city manager.”

“I am prepared to authorize the merchants’ request for three-hour parking as described,” Anderson said, “however, City Council will also need to amend Section 78-77 so that the police can, when necessary, write appropriate citations.”