The Ann Arbor City Council passed a resolution last night in hopes of clearing up downtown parking crunches.
The resolution encouraged "creative alternatives" to costly parking structure repairs in the downtown area.
The resolution, proposed by councilmembers Tobi Hanna-Davis (D-1st Ward) and Heidi Cowing Herrell (D-3rd Ward), will offer suggestions to the Downtown Development Authority to curb costs on repairs to the existing parking facilities.
In the University area, the Forest Street parking structure has been designated as a top priority for repair.
Some suggestions offered in the cost-cutting resolution are the creation of an Ann Arbor Transit Authority shuttle to the downtown area, increased use of ecologically safe government vehicles, and increased affordable downtown housing so that people who work in downtown businesses will not need to have a car to get to work.
Hanna-Davies said she is optimistic that the proposed suggestions will be less expensive than the $22 million the DDA is projecting for repairs and replacement projects.
"The DDA does not have enough money in its budget to meet this cost," Hanna-Davies said. "By offering other ways to pay for the repairs, we hope to prevent an inflation in local taxes."
Not all councilmembers were supportive of the resolution.
"Though I can't deny that there are serious problems with the state of the parking structures in the downtown area, I'm hesitant to back these requests," said Councilmember Jane Lumm (R-2nd Ward). "The resolution offers so many alternatives to look at - I'm afraid it will be very tough for the DDA to look at them all without taking their eye off their immediate needs.
"I think the DDA will get so bogged down in all of the suggestions that nothing will be resolved," Lumm said.
Councilmember David Kwan (R-2nd Ward) said he shared Lumm's concerns.
"I think the DDA has enough obstacles at this point in trying to find parking alternatives," Kwan said. "Realistically, I think (the proposals) are too much for the DDA to consider at one time."
Kwan suggested increasing fees for downtown parking might be a better way to cut repair costs.