News 12 at 6 o'clock, December 17, 2009

AUGUSTA---The Downtown Development Authority got an earful today from business owners and downtown customers on their push for parking meters on Broad Street.

"We want to get it right," one representative said. "That's the whole intent."

"We understand that," replied business owner Joe Smith. "But more things are gotten done wrong than right."

Tonight the DDA held the second of two public meetings on the parking meter plan at the White's Building on Broad Street, and the conversation was heated.

The DDA wants to install one thousand "smart meters" along Broad Street. You slide your debit or credit card and follow the instructions on the screen. When the transaction's complete, you receive a receipt. Business owners would have the option to use space on the receipts for promotions and coupons.

"I don't know whether I approve of these meters or not," said Smith. "I don't have enough information to make a decision there."

"Putting a law on the books it's tough to get it off, and if you get it wrong it is going to always be there," Smith went on.

"One of the dumbest ideas they've come up with yet," said business owner Lou Ann Zimmerman. "One more way to drive people away from downtown. We need to encourage people to downtown and shop."

Some businesses brought signs saying "Just say no to one dollar an hour parking."

News 12 also talked to downtown customers about the proposed meters.

"I'm still going to come," said Etta Thurmond. "If I want something, don't nothing stop me unless I'm sick or some of my kids are sick."

Thurmond says it means less walking.

"Maybe that will make some people, well, I can get a good parking place if they don't want to pay their money," Thurmond said. "I'll take their parking space and I'll pay my money."

"You know, I think there is a minor problem that they could solve with a hammer, and they're using a sledgehammer," said store owner David Steele.

In the plan, workers and residents would be funneled to side streets and empty lots that could charge $30 a month.

"You've know, I've got a lot of employees that work for me that can't afford that," Steele said. "They'll choose to go work somewhere else."

"The bottom line is managing what we have right now," said Margaret Woodard of the DDA. "Parking is our most precious asset. If we don't manage it now and get ahead of the curve ball, we're going to have stores closing down instead of opening up."

Many downtown Augusta parking spaces currently have two-hour parking limits that are barely enforced. The difference with the new plan is that the DDA wants to bring in new staff to enforce the parking rules, Monday through Friday from 9 to 6.

The Augusta Commission takes up the issue next month.