Paid parking has been in place for more than a month now, but it appears that the discussion about the new plan is far from over.
Dickson Street business owners will get an opportunity to formally voice their opinions on the issue Tuesday night.
Fayetteville communications director Lindsley Smith confirmed this afternoon that Mayor Lioneld Jordan will walk on an unscheduled discussion item about the program at the city council meeting.
During a meeting of the Dickson Street Merchants Association last week, some business owners said paid parking was to blame for slow daytime sales. Some said revenues have dropped 30-40% since the plan went into effect.
The group threatened to gather signatures in an effort to bring the issue to a public vote if city staff did not take immediate action to scale back the plan. Specifically, they want paid parking eliminated except for Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings.
Chief of Staff Don Marr has said previously that the city expects a 90-day protest period before things level out. Dickson Street merchants, however, say they can’t wait that long.
The meeting is at 6 p.m. inside City Hall room 219. Council meetings are televised live on the Fayetteville Government Channel and on the city’s website.
