Cutting each other off

The power struggle between the UA and the city for on-campus parking persists, but with a friendlier face.

At least for a while.

Officials from both sides were still searching for a compromise Tuesday about a proposal to implement a new parking plan that called for prepaid permits and meters on university-area streets where parking is now free.

"The city and the university have built up a good working relationship - this has left a wedge - but I think we can work it out," said Marlis Davis, director of UA parking and transportation.

Chris Leighton, the city's parking program coordinator, said the city is willing to make some concessions, but the project will probably go on as planned.

"We basically have decided to hold off until spring semester," Leighton said.

Originally, the city's Transportation Enterprise Area Management commission planned to implement the parking program in August. That changed, however, when the university strongly opposed the plan, Davis said. Now officials hope to decide the issue at a July 13 meeting.

The city's plan was to issue permits on First and Second Street and install meters and permits on streets north of Speedway Boulevard and west of Park Avenue. Permits in the campus core were to be $500, while more peripheral permits were tagged at $300.

Davis - the UA representative on the TEAM commission - said the plan is a money-maker for the infant TEAM program, born nine months ago as a self-supporting arm of the city transportation department. Revenue from the plan was expected at $200,000.

Davis said she believes the original proposal will not be implemented at all.

"It's gotten blown up and out of shape," she said. "We are back to square one."

At a public hearing Monday, UA officials formally outlined the areas of contention with the plan.

"It is not going to complement our system at all," Davis said. "It will create chaos."

UA officials worry the plan will create complications over parking jurisdiction.

"We want control. We don't want to confuse students, faculty and staff," Davis said.

She added she was worried the city's participation would disrupt the university parking system.

"It's taken us years to perfect our program, and I think we're an efficiently run, modernistic operation," Davis added. "The city hasn't paid attention to their parking program in past years."

Campus officials were also concerned about the program's effect on growth plans in the area, many of which were developed with the city.

"I don't think they belong in the university's planning boundary," Davis said. "They need to look at their own backyard(downtown) instead of jumping into the UA."

Leighton, however, said the university's arguments are unfounded.

"The university thinks if we put pay parking where they plan to expand, we'll be hesitant to move it in the future," Leighton said. "We are more than willing to shift things in the long run."

The university presented a compromise to TEAM that would still have the city issuing permits, but through the university and enforced by the school. Davis said the permits would have been cheaper, but the money still would go to TEAM. The permit plan would end in two years when two additional UA parking garages are built.

Davis said the city answered with a "flat no."

Leighton said the compromise was denied because the two plans differed in the areas of time and money. He added that the city wanted the permits longer than two years.

Still, Leighton said he hopes the two sides can find a middle ground on the issue.

"It really achieves the same goals as the university-improvements, better amenities."

For now though, the original proposal remains on hold.

"They are not going to implement this in August. That will not happen," said Larry Barton, UA parking and transportation associate director.