Neighborhood’s charging for street parking plan approved by La Crosse city council

The ‘parking benefit district’ idea has been given the OK by the La Crosse city council.

That plan would raise money by charging to park on the street in neighborhoods. Those profits would be used to benefit those areas.

There was just one no vote on the issue, from Jessica Olson.

As a landlord who rents to college students, Olson is worried that the young people might not benefit from paying more for parking.

She says if a student takes out a 12-month lease on a rental unit, and then finds out he or she can’t get a street permit for parking under the benefit district, “they’re screwed.”

The plan is similar to a pilot program for paid parking approved for streets near the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse and Western Technical College.

North side council member Andrea Richmond isn’t sure enough public input has been gathered on this concept yet, but she still voted for the benefit district idea.

On a side note, early in the Valentine’s Day meeting, Richmond was serenaded by the Special Export barbershop quartet, which includes fellow council member Roger Christians.