Policy Without Public Notice

Even though the Fourth is over and done with, that does not mean the fireworks have dissipated in downtown Fargo. In fact, something tells us the fireworks is just beginning—if we are talking about downtown parking issues and the issuance of parking tickets.

HPR was contacted a few days ago by a family that has lived and worked downtown for over 30 years. That was the first we had heard of some of the new parking policies apparently implemented by the City Commission recently.

We should have been more inquisitive 10 or so days ago when we saw a team of city workers going up and down Broadway taping something over each and every one of the downtown parking restriction signs. Had we taken the time to go read the new signage, we may have had insight into some of the changes coming to all of us downtown.

Unbeknownst to us, or most of you we are guessing, Fargo leaders decided to start ticketing on Broadway on Saturdays. The 90-minute Monday-Friday parking restrictions now are Monday-Saturday if you look closely to our modified signs downtown.

While the goal of this effort is noble, we take issue with the method it was all done and with the total lack of voice afforded many businesses and residents in the process.

Yes, we all agree there are parking problems: BUILD A PARKING RAMP. And, similarly, we agree that education is important and that many folks are not aware there are some parking lots they can park in so as to avoid ticketing or towing: BUILD A PARKING RAMP.

But we wholeheartedly disagree with such policy discussions and actual policy changes unfolding with little or no notice to the people whatsoever, let alone input along the way.

The notion that many will learn the hard way is not acceptable. Paying $15 fines as a punishment for parking downtown on Broadway on Saturdays will simply fuel the animosity that is aplenty as it is. (And do not park on the same block again or you’ll find out that it is not 90-minute parking but that you cannot even park on the same block again without getting ticketed again. Coming downtown can be very expensive.)

The notion that some Broadway businesses will have special treatment to make sure they have parking spots available only pushes the burden of dealing with filled streets (remember a few years ago when we were begging people to come downtown?) onto the connecting avenues. That’s short-sighted and not a long-term solution; in fact, it replaces one set of problems with another.

We readily admit that we have a prejudice toward city leadership and its downtown parking restriction enforcers when it comes to parking and ticketing issues and procedures. We call it a cash cow; others, of course, say it is not about revenue generation at all, for the City that is.

Our prejudice stems from the last time they implemented new, more stringent rules. Do you remember? We were told they would ‘warn’ people at first so as to let people adjust to the new rules, regulations and higher costs. Well, that did not happen. There were no warnings. Just tickets from the onset.

This is not good public relations. It is also not what we could call a good neighbor policy.

Now we see it again. New rules put in place before we are told about them, before ordinary people have a chance to say squat.

Heck, there were even television news stories this past week about the City hiring security people to issue even more tickets in downtown Fargo. Adding Saturdays means the revenues can increase 20 percent if we are doing our math correctly. That’s just wrong and deserves not only significant public discussion, but public notice.

We commend those folks who desire to address concerns and needs in our downtown. However, this approach seems to be based on input from a select few with vested interests, which is fine, but not to the exclusion of everyone else.

The City should back off giving tickets on Saturdays downtown. And the City should back off a policy that favors a few Broadway businesses to the exclusion of everyone else downtown.

We suspect lots of people have ideas and suggestions for downtown parking and ticketing and traffic flows. That feedback is much more valuable when sought out proactively, not after the fact. Otherwise, we have fireworks going off, which is indeed the case from what we are hearing and seeing right out our front doors.

Trollwood’s Splendor

Next week, Trollwood itself upstages the old Trollwood. Everyone knows Trollwood is an exemplary community asset. Well, it’s much more than that, truly.

The Wiz will be the first show there in the new 150-acre setting in south Moorhead. Though Trollwood performances are ordinarily extraordinary, the setting for this year’s performance will be unlike any ever before.

It’s simply breathtaking and gorgeous.

We cannot wait to hear the public reaction not only to top notch theatre, music and art, but we eagerly await their take on the new digs.

In our opinion, it’s a stellar performance already and the show has not even begun. Go to The Wiz. Then go out there for future concerts, weddings and receptions, family picnics, and even personal quiet moments in the company of Mother Nature.

We commend the visionaries who laid this groundwork for a cultural journey that will even further transcend generations and boundaries.

It’s the best ticket in town.