By JUDITH O. ETZEL – Contributing writer
Chip Galiber Jr., chairman of the authority, outlined the panel’s observations and suggestions at a city council meeting Thursday. He said the details were worked out during a series of monthly meetings in consultation with city police Chief Bob Wenner.
“Despite the public and private complaints to the contrary, parking in Oil City is fairly good except for specific areas at certain times,” the authority noted in a letter to council.
Obstacles facing the parking situation, suggested the authority, include insufficient time for enforcement as well as meter repairs due to a parking enforcement officer limited to 25 hours per week; new parking meters need to be acquired and installed; and, parking congestion continues because of motorists who “choose to occupy street parking spaces for longer than two hours.”
Galiber said the authority recommends that options should be explored to increase the parking officer’s hours, new parking meters need installed and the on-street two-hour parking limit needs better enforced.
The authority’s letter suggests that “people who occupy street spaces for longer than 2 hours will be forced to move their vehicles to another vacant meter or be fined. Refeeding the same meter will not be an option.”
In remarks to council, Galiber said he was aware the city may not be able “to afford to hire” extra parking enforcement help and asked if parking authority members “could be ordained by the chief to be parking enforcers?”
“I’m not quite sure what the city expects us to do,” said Galiber. “We need to enforce the two-hour limit on Seneca and Elm streets and I hope we can have a discussion about this.”
Wenner told council a city order of 135 new parking meters should be on hand within the next few weeks.
In other matters at this week’s meeting:
– Council approved a request to provide police and fire services for the annual Oil City High School homecoming parade, pep rally and bonfire on Sept. 14.
The parade will start at 6 p.m. in the 1800 block of West First Street and finish at the Central Avenue Plaza. The festivities will conclude at 9 p.m.
In a letter to council, Oil City High School student council advisor Trevor Johnson wrote, “I am excited to once again see the school and the city working together to provide fun activities for our community.”
“We need to put (the Civic Center board) on notice that we won’t be renting out space there anymore,” said city manager Mark Schroyer, adding those arrangements will now be handled through the building owner.
– Council was informed that the city is “sitting pretty good” in terms of finances through the first six months of 2017, according to a brief report by Michelle Hoovler, the city finance officer.
Hoovler said expenses are “under 50 percent in all categories” for the first half of the fiscal year.
– Schroyer told council the city expects an increase in its water services income because of a “well field problem” in Cranberry Township. The township is temporarily buying more water from the city, he said.
– The city signed a rental lease with J. Stack and Co. for office space on the second floor of city hall. The lease, set at $700 a month, will go until December 2018.
– Council approved a temporary street closing to accommodate the South Side Neighborhood Association’s annual ice cream social. It will be held from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 22, at the Laugh and Play playground located at the corner of East Third and Walnut streets.
A portion of East Third Street will be closed for the public event.
