After losing $74,000 on Halloween, Athens City Council might look to Madison, Wisconsin, for ideas to generate revenue next year, said Councilwoman Carol Patterson, D-at large.
Madison, home to the University of Wisconsin G
Patterson said during council committee meetings yesterday.
Patterson said Athens' loss increased by $11,000 this year compared to last year because Athens hired extra police officers instead of taking volunteers and lost revenue with smaller numbers of people and decreased income from Halloween parking and transit fees. Patterson also noted that neighborhoods were quieter this year. Council will begin making decisions about Halloween 2007 in January, she said.
In other discussion, council members considered suspending the 24-hour street parking regulation in residential neighborhoods. Cars not moved more than two spaces from their previous location after 24 hours can be issued a $20 ticket or towed, Athens Police Lt. Jeff McCall said.
Allowing cars to remain stationary for longer periods of time will encourage students working in Athens during winter break to walk to work without worrying about getting parking tickets, said Councilman Paul Wiehl, D-1st Ward.
One option to enact such a plan would be to give one parking pass to each residence so council could monitor on how many people would be affected by eliminating the regulation, said Councilwoman Bojinka Bishop, D-2nd Ward.
The idea of a pass is controversial because it could encourage theft by showing the car's owner is gone, Wiehl said. Council members said they plan to discuss the idea and likely will act on it at a meeting Monday. 17
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