By Anne Levin

Princeton’s new parking rates, regulations, and technology dominated a meeting of the governing body on Monday night, January 14. At Witherspoon Hall, several downtown merchants aired their concerns to Princeton Council about the new system. But some also thanked the town for their efforts and said they understand that rates needed to be raised.

In addition, the meeting included the announcement that the town’s Food Waste Program is being put on a three-month hiatus. Mayor Liz Lempert also reported that there is no date yet for restarting the Dinky train line, which has been out of service for the past three months. Local high school students Aidan York, Brendan Bucceri, and Ryan Neumann were presented with an award of recognition by former Councilman Lance Liverman for their efforts helping stranded motorists during the unexpected snowstorm last November.

Lempert opened the discussion by saying the Council understands the frustrations people are having with the parking system. “The ultimate goal is to have a parking system that makes the best use of what we already have,” she said. “We are committed to getting it right.”

Municipal engineer Deanna Stockton went over changes and tweaks that have been made as a result of comments submitted by the public, urging people to report any problems with specific meters, kiosks, or the mobile app. Regarding coin jams, the coin canisters on the meters had not arrived when they were first installed, resulting in the meters filling up too soon. That problem has been solved, she said.

Most widely reported have been problems with visibility at the meters. Stockton said the town has been working with the vendor, and the meters will now light up longer once a button on them is pushed. Issues with pre-paying using the mobile app have been addressed, and the minimum for using credit cards, which was $1, is now 50 cents. Lempert said the town is hoping to work out a better deal with Passport Parking, provider of the app.

Administrator Mark Dashield said the while the system went live on November 5, all of the meters had not yet been installed. This resulted in a loss to the town of $500 a day for the nine days it wasn’t operational, and the town’s attorney has demanded damages for that loss.

Resident Arthur Schwartz addressed the issue of Smart Cards, which “have turned out to be dumb cards,” he said. He suggested that whatever money is left on the cards, which are scheduled to be phased out, should go toward payment of property tax. Lempert said the town is working on how to proceed with the Smart Cards.

Patton Avenue Resident Margaret Griffin said she doesn’t like the Smart Cards, and prefers using a credit card instead, which is “a more friendly system for out of towners,” she said. She added that there is a tradition in Princeton of “constant griping. My point is that the parking issue is an old one.”

Lauren Gellman, owner of Milk & Cookies on Chambers Street, told Council she has received multiple complaints from customers about the higher prices and changed time limits on meters. “I have lost several employees and I know others have, too,” she said. Stockton said the town is looking at the possibility of permitted parking for employees of local businesses.

Dorothea von Moltke, an owner of Labyrinth Books, said that the fixes that have been made “don’t get to the heart of the matter” and urged Council to allow time to work on making the system viable rather than “quick fixes.” She and other members of the Princeton Merchants Association (PMA)  are not against change, she said, “but real improvement to parking has to take the merchants into account.”

Progressive parking has to have a third hour, and permitted parking for employees is “absolutely essential,” she said. “We recognize that you have a budget, and we have ideas where some of the money can come back from.”

Lempert, who with other Council members has met with members of the PMA, said the issue of permitting “is high on the list” of issues. We do want to engage with you.” She suggested setting up some additional informal meetings. Jack Morrison, president of the PMA, provided survey data to Council that represented 1,100 employees. “I urge you to read these comments,” he said.

Scott Sillars, head of the Citizens Finance Advisory Committee, praised Council for “a magnificent start” to the multi-layered parking project. “We need to watch what happens and measure as we go along,” he said. “I don’t think there is any crisis here.”

Some merchants disagreed, including the owner of Pins & Needles on Chambers Street, who said that unlike other locations like Westfield, where similar parking systems have been installed, Princeton is a tourist and shopping destination where people might visit only on occasion. “So people won’t get used to the system,” she said. “It just doesn’t seem like it’s in the best interest.”

Council voted unanimously to introduce an ordinance that will establish all-day parking on Witherspoon Street, from Green to Lytle streets, in place of the three-hour time limit. The rate will be 75 cents an hour. A public hearing on that action is February 11.

Asked earlier in the day if the rollout of the parking system has been a disappointment, Lempert said, “There have been more surprises than I would have liked. But it’s a complex system.” Councilwoman Jenny Crumiller said, “We are disappointed and frustrated.”