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Riverside panel splits difference on downtown parking meters -

RIVERSIDE - The city should put coin-operated individual-space parking meters on two downtown streets near the Mission Inn, but the rest of the downtown commercial district should have high-tech multi-space meters.

So said the Downtown Parking Committee in a vote Thursday that serves as a recommendation to the City Council.

The city is preparing to replace the unpopular SmartPark meters installed in late 2006 in the commercial core -- from Fifth Street to 10th Street between Market and Lime streets.

Some people have complained about having to pay to park at all. Others said the SmartPark meters -- one machine serves numerous spaces -- are difficult to use.

Charging for parking downtown is necessary, city officials say, because experience has shown that otherwise, some motorists -- especially government employees who work downtown -- will occupy parking spaces for long periods, limiting the number of spaces available for patrons of downtown stores and restaurants   Read Full Article...