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Questions about parking have been a common theme in Winchester. 

Information related to the topic now hits the news cycle. 

The second reading of an ordinance amending parking violation fees passed, with penalties to be instated. 

The fees – which were increased after being the same for approximately 30 years – originally were suggested by individuals including Code Enforcement Officer Rebecca Power and former Winchester Police Department Chief James Hall, with current City Manager Bruce Manley also involved in the process. 

They had also gone before the Winchester Parking Committee before reaching the City Commission.

“Because they were so cheap, we decided that maybe if we increased them people wouldn’t be so willing to get a ticket,” said Power. “[Chief Hall] and [I] got together and put [down] what we thought they should be increased to, and then met with Bruce Manley…comparing them to other cities is how we came up with prices.”  

“There have always been fines associated with parking downtown, and we acknowledge that parking downtown is something that the community expresses is difficult at times,” said City of Winchester Strategic and Communications and Downtown Development Director Whitney Leggett, speaking after the meeting. “We want to try to make some efforts to improve parking availability downtown, especially…knowing that the High Side Project is coming up. That’s why this Parking Committee was put together, was to identify some of the concerns and try to address them. The Committee believes that increasing fines may also increase the likelihood that someone may adhere to those limitations.” 

The specific ordinance amended is Ordinance No. 23-89 Section 10-101, first discussed at the City Commission meeting on February 18. 

Fines instated are as follows: $20 for parking over two hours, being double parked, blocking a driveway and/or sidewalk, street sweeping, and parking in a yellow line, or loading zone; $75 for parking in a fire lane or in front of a fire hydrant; $200 for parking in a handicapped zone; and $20 for other. According to the Winchester City Commission Wrap-Up for the meeting on February 18, “Previously, the fines for all violations were $5, except for a $15 fine that was imposed for parking near fire hydrants or in fire lanes. Additionally, the ordinance would raise fines for non-payment within seven days to $25 to $100 for most violations and $50 to $150 for parking near a fire hydrant or in a fire lane. Previously, the non-payment fine was $10 to $100 for most violations and $25 to $150 for fire lane/hydrant violations.” 

Though passed, additional measures will take place. 

“We’re [going to] have to revamp parking enforcement a little bit…there’s a lot of electronic park enforcement tools and stuff like that,” Power said.

The next meeting of the City of Winchester Parking Committee will take place on Monday, April 7, at 10:30 a.m. in the training room at City Hall. 

“Addressing parking downtown is going to be an ongoing discussion,” Leggett said. “[Parking Committee] meetings are open to the public and we value public input.” 

In other news, the Commission also approved the first reading of proposed changes of a policy involving conduct in local parks. 

Jeff Lewis, Director of Winchester-Clark County Parks and Recreation, was present and spoke before the Commission. 

“We’ve been working on some of these changes, but it takes a while to get everything here,” he said. “For the most part, the ordinance itself [remains] pretty much intact.” 

The ordinance Lewis refers to is a joint city-county ordinance.

Among proposed amendments to the policy would be establishing open park hours from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. from March to November and from 5:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. from December to February. 

Any person 18 or older in local parks would not be permitted to be within 50 feet of any park, playground, or facility intended exclusively for use by minors unless accompanied by a minor, while dogs – previously prohibited from being in parks – would be allowed as long as they are leashed. 

Profanity would be prohibited in parks as would the use of tobacco products within 50 feet of any playground, seating area, building entry, facility, entrance, and more. 

Operating flying vehicles, including drones, would not be allowed in airspaces in or hovering over park property and facilities.