Politics & Government
Downtown Hudson's Parking Meter Fees, Fines Are Going Up
Hudson Common Council approved an increase to 50 cents for each hour on the meters in downtown Hudson. Violations will cost vehicle owners $7 instead of $5.
The Hudson Common Council approved an increase in the meter rates and fines at its meeting at on Monday, Feb. 21, 2011.
The increases would bring meter rates to 50 cents per hour, 25 cents for a half hour, 10 cents for 12 minutes and 5 cents for six minutes.
Fourth District Alderman Lee Wyland noted that the city would be making "twice as much per meter."
Find out what's happening in Hudsonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
The fine for having an expired meter would go from $5 to $7.
With all the additional revenue that is expected to be generated, the council has decided to allocate 30 percent of the revenue toward building another parking lot downtown.
Find out what's happening in Hudsonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Some time was spent discussing the fact that the city had no plan that shows increases in rates, income projections for five to ten years, and locations for new potential parking lots.
Fifth District Alderman Scot O'Malley noted that there would be a cost to change the meters from 25 cents to 50 cents an hour. Hudson Police Chief Marty Jensen said it would cost the city a one-time fee of $600 to re-engineer the meters.
Jensen said that the process would be quite painless; the company that made the meters would send a hand-held device that would plug into each meter and update its rates instantly.
The $600 would be used to pay for the new plates with the new hourly rates listed on them and their installation in each meter.
The council approved the meter increase in a 4-2 vote, with Third District Alderwoman Lori Bernard and Wyland voting against the measure.
