Mayor John A. McNally administration proposes eliminating free parking downtown

YOUNGSTOWN — A downtown parking proposal from the city administration would eliminate free parking and require those parking there to pay up to $1 an hour from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays.

During a public meeting today on downtown parking changes, Mark D’Apolito, an assistant law director, said the city intends to repeal all current downtown parking ordinances and create one.

Changes were already made based on a Nov. 10 meeting with city council members.

The administration had originally recommended that downtown parking should cost between $1 and $2 an hour. Some council members backed that amount while others suggested $1 or $1.50. Today, the proposed amount was $1 an hour.

The proposal is still a work in progress, D’Apolito said, with the goal to have a proposal approved by council by the end of the month. As far as implementing a plan, that would take longer, particularly because new signs and electronic parking meters would have to be installed along Federal Street.

For the complete story, read Wednesday’s Vindicator and Vindy.com