Aldermen Take Their Time Reviewing Emanuel's Changes To Parking Meter Deal

By Chuck Sudo in News on May 9, 2013 10:00PM

Mayor Rahm Emanuel introduced the changes his administration negotiated to the parking meter deal as an ordinance during Wednesday’s City Council meeting to a group of aldermen who seemed content to live under the original terms of the unpopular 2008 deal.

With good reason. The aldermen who were serving in City Council when they rubber-stamped Daley's deal don’t want to be seen as jumping when Emanuel says so. They’re also not happy that the swap of free Sunday parking in exchange for extended weeknight parking hours until 10 p.m., and until midnight in River North, means Chicago Parking Meters LLC could wind up making more money over the course of the contract.

Ald. Brendan Reilly (42nd), whose ward includes River North, is leading the charge of aldermen content to stick with the original contract. According to the Sun-Times, Reilly revealed City Corporation Council Stephen Patton told aldermen during closed-door briefings on the changes to the deal the swap was “not important” to Chicago Parking Meters LLC. A fact sheet attached to the ordinance shows the company could make up to $7.4 million from revenues if the swap is approved, which also has convinced Reilly and other aldermen the original deal seems like the better one.

Furthermore, Chicago Parking Meters could make up to $2 million annually in convenience fees from the “pay by cell” option brokered by Emanuel, and have 938 parking spaces in the Loop the city took from them with lost revenues. Chicago Parking Meters, in return, is turning over 17 parking lots to the city for use as farmers markets, street fests and other events. You know, so they don’t seem completely greedy.

Emanuel reminded aldermen in no uncertain terms he feels the changes to the deal are the best thing he could do for motorists.

“I’ve been around the city a lot. And I’ve talked to a lot of aldermen and a lot of other people who wanted the convenience of going back to free Sundays like we used to have. Eighty-one percent of the meters will be out of commission on Sundays — gone. Now, the only way you can do [that] in a straight-jacket was to set up a trade-off. I’ve asked the City Council, unlike the past with three days, to evaluate this and take the time to ask questions.”