MSA passes resolution opposing parking meter increase
Paid parking meter hours might be extended four hours.
Published May 6, 2011
The Missouri Students Association passed a resolution opposing the increase in hourly rates and extended hours for the parking meters on Tiger Avenue at joint session.
According to the resolution, the hours of the parking meters would be extended from ending at 5 p.m. to ending at 9 p.m.
A parking structure will be built so more students will have a place to park, but the parking garage will be located downtown away from campus, MSA Academic Affairs Chairman Everett Bruer said.
"I don't think students will benefit much from that,” Bruer said. “It would be fine if they met us halfway and built a parking structure closer to campus."
The parking meter hourly rates will be raised by 10 cents, Bruer said.
Several city parking meters would be affected by this bill, including meters on Hitt Street, near the student center and near Tiger Avenue.
The resolution states, “students have a right to access their campus, to which they already contribute considerable sums of money, without being additionally burdened or taxed.”
Bruer said he believed the resolution has a fair argument for stopping the rates and hours for the parking meters to be increased and extended.
"The resolution by itself will not make the city council change its mind,” Bruer said. “It's more like a means to an end.”
Former Senate Speaker Evan Wood said he first heard about the proposed bill on the radio.
“They were talking about the proposed bill, and it initially sparked my interest," Wood said.
There would need to be a lot of communication between city council and MSA representatives, Bruer said. He said he and Wood will talk about it with city council representatives.
"I've only dealt with city council once or twice, and I'm not sure how confrontational they are,” Wood said. “I'm interested to find out."
Wood said the bill to extend the parking meter hours was a huge step in the wrong direction.
"I am a firm believer that commuter students should not have to pay for parking on campus when they've already paid a lot of money to be here,” Wood said.
11:14 p.m., May 8, 2011
JP said:
This resolution makes no legal, or logical, sense. Students have a right to access their campus, yes, but the city also has a right to set parking rates at whatever the council wishes. The streets and meters belong to the city, not MU. Students living off-campus must utilize city resources to get to and from the campus, therefore they can be charged for using them. Cities cost money, and Columbia can only get so much revenue out of students' bar tabs. Since most commuters don't pay property tax in Columbia, they're actually getting off rather easily with a parking fee increase. Most residents have to pay just to live here. What's more, commuting students do not have to park at meters. In fact, it's expensive and foolish to do so, considering the much lower cost of commuter parking passes. I've commuted to MU for five years and I've never had to park on campus. I leave that to the suckers and visitors.