I'm curious what the money for Knoxville meters goes for. Maryville needs better crosswalks, but other than that it seems very user friendly. Capitol Coffee is a very cool place.

It looks like Knoxville's parking meter money goes into the general fund. The 2006 budget (PDF) lists parking meter revenue under "Other Revenue."

BTW, this budget document notes that parking meter revenue is down of late:

Parking meter revenue has declined in recent years and we are forecasting a continued decline in this source absent an increase in rates. This revenue source is expected to yield $284,290 in FY 06/07, which is unchanged from expected revenue in FY 05/06, but is down by $46,680 or 14.1% when compared to the FY 05/06 budget.

I couldn't find a searchable version of the 2007 budget, so I don't know if that trend has continued.

There are many towns and cities in the US that provide free parking downtown - they tend to be the more progressive cities in the country. They know how to attract business- make it a user friendly place to visit. That is one of the main complaints one hears constantly about going to visit Gatlinburg-paying such high fees to park before you can go spend your money.

Actually, I like the concept of parking meters. Without them, we'll get downtown workers parking free all day and visitors will be forced into more expensive lots.

Somebody had "red bagged" the meters in front of the Andrew Johnson Building tonight. Absolutely NO PLACE close to park to attend school board workshop. -- s.

I like parking meters too. Quick, drop in some change, do your business and leave. Maryville probabably doesn't have enough of them to make it worthwhile any more.

Somebody had "red bagged" the meters in front of the Andrew Johnson Building tonight. Absolutely NO PLACE close to park...

I'm amazed at how often this happens thoughout downtown. It's been going on for years. It's like there may be a reason to block parking for a few hours, but then the bags are forgotten about for days until somebody realizes the screw-up.

I guess why should the city sweat it when they can concentrate on making real money through traffic light cameras?

It's like there may be a reason to block parking for a few hours, but then the bags are forgotten about for days until somebody realizes the screw-up.

Generally speaking, any time meters are bagged in downtown, it must be done at least 24 hours in advance of any enforcement (and enforcement of no parking at bagged meters usually results in towing). This prevents anyone from parking at a meter then the meter being bagged while the car is parked there (unless it has been parked there over 24 hours -- and most street parking in downtown is restricted to 24 hours).

What I have seen happen is when someone needs a meter bagged for first thing Monday morning and they get bagged on Friday afternoon. Or worse yet, they need it Tuesday morning at 6 am. Then the bag has to be on the meter by 6 am on Monday (and the meter people don't get to work by then). Add another 24 hours or so from the time the bagging permit expires and it's removed, and you get 5 or 6 days of bagged meters for what may be an morning's worth of need.

And this is just for special event-type bagging. If it involves construction materials or receptacles, they may be bagged for months on end.
~m.

What I have seen happen is when someone needs a meter bagged for first thing Monday morning and they get bagged on Friday afternoon. Or worse yet, they need it Tuesday morning at 6 am. Then the bag has to be on the meter by 6 am on Monday (and the meter people don't get to work by then). Add another 24 hours or so from the time the bagging permit expires and it's removed, and you get 5 or 6 days of bagged meters for what may be an morning's worth of need.

Sounds like a good explanation for most of the time I've encountered this, since I'm usually met by the bags on Friday or Saturday nights. Other times, it's clear there was a special event requiring the spaces the night before, but nobody removed the bags afterwards. Guess it has to wait for the next M-F 9-5 shift.

It sure is a pleasure to go to the Palace Theater in Maryville and park directly across the street in a free lot. The new downtown garages are nice too, I must say. Last Friday the closest one to Mkt Sq. was very nearly full--maybe it did fill after we arrived.

The bags seem random much of the time and it seems to be when you need the spot.