E-mail from John Becker: The Parking Situation
From: John Becker
To: You
Subject: Parking Issues in Southport
As you know, we've been experiencing a lot of growth in the Southport neighborhood, both in terms of the population and the number of visitors. Predictably, parking has become a serious issue. The City Council is evaluating a number of options to alleviate the parking problem, but it will take time to reach a solution. In the meantime, some local businesses have tried creative solutions to the parking problem.
One business in particular has been generating a lot of comment. A bank located in the heart of Southport has turned its parking lot into an after-hours pay lot. On the surface, this seems like a great solution. The bank has a large well-lit parking lot and is centrally located. Unfortunately, the fees it charges are drawing criticism, and there aren't many other options for parking currently available.
I want you to look into the situation, and report back to me. There's not a lot we can do about the bank's rates, as it is a private business. However, we might be able to give the City Council information that will help it decide on the proposals for more parking. Below is some additional information on the situation .
The bank is currently charging a flat fee of $10 per car to park at the lot, and there are 100 spaces. The lot is open from 6 p.m. to midnight every night, and is staffed by a single employee. The employee is paid $10 per hour. Although the additional usage will increase maintenance costs for the parking lot, the bank has indicated that these costs are insignificant.