Parking in the residential zone surrounding downtown Butler would be restricted to people who live on those streets under a measure waiting final approval from Butler City Council.
There are no restrictions on parking outside the metered areas in the city.
Elected officials say spaces on residential streets are being misused by people who work in downtown Butler and do not want to pay to park.
Under an ordinance proposed last month, parking by nonresidents in a residential zone could result in a $50 fine and towing, said Tom Donaldson, Butler's mayor.
“Too many people who work in the city are parking on residential streets,” Donaldson said.
Under Donaldson, who became mayor last year, parking enforcement has become more stringent. The city hired a meter enforcement officer and is now ticketing on Saturdays, which had not been enforced, and the city began enforcing three metered lots downtown, Donaldson said.
Last week, Butler embarked on a plan to borrow $7.5 million for a parking garage that is part of the Centre City redevelopment project, which includes a hotel and drug store.
Donaldson has said he wants the new parking lot and other city lots to be used.
The ordinance would go into effect within 45 days of final approval. The next council meeting is in February. Butler council gave the measure a preliminary OK last month.
Under the proposal, parking would be restricted from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday on residential streets within two blocks of the Main Street business area.
The city has no map or list of streets where parking would be restricted.
Residents will have to register with the city but will not be issued permits or stickers, Donaldson said.
Reporting of illegal parking will be largely up to residents, who the city says will be responsible for calling police to inform them about unauthorized parking.
The restrictions have the support of some business owners, like Don Paul, owner of Don Paul Jewelers and Morgyn's Frozen Yogurt.
“People who work in town should pay to park in the lots, like I do and like my employees. It is not fair to residents,” Paul said.
Parking in Butler is a chronic problem for business owners, Paul said.
“People use Main Street for overnight parking, which makes it harder for business customers to park,” he said.
In the daytime, meters have a two-hour maximum, which Paul says can be an inconvenience to some business patrons.
Rick Wills is a staff writer for Trib Total Media.He can be reached at 412-320-7944or rwills@tribweb.com.
