By Amy Sienicki
 
February 5, 2010
 
MEDFORD, Ore. - Downtown businesses are urging the city of Medford to come up a better plan to manage parking with its garages, spaces and lots.
 
At a city council meeting Thursday, a handful of business owners asked councilors not to charge short term parkers in this economy.
 
"As you go out from the core, the pressure on those parking spaces decreases. So we have to look at how we can get everything distributed, how we can better utilize the structures we have that are currently not full all the time," said Bill Hoke, Medford Deputy City Manager.
 
The city of Medford took over managing duties for city parking in July of last year. Prior to that, the Medford Urban Renewal Agency was responsible.
 
The Medford Parking Commission will meet next Wednesday to discuss the issue further.