Last week, the board scheduled a public hearing on the local law, but trustees are seeking input from residents before finalizing the law and an accompanying set of guidelines which spell out the mechanics of how paid parking will work.

Any changes to the law as a result of the two informational meetings must be made no later than Oct. 5 so there is sufficient time to meet legal requirements and allow residents to obtain a copy of the final version and review it before the public hearing later in the month.

The plan, developed largely by trustee Lynne Mebust, involves a permit which will be available to residents and non-residents and will allow them to park in paid parking areas at no charge.

According to trustees, paid parking would provide the village with a new source of revenue

Trustee Jeff Katz said that preliminary indications point to as much as $400,000 to $600,000 in new revenue could be generated through paid parking.

�’We’re trying to run the village like a business. We have limited places to get revenues,’’ Mayor Carol Waller said.

The board scheduled a public hearing on the paid parking plan for next month’s meeting on Oct. 15 at 8:30 p.m.

Following is the draft version of the local law and the guidelines which will govern paid parking.

Local Law Establishing

Paid Parking in the

Village of Cooperstown

The Village of Cooperstown may establish Paid Parking Areas on any of its Village-owned streets or parking lots. The specific location of said paid parking areas will be as follows:

Paid parking is hereby established on the following streets, or portions thereof, as noted by appropriate signage:

North side of Main Street from Pine Blvd to River Street

South side of Main Street from the west end of the business district beginning with the diagonal parking east of the county parking lot (just before the building housing 175 Main St.), to River Street

East and west sides of Pioneer Street between Otsego Lake and Church Street

Paid parking is established at the following Village-owned parking lots, or portions thereof, as noted by appropriate signage:

Doubleday Field Parking Lot (adjacent to Doubleday Field, between Chestnut Street and Main Street)

The Village-owned parking area adjacent to the west side of Doubleday parking lot behind the Chamber of Commerce building.

Lakefront Park parking lot on Lake Street at the south end of Lakefront Park, west of Fish Road and east of the property at 24 Lake St.

The fee structure and collection of fees for said paid parking areas will be established by resolution of the Board of Trustees. Hours and dates of operation for paid parking areas will also be established by resolution of the Board of Trustees.

Permit Parking: The Village of Cooperstown may establish permit-parking systems for its Paid Parking Areas. Permits will excuse permit holders from payment of fees in Paid Parking Areas. Permits shall be issued by the Office of the Village Clerk in accordance with guidelines established by resolution of the Village Board of Trustees.

The Board of Trustees may authorize the purchase of paid parking systems including but not limited to Pay and Display machines and Parking Meters.

Resolution establishing Guidelines for Paid Parking in the Village of Cooperstown

The following guidelines apply to streets and parking lots of the Village of Cooperstown that have been designated by local law as Paid Parking Areas:

Fees: Fees for on-street parking in parking spaces with 2-hour limits will be as follows:

50 cents per 15 minute increment.

Parking spaces reserved for 15 minute parking and handicapped parking are exempt from parking fees.

Fees for Doubleday Parking Lot and the adjacent lot will be as follows: $1 per hour.

Fees for Lakefront Park Lot will be as follows: $10 per day

Collection: It shall be the duty of the Chief of Police to designate some proper person or persons to make regular collections of the monies deposited in parking meters, Pay & Display machines, or other approved paid parking systems. The designated person or persons will securely transport the funds to the Treasurer. It will be the duty of the Treasurer, or the Treasurer’s designee, to unlock the containers, count the funds in such containers and deposit such funds in the usual manner provided by law.

Hours of Operation:

On-street parking fees are in effect at all times when two hour parking is in effect.

Doubleday Field Parking Lot fees are in effect from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. from May 1 through Nov. 1.

Lakefront Park fees are in effect year round.

Permit Parking: A permit parking system is hereby established for the Village Streets and Parking Lots that have been designated Paid Parking Areas, in accordance with the following guidelines:

Permits exempt permit holders from paid parking fees in the Paid Parking Areas established by Village Law on Village Streets and Parking Lots.

Permits are issued by the office of the Village Clerk, located at 22 Main St.

Permits can be purchased for $10. Permits are available for purchase between Jan. 2 and Feb. 15 on weekdays during normal business hours. In addition, the Village Clerk may schedule occasional evening and weekend hours for the sale of permits during this time frame. The Village Clerk may also schedule sale of permits one day per month throughout the year, with the approval of the Board of Trustees.

Residents owning automobiles are entitled to purchase parking permits. Vehicle owners must apply in person to purchase parking permits. The owner must display proof (title, registration or insurance card) of vehicle registration. The owner must complete an application, which shall contain the name and address of the owner and the vehicle license plate number, make and model of the car. Nonresidents may also apply for said permits in accordance with these guidelines.

Parking permits are valid only for the specific vehicle for which they are issued, and may not be transferred to other vehicles.

The permit shall be evidenced by a sticker issued by the Village Clerk. The sticker shall be securely fastened to the windshield of the permitted vehicle.

The purchase and display of a parking permit does not guarantee a parking space.

The permit is valid for parking in the Paid Parking Areas of the Village Streets and Parking Lots only during the calendar year in which it is issued.

The purchase and display of a parking permit does not exempt the permit-holder from two-hour parking restrictions.