CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – The City of Clarksville Downtown Parking Commission held a meeting at the Roxy Regional Theatre Wednesday night to discuss changes coming to downtown parking.

Mayor Joe Pitts, City Parking Manager Michael Palmore and a representative from Parkmobile, discussed changes to downtown parking and plans for a new parking garage. Here are some of the main takeaways from that meeting.

1. New parking garage

Among the meeting’s first topics was the plan for a new parking garage downtown.

Pitts told attendees that, while plans are in the early stages, the most likely site is at First and Commerce Streets. He said a new garage would be between 300 and 600 spaces and include easy access to Franklin Street. He also said the county was working with them on the project.

A previous plan would have seen a garage built on the parking lot north of City Hall – the current location for the summer Downtown Market – but Pitts said that plan was ruled out. He also said a private business-owned garage was “not a good idea” in this case.

Pitts said the city is working on a proposal that would first go before the Parking Commission and then to the City Council. His hope is for a parking garage to be open by summer 2023.

2. Parkmobile app

Clarksville’s new parking app went live Jan. 3, offering a new way to pay for parking.

The Parkmobile app, available on Apple, Android and Google phones, offers on-demand parking based on the user’s license plate number. It is already used by Austin Peay State University, as well as several cities nationwide. Parkmobile can send users notifications when their paid time is up, and it allows them to add time from their phone.

Meters will remain available on First Street, Second Street and Cumberland Garage. Other areas will rely solely on the app.

3. End of first-hour-free

According to Palmore, rates will remain the same for the most part, with one significant change: While parking will cost $1 per hour using Parkmobile, current plans would do away with the first hour being free. This drew complaints from attendees, and Palmore said his office would “look into it.”

The city will also offer monthly rates with hanger tags for those who rent 10 spaces or more. In instances where the garage is full, monthly renters will be able to use other spaces as needed.

4. Booting is back

Palmore told attendees the city would resume the practice of booting vehicles with outstanding ticket balances. The city has not used boots in about 10 years. Palmore said the city has been overly lax on enforcement in recent years and needs to “get some teeth back.”

Boots could currently be used on vehicles with 10 or more tickets, or on those with $250 or more in fees, though he expects the city to revisit that in the near future.

Correction: A previous version of this article should have said that Michael Palmore is Parking Manager for the City of Clarksville.