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Public safety gives parameters for upcoming parking fee
The Advocate
Parking permits will be required on the MHCC campus beginning the first day of fall term 2011 for students, employees and visitors.
MHCC students and qualified carpool commuters will have to pay $25 per term. Visitors to the campus may purchase day tickets for $3 from kiosks when arriving on campus. The kiosks will be installed during the summer throughout the campus parking lots. Debit/credit cards and cash will be accepted in the machines. College employees will not have to pay a parking fee, in accordance with contract provisions, but will be required to display a permit in their vehicle.
Beginning Sept. 19, students can purchase term and annual permits in the Bookstore, Public Safety office, online at the MHCC website and the Admissions, Registration and Records office.
“To avoid waiting in lines, we strongly suggest that students buy their term and annual parking permits online at mhcc.edu,” said Gale Blessing, director of public safety.
Financial aid may be used to purchase parking permits. The cost will be deducted from the financial aid package when funds are distributed to the students, said Christi Hart, manager of financial aid, in a press release Wednesday.
Blessing said drivers of vehicles (cars, trucks and motorcycles) without permits will be cited for violations. Unpaid fines may results in additional fines, a “hold” placed on students accounts and/or the vehicle “booted” (immobilized).
“We are asking students and visitors to the Gresham campus to be good neighbors to our nearby residences and shopping centers and not park in those areas,” said Blessing.
There are no plans to add parking areas. Blessing said the college will add more carpool and handicapped spaces in anticipation of students needs. These spots will replace regular parking spaces. Details will be decided over the next few weeks with input from the Associated Student Government.
The parking fee is one way the district board is addressing what it estimates as a $5.8 million budget shortfall. The board approved the parking fee May 11. The fee is expected to generate $626,000 in gross revenue during the first year of implementation. A press release Wednesday said a portion of the gross revenue generated by the parking permits — about $417,000 — will go into the general fund and that an estimated $209,000 will be used to increase security and provide surveillance cameras in parking lots as well as support the technology used for the parking permit sales and enforcements.
“We recognize that this will be a significant change for many people who are accustomed to parking on the Gresham Campus for free,” Blessing said. “That’s why we are making sure to get the word out about this now, well in advance of fall term. Our fiscal challenges make this necessary to join Portland Community College, which has long required paid parking permits.”
Further information concerning the parking program will be available throughout the summer through the college portal as well as letters to new students and handouts to be distributed at orientation before the fee is implemented Sept. 26 (the first day of fall classes).
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