In a June 5th post on this blog, I expressed concerns about the Fishers decision to charge a $50 per day parking fee for nonresidents at Geist Waterfront Park, during the summer months. In other words, if a vehicle is parked in the Geist Waterfront lot with no Fishers resident in the vehicle, there will be a $50 charge for that summer day.
My concern is that this decision could tarnish the reputation of Fishers outside the city limits. I wrote then I hoped I was wrong. It appears, sadly, I was not wrong.
Indiana Week In Review is produced by Indiana Public Broadcasting, recorded in Indianapolis each Friday afternoon and is broadcast on public television and radio stations throughout the state. It is a panel discussion consisting of a moderator, one Democrat, one Republican and two journalists.
Public broadcasting may not have the audience size of commercial operations, but the demographics of a program like Indiana Week In Review tend to skew toward people in decision-making positions in both the public and private sectors. In other words, movers and shakers in the state are watching and listening to this show.
The Indiana Week In Review episode recorded and first broadcast Friday, June 9, had a brief mention of the Fishers $50 parking fee at the end of the program. Lauren Chapman of Indiana Public Broadcasting moderated this edition and Oseye Boyd is Public Engagement Editor for the Indianapolis Star and a journalist on the panel. Below is a transcript of their discussion about Fishers, starting with a tongue-in-cheek comment from the moderator, with some laughter, that turned a bit serious:
=======
Lauren Chapman: Fishers, a suburb of Indianapolis, recently announced a new public beachfront park in the affluent Geist Reservoir area. To discourage people who don’t live in Fishers from using the park, the Fishers City Council approved a parking fee for nonresidents of $50 per day. Oseye, what would be a better way to keep out nonresidents – armed guards, a moat, a wall on the southern border of Hamilton County off of 96th Street, what do you say?
Oseye Boyd: I say a wall and a moat. Let’s just go ahead and let people know that we don’t want them coming (laughter among the panel) and keep them out, and keep us out, keep them in, whatever. But it definitely sends a signal of – people are not wanted. $50 to park?
(at this point, several panel members are speaking at once)
Oseye Boyd: You bring that up about parking (in) downtown (Indianapolis) – people complain about that, but you’re saying $50? That’s an extreme amount of money.
Lauren Chapman: That’s an extreme amount.
=========
As a 32-year resident of Fishers, it was painful to watch this exchange. It is one thing to be criticized, it is quite different when your city is ridiculed on a respected, state-wide public affairs program.
This exchange says the Fishers brand has been tarnished by the $50 parking fee decision. The question now is, what comes next? Will this be a long-term hit on the city’s reputation, or will this be a short-term issue soon to be forgotten?
That is up to the mayor, his staff and members of the Fishers City Council.
Fishers has become a very diverse place during my time living here and people hold a variety of views. But, overall, my experience has been that the people of Fishers believe they live in a community that is welcoming.
I know a number of people in Fishers support the decision by the mayor and City Council to impose the $50 nonresident parking fee, but people outside Fishers generally do not see it the same way. Fishers has much to brag about as a quality place to live, but any branding expert will tell you even a long list of positives can be negated by one long-lasting negative impression that lingers.
I will be watching this issue as we move forward.
You can view the Indiana Week In Review episode at this link