The UNF parking advisory council voted Matt Yost to vice chair of the council at a meeting Oct. 8, but the majority of the meeting centered on Student Government Senate President Mack Volk’s efforts to lift parking woes off students.

Volk said he would like to get rid of designated parking completely because at any given time 50 percent or more designated spaces are not being used. He said he doesn’t know why they can’t be filled.

However, he said he doesn’t want to revolt and rebel against the administration, so he wants to start small and see what he can do.

Volk proposed that of the 214 designated spaces on campus, 56 of the spaces be turned into premium spaces — the spaces in Lot 2, in front of the Library.

Per his plan, Lot 2 would be all premium spaces and Lot 3 would remain all designated spaces.
Volk presented information he received concerning Lot 2. He said the lot count took place each day from 10:30 a.m. until 7:30 p.m. from Sept. 20 until Sept. 23.

The lot count showed of the 52 designated spaces, spaces for full-time faculty and staff, in the lot, 50 percent or more of the spaces are empty during these times Monday through Thursday, including from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. when the most students are on campus.

Lot 3 near the education building has slightly less available spaces. At 10:30 a.m., 20 to 25 percent of spaces are available.

Volk said although there are less spaces open, there are still spaces students could be using, and he can’t be clearer because the numbers show it.

“People need to park on this campus and the thing is there’s wide open spaces, especially on the core of campus that students could be,” Volk said.

Volk then moved to the 12-question survey he began Oct. 5. Of the 250 students surveyed, 72 percent of students felt there needed to be an increase in available premium parking spaces.
Fifty-five percent of the students surveyed felt the number of designated parking spots should be decreased.

Volk is concerned about the demolishing of Lot 5T in January, due to the construction of the new wellness center. He said students will also be losing over 100 premium spaces.

Parking Adviser Chair Everett Malcolm told the council members to not let Volk’s information overwhelm them because the information was new to the council and did not have to be voted at that meeting. Malcolm also said students being able to buy designated permits may be a possible option for the future.

“It was offered many years ago, but then student administration opted not to partake in designated parking,” Malcolm said. “But that was then, this is now. That may be an option we may want to consider.”

Student Body President Sitou Byll-Cataria, who is not a voting member on the council, said he agreed with Malcolm and said it was important that they go back and look at the numbers again and come back with a plan that benefits everyone on campus.

“It’s not just about parking, it’s more than parking,” Byll-Cataria said, “We need to realize that it’s going to shape a lot of things. We probably need to look at it more carefully.”

The council will vote on these topics at its next meeting Nov. 19.