Parking is still an issue on this campus. The peak times, 8 a.m.-2 p.m., have not changed from last year but enrollment has.
The director of admissions and records, J. Martin Ortega, said enrollment of students being served by this college is 22,096.
This number does not include the 2,131 that attend Northeast Lakeview College but receive credit through this college.
Ortega said that an estimate of the heaviest traffic timeslot of on-campus students is at about 11 a.m. but that it is only slightly heavier than the 8 a.m.-11 a.m. time period.
In a September Academic Council meeting, discussion of shuttles as a solution came up. During construction of the parking garage, the college offered shuttles to off-campus lots.
But Tim Rockey, dean of continuing education training network and also in charge of parking, said the shuttles are cost-prohibitive.
Also in that same meeting, complaints were aired about motorcycles parking in vehicle spots in the parking garage.
Rockey said motorcycles are not allowed to park in vehicle parking with the exception of larger motorcycles. Owners of the larger motorcycles can pay for a vehicle parking pass that allows parking in any lot or the garage.
The vehicle parking permit, a window cling, is $21 while the motorcycle permit, a sticker, is $10 after a $21 permit has been purchased. Because of the reduced price, he said, motorcyclists are not to park in vehicle spots.
Motorcycle parking is located east of Moody and west of the academic instruction center.
Dr. Robert Vela, vice president of student affairs, said, “The earlier you come for classes, the better.” He noted that when a student gets to school at 7:40 a.m. for an 8 a.m. class, it makes it “very difficult” to find parking.
Vela said the college is trying to provide a safe environment, but with the amount of construction, it makes it tough.
“We also don’t want to put the students in jeopardy. We are trying to improve and update for the students,” Vela said. “It’s like a Catch-22.”
Rockey said as the remodeling is finished, more parking will become available.
“Parking is going to be a challenge probably until next fall,” he said, adding district colleges parking pressure is the same at other district colleges.
The district is “enjoying record enrollment” but has less parking for the additional students. He advises students and faculty not to park in the visitor parking because the meters accept money for only an hour and a half at a time.
Rockey said the best thing students can do is to use public transportation.
So what alternatives do students have if taking the bus is not an option?
Vela said parking in the surrounding neighborhood is an option “as long as you are reading the signs and not blocking driveways or trash dispensers.”
Vela and Rockey both said they heard of students moving trash containers to park in front of homes, leaving the city unable to collect trash with the automated system.
Maria Pogue, a resident on Lewis Street, knows about this firsthand.
A student at this college kept moving her trash cans from her curb to her lawn to park next to the curb in front of her house.
Pogue told The Ranger that when Pogue’s mother saw the student moving the cans and confronted him, the student cursed at her. After the incident, the student also glared into her window.
Pogue took these details along with photographic evidence, to the police and filed a complaint with President Robert Zeigler’s office.
Sgt. Ben Pena of the district department of public safety advises students to familiarize themselves with the city’s parking regulations. Despite new pressures, he said the number of parking citations issued is about the same as midsemester last fall.
There are specific agreements with local bars on North Main Avenue. Students parking in these lots during the day will not be towed.
The Saint, Heat, Silver Dollar, PJ’s and Atomix are included in this agreement.
Vela said he sees that they are not being used all the time so “that tells us that we need to do a better job at getting the word out.”
Rockey said if a student feels uncomfortable because a parking lot is too dark, call his office and he will have more lighting added.
For questions about parking, call Rockey at 486-0926.
Click here to see the college's parking plan.
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