After a weather-related weekslong delay, the city Parking Authority hosted Desman Design Management parking consultant members at city hall for a two-hour presentation April 12 to publicly unveil some preliminary findings and suggestions for the Northside and Southside downtowns’ parking issues.

Desman, of New York, has been operating in Bethlehem for more than five years on various assignments, and the parking study has already been in the works for at least 10 months. Residents will likely focus on Desman’s early recommendations: Increasing meter prices and fines while planning an inevitable replacement for the Walnut Street garage.

Desman Executive Vice President Tim Tracy said again and again that this draft is still in the early stages of the larger project, and that this and other meetings with the public are specifically designed to brainstorm and record community expectations.

Those include more than 700 responses to a recent home survey, while Desman undertook a study on the streets in May and September of last year. The result was a data-heavy presentation, accompanied by copies of a booklet available at the door. Weighing in at 90 pages, the report is detailed and replete with graphs and photos. It collates information regarding on and off-street parking, effectiveness of meter times by street, new alternative sources of public and private transportation, usable and developable lots, signage, and many other variables.

But in the end, and despite objections by those present, Tracy insisted increased prices will be the way to go, especially as a means of getting people to use off-street parking more regularly.

While Tracy says the early draft is certain to change, Parking Authority Executive Director Kevin Livingston said copies of the study are available to the public through his office, and he encourages residents to contact him with comments or questions at 610-865-7123 and info@bethpark.org.